Top 5 Reasons Not To Exercise (And Why You Should Ignore Them)

Let’s talk about exercise.

You know, the thing you swore you’d commit yourself to for your last New Year’s resolution.

The truth is there’s always an excuse not to do something.

Anything, really.

From going to the grocery store to writing that article you want to write to going to see your naturopathic practitioner or otherwise.

Our minds are really good at excuses, especially if it’s something you don’t really want to do.

Exercise is a perfect example.

Exercise is part of any successful weight loss program, as well as any healthy lifestyle.

RELATED: The Worst Weight Loss Advice

And yet, people have hundreds of excuses for why they’re not exercising.

And like most excuses, they just don’t make sense when you really examine them.

While proper diet and nutrition are important, they only go so far.

Without exercise, you’ll be spinning your wheels in frustration, unable to live up to your full health potential.

Here are some of the most common excuses your brain may come up with for why you don’t need to exercise, and how to ignore them.

Why Do We Need Exercise?

Before we discuss excuses for not exercising, it’s important to first understand why exercise is so important for your body.

Exercise provides both your body and mind with numerous great benefits.

Firstly, it provides us with ample energy to get through our busy days while also decreasing stress.

Exercise also increases your strength, both mental and physical, as well as protects your health, especially as you age.

The Government of Canada recommends frequent exercise to prevent a variety of diseases, such as:

• Many different types of cancer
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis
• And much more

Nonetheless, many Canadians struggle with getting enough daily exercise.

The rest of this article will look closer at some of the reasons, as well as how to reframe them.

1. “I’m Too Fat”

If you’re overweight, it may seem too difficult to exercise.

You may feel like you’re too far gone.

And if you’ve been overweight for a long time, you may be stuck in a detrimental lifestyle and mentality.

Much of it has to do with mental health.

According to a 2016 study by Sarwer and Polonsky, certain psychosocial burdens, such as depression and anxiety, are linked with obesity.

However, exercise and mental health are also intimately connected.

The trick is to make exercise a daily habit.

Humans are creatures of habit, and it’s tough to break out of our habits.

But if you’re hoping for a successful weight management strategy, you’ll need to start exercising.

The good news, though, is that even if you get winded after only a few stairs, you can still start exercising.

Start gradually, even if it’s just going for a walk around the block.

You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make.

Nobody goes from being overweight to running a marathon overnight.

But if Rosalie Bradford could go from weighing a whopping 1,053 pounds to just under 300, you’re not too far gone.

Take a look at her story below.

2. “I’m Too Busy”

Many people blame time constraints for their lack of exercise.

How many times have you heard someone say that they’re too busy to fit regular physical activity into their schedule?

Heck, you might’ve even said it yourself once or twice.

But in reality, everyone is busy.

21st century lives are busier than ever.

But if you care enough about something, you’ll make time for it.

After all, you make time to catch up with your favourite TV shows, don’t you?

The truth is, you have the time.

If you want to exercise, you’ll make the time.

If you want to feel better, you’ll make the time.

If you’re committed to a weight loss program and want to make a change in your life, you’ll make the time.

And if you don’t, you’ll make this excuse.

3. “Exercise Is Boring”

If you think exercise is boring, you may need to broaden your idea of what you consider to be exercise.

Going to the gym and grinding your body isn’t for everyone, of course.

Neither are team sports.

And if your memories of exercise are all related to gym class, that might be your first and only association.

But there are other ways to exercise as well.

Dancing is exercise.

Swimming is exercise.

Going for a bike ride is exercise.

Playing the drums is exercise.

Even going for a walk or light jog with a friend is exercise.

RELATED: Health Benefits Of Running

The trick is to find some sort of exercise you enjoy doing.

You can push yourself to do what you don’t like to do once in a while, but in the long run, your willpower will give out, you won’t want to do them anymore, and you’ll end up hating exercise.

That’s not healthy.

Find something you enjoy and find a way to fit it into your daily routine.

4. “It Hurts To Exercise”

Now, this isn’t always an excuse.

Chronic pain is legitimate problem which many people face.

However, there’s a difference between pain and soreness.

If you run a kilometer on the treadmill after not having done so for a while, for example, your legs may be sore.

That’s to be expected.

This soreness usually gets worse in the next day or two after exercise, but then it will start to feel better.

However, the pain from an injury is different.

Each person is different, but if you’re experiencing joint or muscle pain, talk to a doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or other specialist to find out how you can exercise without hurting yourself.

In fact, exercise even helps manage many different types of pain, such as lower back pain.

5. “I’m Too Old”

While it’s true that getting older means we can’t do everything we did in our youth, exercise isn’t one of these things.

Very few people are so old that they can’t exercise in some fashion.

But again, this comes back to a different understanding of what exercise is in the first place.

Most fitness centres have some sort of exercise program geared toward seniors.

These are usually gentler exercises which take into consideration older bones and ligaments, but they’re still doable.

If your body feels frail and you struggle exercising, there are many small, low impact exercises you can do which will help you keep moving without hurting yourself.

Book Your Appointment With The Mindful Healing Clinic Today

Now that we have all our excuses out of the way, let’s find out some easy ways to exercise.

If you’re interested in building a weight loss program that works with your lifestyle, come see us at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

You’ll get a FREE 15-minute wellness consultation where you’ll get to sit down with me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, get all your questions answered, and find out how naturopathic medicine can help you with how to lose weight and keep it off.

Book your appointment with The Mindful Healing Clinic today to reframe your mind and start exercising.