OBSTACLE 6: I JUST

DON’T WANT TO EXERCISE

* Photos courtesy freedigitalphotos.net

“I DON’T WANTTO EXERCISE!”

There are a million reasons

you may not want to exercise.

You don’t like it, you’re not

motivated to do it, or you just

don’t care. It’s during those

times you have to push

through and do it anyway.

You can find a way to overcome

exercise apathy to make way

for good health.

WHY YOU DON’TWANT TO EXERCISE

You just don’t like it

You’re not feeling well (cold, flu, PMS, etc.)

You’re not motivated

You’ve plateaued

You don’t want to look hot and sweaty at work

You’re bored

YOU JUST DON’T LIKE IT

Vegetables and exercise are two

things most people don’t like, but

need. Not liking them is not a good

reason not to do it. The key is to find

an exercise activity you enjoy and

look forward to. Anything that gets

your heart rate up to a moderate

intensity (some difficulty talking

through a workout) is going to benefit

you.

• Find an activity you enjoy—league

play, walking, running, elliptical,

Zumba, group exercise, etc.

YOU’RE NOT FEELING WELL

When your body is tired from

sickness, the temptation is to skip

a workout. If you’re genuinely ill

with a fever, or vertigo from a cold,

skipping your workout is a good

idea. But if you’re just crampy

from PMS, or just a touch tired

from a cold, you can still do

something to workout.

• If it’s PMS or just a touch tired,

workout for 10 minutes and see

how you feel. If you really can’t

go any more, then stop. But

more than likely, you’ll be able

to power through once you get

started.

YOU’RE NOT MOTIVATED

Only you know how to get yourself

motivated—maybe it’s a fit-spiration

board on Pinterest, a bathing suit you

want to wear, or getting healthy for your

kids. But, let’s be honest, sometimes

there just isn’t anything that will get you

motivated. During those times, there’s

only one thing to do:

• Workout anyway. Period.

• Just getting started is enough. After

10-15 minutes, your motivation may

show up and get you through. If it

doesn’t, keep doing it anyway.

YOU’VE PLATEAUED

There is nothing that will make you dislike

working out more than hitting a plateau.

Whether it lasts a week or a year, a plateau

makes you frustrated—and often want to

quit. To stay motivated, keep in mind:

• Plateaus are the best time to switch up

your workout & try something new.

• Focus on the way you’re body feels.

• Your weight can stay the same, but your

body is getting leaner, if you’re building

more muscle mass. Make sure you’re

measuring body fat percentage, as well as

weight.

YOU DON’T WANT TO BE HOT & SWEATY AT WORK

Many corporate facilities have a gym, or allow you to take enough of a lunch break to go workout. But you don’t want to come back hot & sweaty. This is a reasonable problem with reasonable solutions:

• Come prepared with workout clothes, cloth wipes, deodorant and a hair dryer

• Take a Marine bath post-workout instead of a full shower

• Style your hair with working out in mind—pony tail, bun, or curly

YOU’RE BORED

Whether it’s your workout or your diet, boredom will naturally set in over time. While there are some staples to your workout you want to keep, being open to new foods and workouts is a must. Being bored isn’t a reason to quit—it’s a reason to try something new.

• Hit up a new group exercise class or league.

• Take a cooking class and try a new dinner.

• Switch up your playlist—music is a great motivator when you keep it fresh.