The Exercise Excuse List
If you haven't taken the Catalyst Weight Management
Course, you
may not know the amazing effect exercise has on the metabolism. One of the
studies on the effects of exercise we examine is The Baylor
Study of 1995, which shows that exercise is even
more important than any other factor in your ability to lose weight comfortably
and permanently.
There is no way around it. You must exercise and you must do it
effectively. Do you really want to waste your time doing it in a
non-productive way? Absolutely not! Here's a list of the most common excuses and some ways around them.
What's your favorite excuse?
I Get Bored
One of the most important elements of any exercise program is change.
You have to constantly change what you're doing and how you're doing it for it to
remain effective for your body. Change in your workout program is
also contributes by keeping your motivation high and motivation will ultimately
be the key to reaching your weightloss goals.
Exercise tapes are a great backup to any exercise plan and a good change as
well. The larger your collection, the
more rotation stock you have - and the more you'll work different areas of the
body, perhaps the most important added plus. Checking out tapes at your
local library can give you a free look at different types of tapes.
Unfortunately, most libraries don't carry many tapes, have antique collections,
or have begun to charge for rental!
Renting at your video store can be
helpful too, especially if you get to know which types of tapes and which
instructors you prefer. A lot of video store collections have the same
problems as library collections but, on a cold, snowy day, if nothing else
works, get to the nearest video store and rent SOMETHING!
Amazon's has a section where readers have rated their favorite workout tapes
. These are people who actually use them, not
"critics." I recommend the weight training tapes
of "The Firm" for beginners because they have clear instruction
and use very comfortable, safe moves. Connect to Amazon's
Fitness & Yoga DVDs
.
Weight lifting has been proven to be the most effective type of exercise for
weight control because of its ability to boost metabolism. It is vital to
your health and fitness that you leave the stress of fad dieting behind you and
begin burning fat through a consistent, healthy exercise program.
When you are completely saturated with a certain type of workout and entering
the burnout zone, make a definite break and try something completely
different. If you've been doing a lot of running or kickboxing, try yoga
or pilates. Transition to weight workouts if you're waterlogged from
too much swimming. It's always good to work the muscles in a new way and
biking, swimming and other water activities are not weight-bearing and,
therefore, they do not protect you from developing osteoporosis like weight
training, running and walking do. Find hundreds of fitness items now at Gaiam.com
,
including yoga, pilates and tai chi videos.
I'm Uncomfortable in My Clothes
OR
Do I Have To Wear Those Skimpy Outfits?
You would be surprised at how many of my clients are afraid of workout
clothes! I have even had personal training appointments at the gym and had
to push my client through the front door!
Are you really afraid of the gym? There's actually nobody there but
people who want to change their fitness levels - oh, you'll run into some
self-centered types who came to flirt with the opposite sex or show off
their new spandex outfit but you're not there to pay attention to freaks -
you're there to WORK. Get in there, do your work and leave in a happier,
more optimistic frame of mind. Nothing else matters!
Even working out at home can be a drag if you're wearing your husband's old
clothes. Finding comfortable, utilitarian workout clothes in plus sizes used to be
difficult. It no longer is. If you can't find the right gear in
your town (or don't have the time to shop for it), Ladies Only Sports
has
great workout clothes in a wide range of sizes.
Women need a well-fitting sports bra as well. Don't assume your fashion
bra is supportive enough for most exercise. It pays to do a little
research in this area: click to see lots of styles and get 20%
off the best selling sport bras at Activa Sports!
Don't buy heavy sweats in the hopes that you'll cover up (unless you're going
to be outside) - buy lightweight, breathable items that will wash and wear
easily.
Although it is difficult to buy athletic shoes for the first time over the
internet, if you know which manufacturer fits you best, it's easier and less
expensive to buy from online merchants. Try shoes on for the first time in
a store and make sure you get a good fit.
Once you've worn a shoe a while, you'll know if it remains comfortable.
Then, you can order by brand name online and Save
15% on all orders.
Replace shoe the minute the arches sag or they become worn on the
bottom. If you knees start to twinge and ache, check your shoes for
wear. Replacing shoes often will save you a lot of knee, back and leg pain
and problems in the future.
Most people find certain brands make a type of shoe that fits them better than
others. New Balance, for instance, makes a great shoe for wide feet. I
like Asics because I find their shoes give me good cushioning at the heel striking
point. Once you know what you want, order online and save money.
I Exercise But I Never See Any
Results - It's Not Worth It!
Are you exercising at the correct target heart rate? If you tend to hop
on a stationary bike and begin reading a magazine or watching TV, you may not be
paying attention to your exercise intensity level. A heart rate monitor is
the answer. If you've never monitored your heart rate during aerobic
exercise, be sure to read How
to Use a Target Heart Rate. You can let the great wrist model Heart Rate Monitors
do the thinking and calculating for you!
Also, there's a wide array of heart rate monitors, bodyfat calculators,
accurate scales and excellent CD/Radio combos available at the Sharper Image. Get fit and healthy with products from The Sharper Image
.
I like their digital scales - easy to read and accurate.
The Weather is Terrible Where I Live!
Is it 100 degrees today in Dallas or Tucson? Is it -20 degrees in St.
Paul or Fargo? Yes, bad weather happens. And it can be
counterproductive to try to fight your way into shape and fight the elements at
the same time. Most experts agree you should never exercise outdoors if it is above
90 degrees (or 85 degrees with 50% humidity) or
below zero. In addition, if you are new to exercise, you should be more
cautious and exercise outdoors only when the temperature is above 20 or below 85 degrees.
I run outdoors until the mercury drops to 3 or 4 degrees
but I am used to it. I never run outdoors if the sidewalks
or roads are icy. Common sense and safety should always rule.
Let's explore some replacement ideas for indoors workouts. Have you
always wanted to try kickboxing? Winter in Wisconsin or summer in Texas is
an excellent time to move that workout into a studio and let an instructor take
over. It is often refreshing not to have to think about designing your
workout plan too.
Again, I want to reiterate: Change is good. Say that to
yourself. We are all here because we want change in our lives. Change is good.
Shake up that exercise plan by trying a new exercise video. For special packages of video plus equipment, Find hundreds of fitness items now at Gaiam.com
- including
yoga, pilates and martial arts.
I Hate Gyms!
Create your own workout space at home! The great advantages of this
approach include convenience and availability. No waiting for
equipment! Working out precisely when you want to -
even if it's midnight!
You can create your own equipment haven for less than you realize.
Forget the expensive items you see on TV hawked by star spokespersons. You
can find major brands with proven reputations online, at second-hand stores or
even in the classified ads.
Figuring out what equipment you need is one step. You can get a good idea of
what you like by asking friends for recommendations, using different equipment
at your local YMCA or community recreation center, then use the internet as a
resource for bargains.
Check out Pat's Fabulous 10-Minute Workout!
