Jessica Bowser Nelson Fitness

3 Common Fitness Excuses & My Ways On How To Avoid Them

As many of you know, working out ISN’T just a hobby of mine- it was a complete lifestyle change for me. But before I became a fitness enthusiast, I was exactly where you are. It can be difficult to get excited about working out- trust me I know! I used to have a few fitness excuses that I found I was relying on EVERY single time.

But no worries- I’ve got a few practical ways on how I started to actually avoid those fitness excuses. YIPPEEEEE! Because let’s be honest, we’re not getting any younger and the sooner we can all incorporate a fitness routine into our daily life, the better!

Excuse 1: I don’t have time

Trust me- I get it. You’re busy. We all are! It’s hard to motivate yourself to work out when you are exhausted from working all day. But, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I’ve found that it’s easier to start incorporating fitness into your daily routine when you ARE busy.

Busy people just simply get more things done. Think about the last time you had a day off. Have you ever all of the sudden looked at the clock and it reads 4:00 pm and all you do is wonder, “Where the heck did the day go?” On a regular day, you’d already accomplished more by 8:00 am. Ha!

I have several 25-30 minutes a day, programs that can get you amazing results..aka LESS than a TV show. So just know it’s possible and other people are doing it. I figure if Richard Branson can fit it in, then so can I. 🙂

Bonus ways to fit exercise in:

When you are running errands-

• park your car in the furthest spot and walk
• take the stairs instead of the elevator
• carry your grocery items to the car instead of pushing them in a cart
• take your dog for a jog
• if you are meeting someone for lunch walk to the restaurant.

When you are at home: while you are watching Netflix or during commercials do some lunges, planks, or squats.

Schedule a meeting: sometimes it’s just easier to pretend working out is like going to a meeting. By scheduling time every single day at the same time– you are more likely to show up ready to work out. So add it to your to-do list. If you are anything like me you will feel good crossing your workout off your list (love crossing off ANYTHING! Ha!).

Excuse 2: I hate working out alone

If you hate feeling awkward working out alone (omg- one reason I hate the gym), find a friend you were going to already make plans with or join an online fitness accountability group (my next one is starting soon if you want in).

Other alternatives could be:

• Instead of going shopping with a friend, go for a walk before getting a healthy snack.
• Invite a friend over for a quick 21 Day Fix session before having a girl’s night in.
• Talk to a friend to about keeping you accountable. Just knowing that someone is going to call you out if you miss a work out could be exactly what you need!

Excuse 3: It’s boring

This fitness excuse is one I struggled with the most and it requires a little more time but it’s totally worth it in the end!

Find something you love: Try every possible workout type until you find the workout you don’t hate! Ha! There are so many options out there from P90X to Insanity to biking, running, yoga and pilates! You are bound to find a workout that you like and that keeps you moving. This is vital for myself. If I dread it, I avoid it, so it’s got to be something that gets my blood pumping and has me excited.

Set a goal: Sometimes you just need to have a goal in mind to get yourself going. By having something to work towards, you are more likely to get motivated! So try signing up for a race! Not only will you be motivated by the deadline- you’ll also feel like you should workout because you spent money to register for the race. It’s called skin in the game.

Make it a game: If signing up for a race or committing to a 90 day workout plan isn’t your thing, try making your workout a game. Set challenges and goals for yourself that you have to beat each time. For example, try wearing a Fitbit that tracks your steps. Encourage your friends and family to compete against you.

Before you know it, walking instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, and moving in general will become second nature. Just by being creative, you’ll notice that being active will become a habit and your fitness excuses will lessen. YAHOO! Eventually, it will feel weird if you DON’T do any physical activity each day.

So let me know in the comments below-
What fitness excuses do you find yourself making the most and what creative ways do you use to avoid it?

P.S. I have my next private online fitness accountability group starting soon to help you get crazy results all while having fun in a short amount of time. If you want more info on how to join, just shoot me a message at jessica@jessicabowsernelson.com.

Digging Deeper,
Jessica Bowser Nelson