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Why you don’t work out: Part II
Yesterday I suggested that the main reason you don’t work out is because you believe that you don’t have enough time. Hopefully I’ve sold you on the fact that once you prioritize fitness, you will find the time for it. But this mythical lack of time isn’t the only thing keeping you from working out. The second reason you don’t work out:
You’re Afraid
Fear is keeping you from the gym. Initially, you might disagree, puff your chest and think, “I ain’t afraid of nothing.” But if you dig deeper, you might find that fear has a hold on you.
Fear kept me out of the gym during high school and college. Even after college I was hesitant to join a club. I was afraid of the scary meat-heads. I was worried I would do an exercise wrong or drop my weights – or even injure myself. I didn’t want to be the nerd in the gym.
My ego kept me on the couch, drinking beer and gaining weight. If this sounds like you, I cannot emphasize enough the value of meeting with a trainer. They’ll show you the proper execution of exercises, teach you how to use equipment, and help you learn which muscles are being used.
A good trainer can make you feel more comfortable in the gym. Once you spend some time there, you’ll probably notice that there are more people like you than there are scary meat-heads.
Never been afraid of the gym setting? Okay, I still bet you’re afraid. Afraid of a lifestyle change. Afraid of committing.
You want a quick fix. You chase fad diets and six-minute abs. You’re afraid to commit to fitness. The only way you can truly commit to your health is by making a lifestyle change.
Quick fixes are popular and appealing because, ultimately, we want results but don’t want to change our lifestyle. The results don’t last. They never will. There is no quick fix.
In order to see permanent changes, your lifestyle has to change. Not for six weeks or six years, but for the rest of your life. Don’t be afraid of that.
I think we aim too small with our goals. You might tell yourself, “If I could just lose 10 pounds I’d be happy.” But then what? You’re relatively happy until you put it back on? Don’t be afraid to set a bigger goal. A lifetime goal of healthy living.
Fear of committing to a healthy lifestyle is preventing you from being the best you that you can be. Stop being afraid. Start changing your life.
Check back tomorrow for Why you don’t work out: Part III – Motivation.
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This is a very nice post.
Thanks for checking out our blog! Glad you like the post. I think part III is better. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
I think a lot of people forget that they don’t necissarily have to join a gym or a club to get active and start exercising. I had the luxury at home that my dad and mom had an abundance of exercise equipment and work out videos ( currently we’re saving up to get an eliptical machine). And it has paid off. Sure, I don’t necissarily go around with a shirt off ( but that’s more a personal thing) but many people have told me they can tell I’ve been working out. That decision to make that little change and actually pick up those weights was worth it.
That’s right on. Conveniently, people use the excuse of not having time to go to the gym as a reason they don’t work out. The problem with this is you don’t have to go to the gym to workout. There is so much you can do at home. If you have a treadmill or elliptical that is great – but you can also get great workouts with fitness balls a couple of dumbbells and mix in some at home circuit training – you have all you need! The key is to keep moving. For many people it can be hard to workout at home with many distractions – but if you can, it can be a real time saver.
Oh, and don’t forget children and pets. I find most of my excercise in a day invovles walking not one but two dogs at roughly thirty minutes a piece. That means 60 minutes total. And the dogs go out at least three times a day so that is 3 hours.
Or when I was a child and my mom would go for walks around a nearby lake ( which is roughly five miles long) guess where I was… she took me with her.
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