If You Hate Exercise This Will Probably Change Your Mind

If we’re honest with ourselves most of us don’t actually hate exercise we just choose not to prioritise it in our lives. I blame our ancestors for this. You see back in our caveman days, we needed to minimise our energy expenditure so we had enough get up and go for when it counted – like being chased by a wild animal. That mindset of only doing as much as we absolutely need to do seems to be set in our DNA. Of course there are some freaks of nature, those uber-fit babes in my Instagram feed, that just thrive on working out. Now I’m not suggesting you get all extreme and turn into a gym junkie but there are a number of sure-fire ways to tackle those exercise excuses that get in the way of us giving our bodies the attention it deserves.

1. “I don’t have enough time to exercise.”

Not having enough time is the number one excuse for avoiding exercise. There will be times when we actually don’t have enough time but usually when we say this we’re really saying: “I’m not prepared to make time.” Even though we know people who are actually busier than us still make time to exercise we keep saying we’re too busy. What this usually means is we are putting other things in our life ahead of exercise. When it comes to exercise it’s important to set yourself realistic goals. If you’re expecting to exercise for 30 minutes a day then you’re most likely setting yourself up to fail. You need to start small with easily achievable goals. Exercising a little bit every day (maybe even just five minutes) will help you form an exercise habit. It’s this habit which will help you continue and also help you avoid giving up because the task ahead of you seems too big. Remember any amount of exercise is better than nothing so manage your expectations.

2. “I’m just not motivated.”

We all think we need to be super motivated to exercise regularly but that’s actually not true. We get used to putting barriers in our way that prevent us from achieving our fitness goals and the key is to work out what these barriers are and then smash them. You may be thinking you need to spend a whole hour exercising to get the results you’re after. Or maybe you think your workouts need to hurt to get results. Often these misconceptions create barriers that actually prevent you from doing anything at all. Try and find out what is really getting in your way and preventing you from exercising.

3. “I don’t need exercise. I only want to lose weight.”

We often fall into the trap of just wanting to lose weight and so we focus on restricting our food intake. The problem with this is while we may lose weight we’re denying our bodies something they really need – and that is to move. It’s really important to not look at exercise as simply a way to lose weight. There are so many other hugely positive benefits that come from exercising including making us feel happier, helping us live longer, decreasing our risk of nasty diseases, improving our sleep, giving us more energy and the list goes on and on. So don’t think of exercise as a one-trick-pony because it’s not.

Exercise because you love your body not because you hate it.
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4. “I find exercise boring.”

I find brushing my teeth boring but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do it. Okay that may not be a great analogy but if you’re exercising for too long each time then chances are it will be boring. But moving for 5-10 minutes isn’t boring. Now if you’re an A-type personality (read over-achiever) and the idea of starting so small stresses you out then it’s time to take a chill pill. You may want to be exercising for an hour a day but you still need to walk before you can run. Remember you don’t want to set your sights too high initially – you want to set achievable goals and enjoy the feeling of meeting and then smashing those goals.

5. “I’ve never enjoyed exercise so why would I enjoy it now?”

Don’t let your past define your future. You may not have ever been into fitness but that doesn’t mean you can’t change. You don’t have to be uber fit or turn into a total gym junkie – you just need to start moving. Make exercise a habit. When something becomes a habit you do it without question. Like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. You don’t always feel like doing these things but you do them without even thinking. The key here is to let go of what was and start getting excited about what could be.

6.“I’ll start my new exercise routine next week.”

Why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? Maybe you’re planning a trip away or starting a new job but never wait for the perfect time to start to exercise. It’s like that picture of the wrinkly old lady waiting by the bus stop for the perfect man. You could be waiting a long time for the perfect time so just get on with it. Make a start and start small. There’s no perfect time for anything – there’s only the present.

If you hate exercise this will probably change your mind.
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What keeps you moving? We’d love to hear your secrets in the comments below.

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