8 Reasons You Don't Exercise

Exercise. For most people, the word conjures up unpleasant thoughts and feelings because of past experiences when they struggled with exercise or got hurt. Some believe that the amount of exercise it takes to lose weight isn't realistic for their lifestyle. For others, the word exercise reminds them of a time when they loved being active and having the benefits associated with being fit and healthy. What does the word exercise bring up for you?

It is easy to assume that when you don't exercise regularly, you are somehow lazy, bad, undisciplined or a couch potato. These judgments don't reflect the real reasons for not exercising. The real reasons are likely tied to one of eight different obstacles that can be easily understood and addressed.

1. Low Motivation. A common obstacle to exercising is not feeling motivated enough to do it. You won't be motivated day-in and day-out to exercise if you haven't identified what it is you want to be able to do or feel as a result of regular aerobic and strengthening activities. It often isn't enough to want to lose weight or avoid a disease. It takes wanting something that really matters to you enough to exercise, even if you aren't in the mood, such as being able to keep up with your kids, having the stamina to follow your dreams, participating in a team charity walk, or wanting to feel self-confident in your relationship. And it helps to choose activities that you find so energizing and fun that you can't wait to go. Do You Need Variety to Stay Motivated?

2. Low Priority Planning. Not having enough time is really a result of not putting exercise higher in your priorities. Anyone can find time to exercise if it matters enough to them, and if they can find the motivation to stick with it. A way to make this easier to is to find an exercise or a group class you love so much, you will find ways to fit it into your schedule. Another is to look at your calendar for the week and see where you can fit in time for exercise and schedule it. This will also help you set goals based on what is realistic, and if you can find someone to be accountable to you will be more motivated to reach those goals.

3. Too Much, Too Soon. In the excitement of starting a program, when you feel highly motivated to get started, it is easy to overdo it and find yourself giving up because you can't sustain the pace or because you've gotten injured. Try starting off with smaller goals and less intensity, so that you don't feel so overwhelmed and can experience your ability to succeed in reaching your goals. With each weekly success, you can stretch your time, distance and effort a bit more and continue to have successes. In time, you will be doing more than you once thought possible, and you may surprise yourself by discovering you have a passion for being fit and participating in fitness events. It happens to many people, including me.