Every day, you have a choice to get in shape or perpetuate an unhealthy lifestyle.
If you have been a couch potato for years, probably anything seems better exercising, so you come up with excuses to make yourself feel better about putting things off for one more day. I’ve heard pretty much every excuse in the book, but there are three that repeat themselves over and over that drive me crazy. Are you guilty of any of these?
I don’t have time to exercise – To (loosely) quote Boiler Room, You know what I say to that? I say, hey look, man, tell me you don’t like my firm, tell me you don’t like my idea, tell me you don’t like my ****ing neck tie, but don’t tell me you can’t put together 20 minutes of exercise a day. I know there are single moms, with three children and two jobs, that still find a way to get up 20 minutes early to go for a walk or jog. I don’t care what you do, as long as you find a way to do something. If you tell me there’s not enough time in the day, what you’re really saying is that you’re not actually serious about getting in shape…which is perfectly fine. Come back when you’re ready.
Don’t think you can actually get anything done in 20 minutes? Try some high intensity interval training or jump rope. 20 minutes will get the job done. Want to really push yourself – try Tabata exercises. This will only take 4 minutes and will probably destroy you. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
I can’t afford a gym – Oh realllllllly? Sure they all have “initiation fees,” but if you show up, then tell them the price is too steep, and you’ll have to think about it, I guarantee that price will get cut in half. Ask around your office or your group of friends; if any of them have a membership at a gym, you can probably sign up as a friend of theirs and get reduced rates and no fees. “I can’t afford the 35 or 40 bucks a month, though” – That’s one less night out at a bar a month, one less dinner date, one less video game. If you’re serious about getting in shape, 40 bucks a month is a small price to pay.
Still too cheap? Find 4 different gym chains in your area, and go into each as a potential buyer. They’ll give you a free week’s guest pass. Find enough different gyms and you work out for free for quite a while! Read about picking the perfect gym here.
I don’t like gyms – Before we deal with this one, do you really hate the gym, or are you just afraid of going to them? If you just don’t like them, that’s fine. Personally, I LOVE to lift weights and get stronger, but I can’t stand my gym. It’s a bunch of meatheads in spandex ogling themselves in the mirror while they do bicep curls or half-assed squats. 90% of the people in there do exercsises improperly, 50% of them are there to socialize, and probably 2/3rds of them have no idea what they’re doing. I made up all of these statistics, but I bet I’m not far off from the truth. Because of this, I make sure I go to the gym 1st thing in the morning when it’s practically empty, I put in headphones, keep my head down, and just do my thing.
If you really don’t like the gym and have no desire to use one, find another way to stay in shape. Run every morning. Go for a hike with your kids. Join an ultimate Frisbee league. Take your dog for a walk. Get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather! You can get in great shape doing just bodyweight exercises, so don’t think you need weights and treadmills.
Which one is keeping you from getting started? If you did find a way around them, how were you successful?
Leave your comments below!
-Steve
