How to get your healthy lifestyle started
Stop using these excuses!
Starting your fitness journey can seem daunting, whether its because you are a beginner and feel like you are too unfit or it’s just nerve-wracking to start at a new gym. Everyone goes through some type of obstacle to get their healthy-lifestyle on track.
Below we are going to discuss what I think are the most common excuses from people that stop them from starting their healthy lifestyles.
Too Busy -
This is probably the most common excuse we get! Everyone’s lives are busy in different ways, you just need to find a way to make a workout fit into your day. It might be while the kids are at school, or get yourself up 30 minutes earlier in the mornings. Working out doesn’t mean that you have to go to a gym. Try a home workout that you can do in your lounge while you watch TV at night.
If you are really squeezed for time, try a Tabata workout, these only take 4 minutes to do 1 round. If 1 round is all you can do, that is better than nothing, just make sure you push yourself as hard as you can in those 4 minutes.
Too Tired –
If you are always tired (from work, kids or just life in general) then exercise will help. Doing a quick workout can help boost your energy for the day and once the exercise is part of your weekly routine, you will start to notice a good difference in your energy levels which will make it easier to get to your workouts.
If you are still constantly tired though you need to look more at your diet and sleeping schedule. It might just be going to bed that bit earlier at night to make sure you get enough sleep.
Too unfit –
This reason is surprisingly a common misconception, some people believe you must already be fit to exercise (whether it’s just going to the gym or joining a class). This is not true at all.
Everyone must start somewhere, and most people were most likely having the same thoughts when they first started to exercise.
There is nothing wrong with just doing what you can. It is all going to be new so don’t be scared to ask for some help at the gym, or if you do join a group just work at your own pace. Don’t push yourself too hard in the beginning, take your time to learn things correctly first.
If you still don’t feel comfortable joining a gym/class, you can always do something like our Home Programs first, which will help you build up your fitness from the comfort of your own home.
It’s too hard –
You may have tried to start your fitness journey before, and it was just too difficult.
It could be that you joined a class or started a new program and your fitness level was not up to where it was needed to keep up, or the exercises were just too hard. There is no point in attending a class you hate because you will be more likely to stop going. You just need to experiment and try different classes or programs until you find one that you enjoy and that you feel capable of pushing yourself through.
If its more the whole gym environment was too intimidating, and you feel like everyone is watching and judging you. This feeling will pass as you become more confident in yourself. Most people who are in the gym are focussed on their own workout and don’t even notice what you are doing on the other side of the gym.
The weather –
The weather can be so unpredictable that you should not rely on it to determine whether you work out. If you use ‘It’s too hot’ or ‘It’s too cold’ or even both as an excuse, when are you meant to work out!
This makes it such a small window of the year that you can work out that you will not get the results you want.
When it’s “too cold” the hardest part is getting to the gym (or wherever you work out), so rug up and get there because as soon as you get moving you will warm up, I promise.
When it’s “too hot”, It can suck but try to exercise indoors or at least in the shade, bring a drink bottle (add some ice cubes) and bring a towel.
Depending on how hot the weather is you may have to take your work out a bit easier just so you don’t overdo it, you don’t want to push yourself too hard and pass out. Just listen to your body.