Excuses, Excuses...

• I don’t have time to exercise,
• I am too tired to exercise after work, kids…,
• I can’t afford a gym membership,
• I don’t know how to eat properly,
• I can’t afford to eat healthy,

This week’s blog is all about excuses.  Ever heard (or used) any of the above?

Plus many more I am sure!  There is an excuse for anything if you try hard enough.  I have used most of the above plus a few other inventive ones many times.  However, they are all baloney.  If you want something, you will find the time, energy, money or figure out other ways to get what you want.  For example; if you can’t afford a gym membership, the Y offers subsidized memberships or you can use your home and neighbourhood.

Make a list of your “favorite” excuses and then after each one write at least three solutions.  One of my favorites is that I don’t have time.

For solutions I came up with:

1. I could get up earlier and go to the Y or go downstairs to my home gym.
2. I could go after work, before the kids get home from school some days.
3. I can take the kids after school and let them swim, climb the rock wall, go to a program or go to playcentre.
4. Also, I don’t have to exercise for hours every day of the week.  An
5. average of an hour a day will still be enough to lose weight at a safe, smart rate and increase your fitness level.

There are 168 hours in a week.  If you are getting 8 hours of sleep a night (you should be!), you have 112 hours left minus 50 (give or take) for work and travel time.  You still have 62 hours left in your week. That is almost 9 hours a day!  Sit down and figure out what you spend your time on.  It might surprise you.  Do you “play” on the computer or your phone or watch TV?

A few of my favourite quotes:

“Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”   - Edward Stanley

“What fits your busy schedule better, exercising one hour a day or being dead 24 hours a day?” 
- Randy Glasbergen, Cartoonist

They say it quite well I think!  What are your favourite excuses?  You can comment below or email me at tdafoe@ymcanorthumberland.com.