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What’s Your Workout Woe?
Solutions to four excuses that stop you from getting in shape
In January, the image in your mind was strong. You’d hit the gym four times a week, and your physique would soon transform into a sculpted new shape. All your outfits would look fabulous on your body. Even shopping for a bathing suit would be fun! Then a few months passed, and harsh reality hit. You fell off the workout wagon, and with it went your visions of that hot new bod. Where did you go wrong, and why? And how do you get back on track? Three personal trainers share the most common reasons people give up on their workouts and how to push past those excuses to achieve the desired results.
EXCUSE 1: “It’s too easy to skip my workout.”
SOLUTION: Accountability can be a difficult challenge to overcome. That’s when investing in a personal trainer can be your best bet, according to Dana Hunsanger, personal trainer at Fitness Together in Bloomfield Township. If you have an appointment with him or her, chances are you will make it to the gym that day.
“When you’re expected to be somewhere, you’re more likely to go,” she says.
If the cost of a trainer does not fit into your budget, Hunsanger suggests taking a class – it’s cheaper but still gives you the feeling of being expected somewhere. You can sign up with a buddy for even greater accountability.
“I don’t care if it’s a dance class or a kickboxing class, just get into something that gets you moving,” Hunsanger says. “The key is to find something you love, so you’ll want to do it.”
EXCUSE 2: “I find exercise is boring.”
SOLUTION: If you spend every workout running two miles on a treadmill while watching Friends reruns, you have every right to be bored. The key to keeping exercise interesting is to have variety and a good time, says Patrick Wheeler, personal trainer at Bodymorph in Ferndale.
“It’s motivating to have fun and see results,” he says.
Mix up your cardio using machines, classes, DVDs, sports and other outdoor activities. Keep your MP3 player loaded with pumping, motivational tunes. And team up with a friend for laughter- filled workouts.
EXCUSE 3: “Who has time to work out?”
SOLUTION: Jobs, kids, chores and other responsibilities can quickly fill a day’s to-do list. However, Clint Phillips, a personal trainer and owner of Grosse Pointe Personal Trainer in Grosse Pointe Park, says time constraints are just an excuse. He suggests staying on track through baby steps as simple as putting on your workout outfit.
Don’t have 30 minutes to ride an exercise bike? Try two 15- minute bursts, or three 10-minute sessions.
If you really think you can’t find time to work out, Phillips suggests trying this trick: Agree to get on the treadmill for one minute.
“I’ve never seen a client get on a treadmill for a minute and not follow through and complete the workout,” he says.
EXCUSE 4: “I lose focus of my goal.”
SOLUTION: It’s easy to forget why you originally committed to working out, especially if you stopped seeing results. Phillips says it’s important to refocus and determine if there is a more important reason for that workout.
“People in their 20s want to look lean and sexy,” he says. “In their 40s, they start to feel the signs of aging or have seen a peer die prematurely of heart disease. In their 60s, the goal is usually independence – they want to be able to take care of themselves.”
Phillips says to ask yourself these questions: If you continue to avoid exercise, how do you see yourself in a month? In six months? In three years?
After you have that image in your mind, ask yourself: If you start exercising today, and you stick with it, how do you see yourself in a month? In six months? In three years?
Then stay focused on that positive picture, and get moving.