I'm getting frustrated! Why do people consistently make excuses to NOT exercise?...
You're not doing it for the sake of it, because it's fashionable, or because you had some spare time to fill; it's for a better way of life, a healthier lifestyle, stronger heart and lungs, to reduce the risk of injury and illness and improve the way you look and feel - reason enough I think!!!
So WHY do people continue to make excuses (let's be honest, that's usually what they are) to not exercise!?!?.. A few favourites of mine...
"I'M TOO OLD" Rubbish!!! You're body will become as immobile as you let it. When EVER anyone says this to me I tell them about Nanny Nicholls (a real person), 87 years old, dances 3 times per week, hearing is spot on, she's young at heart, very mobile and very independent. Because she keeps herself active! If you don't use it - you WILL lose it!
So you didn't do the same, it's NEVER too late to start. I'm not suggesting a marathon or Everest climb, but you can significantly improve health and well being at any age!
Just like when you go on holiday and leave your car standing for two weeks, it might not start again without a push, your body, if left alone and unused, will also need a hand starting up. It may make funny noises and not feel quite right but it can soon be a regularly used and reliable runner!
"I HAVE AN INJURY" Worse yet - "I HAVE BACK PROBLEMS" These back problems are probably caused by your weight! Think about it - what kind of strain is the weight around your front going to be putting on your poor back - it's time to shift it!
As for injuries, granted, some will make it unrealistic to exercise heavily, but.. I've seen people in a gym before on crutches! If you REALLY want to, there is usually ALWAYS a way to get in some exercise!
"I DON'T HAVE TIME WITH WORK" Work will ALWAYS be there. but unless you don't do something about your health, you might not be!! Stay fit and work becomes less of a strain! Simple as that!
"I DON'T NEED TO EXERCISE - I'M NOT FAT" I don't give a ****! You're walking round with a Ferrari chassis and a Ford Fiesta engine! Just because you're body looks OK, it doesn't mean it's not crying out inside with all the crap fuel you throw into it. No one has a perfect body (internally OR externally) so you can always improve; whether it's the way you look, muscle tone, waist line etc or the strength of your heart and lungs, you need to do something!
"I'M TOO UNFIT!" This is ridiculous! EVERYONE has their first gym visit, but if you make it a habit you'll soon be up to speed with the rest of them. Maybe avoid spin classes if you've done no exercise for the past 5 years but there's absolutely no reason why you can't have a regular gym program! Seek the help of a fitness professional - I bet they'd be more than happy to lend a hand.
If I hear "I'M TOO UNFIT FOR PERSONAL TRAINING" one more time, I think I'll cry! That's WHY you have it - to help improve your fitness. It's not a one size fits all package, the trainer is there to asses your current fitness levels and improve them. How can you be too unfit for that?...
"GYMS ARE BORING!" Gyms ARE boring, but then so is your workplace and you spend enough time there! A gym is as interesting and fun as you make it. Talk to people, smile at people, take a friend, vary your program, try new exercises, try classes - there's PLENTY you can do to stop the gym being boring! We're WELL past the 80's style 30 mins treadmill and 30 mins rowing, bicep curls and home routines! Sample what's on offer.
"I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE IN A GYM!" .. Don't then!!!?... Come for a bit though, a few times a week maybe?.. You can get an AWESOME workout finished in 45 minutes or under; Classes rarely run for much longer than that too! Are you telling me you can't make 45 minutes free in your week a few times for the sake of a stronger heart and lungs, less chance of disease, a better physique and improved happiness in the way you look and feel?... Didn't think so!
“I struggle to make it to the gym as sometimes I work late.”
A common complaint and one that has a whole HOST of solutions; here are just a few:
TABATA TRAINING...
Tabata training is a gift from the time gods (no, it’s not bread training!) The principle is that you work as hard as you can for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and repeat another 7 times on the same weight or settings. (Total time: 4 minutes). This can be applied to pretty much anything, from cardio such as sprints/walks, or rowing. Or for a weights program (nothing to heavy mind you). This is first on the list because, as my colleagues will tell you, I love it!
BENEFITS: Workouts can be completed quickly and still offer a lot of benefits. High calorie burn, short session time, HUGE pump, good for growth as a natural pyramid in reps will occur due to fatigue. Whether you want to do a complete session in this part (ie: all back exercises), a "finisher" to your session for one body part, a full body workout, or a varied cardio workout, tabata offers something for everyone
ISSUES TO CONSIDER: Fatigue plays a big part in this training. If the first set is difficult your weight is too heavy! If the move is very technical and has potential for form to be an issue, try to avoid it. Moves such as deadlifts can be a little too much for tabata. If it's your first time and you're unsure on weights, try machines as this will allow you to adjust weights in the 10 second gap - lat pull down is a great choice!
FYI: I found my GymBoss timer helped with this massively! It keep timing accurate, keeps you on track and makes you stick to all 8 sets. £15 well spent if you ask me: http://www.gymboss.com/
CLASSES... There are LOADS of different classes available these days. Likelihood is you won’t like all of them, but don’t knock them ‘till you try them. Give them a whirl, it could just be the shock you need to boost your training and speed up results
BENEFITS: They’re 45 minutes to an hour guaranteed – no long gym sessions. You need no prior knowledge or expertise as someone will guide you through it. When you’re feeling unenthusiastic and could potentially have a lengthy and unproductive session or worse still, avoid the gym all together classes can be the motivation you need. If you’re an appointments kind of person these are ideal, you can work around an exact time and schedule it in your daily routine. Classes can run all day long so if you have an hour before work, at lunch, or in the evening then you’ll find something
ISSUES TO CONSIDER: Don’t be put off before you even try it – everyone was in your shoes once and joined a class for the first time. You’ve got to start somewhere. Don’t give up after one visit, most classes at a gym are included in the price so try them all. If you’re not hooked after one visit, give it a second go. You’d be surprised how much more enjoyable a class is once you have a vibe for the format and an idea of what's ahead
CIRCUIT STYLE or SUPER SETS... Try working for a short time at high intensity, set out a pre-designed “lap” of the gym with up to 8 stations and work from one to the next with only the walk between and adjusting the equipment as your rest. Alternatively, work this on a smaller scale and use two apparatus for the same muscle groups and use them back to back to create a "super-set" (EG: Dips super set with tricep pull down to overload the triceps).
BENEFITS: You can cram in a session late in the day, up the intensity and get yourself home. Great calorie burner and gives you a real sweat and feeling of being pumped
ISSUES TO CONSIDER: Peak times could put an end to the circuits idea; that or an active gym team clearing equipment away as you use it. If that’s the case a super-set session should still be workable
SHORT AND SWEET...Keep your sessions to a maximum of 45 minutes. a) no one wants to spend their entire evening in the gym (well some people do but we don't talk about them!) and b) (most importantly), long session don't necessarily mean more results. I know, this is HORRIBLE to hear for those people with a "If I do more, I get more" mentality, but sorry... it's true!
BENEFITS: You're in and out in 45 minutes (surely you can spare an hour or so!?). You get the most benefits from your workout in terms of cardio improvements, calorie burning and muscle growth
ISSUES TO CONSIDER: Time restrictions mean that it can be difficult to do a "power" session as you may need more rest. To be fair, you should only have session of this kind on a monthly basis unless you training/sport requires more. For "average Joe", 45 minutes is plenty!
So there you have 4 great ways of getting an effective session in when work only allows for a short session. All comments/suggestions/additions welcome.
This was 2 minutes of work and REALLY gets the heart going and works the body from top to bottom. Surely you have time for that?...
