What excuses have you used in order not to exercise?

I have been guilty in the past of being my own worst enemy when it comes to getting started.
If I don't exercise first thing in the morning, I can think of many reasons why I will "do it tomorrow"!.

I'm too busy, I'm too tired, missing one day won't hurt, I can start again next week, to name just a few!

What are your excuses and how do you over come them?

Replies

  • joyfulrunner22
    joyfulrunner22 Posts: 33 Member
    Every single one you listed I have used. I have even used my husband is deployed, I am in the Army too, I get enough exercise. Heck I even chase my kids around. When in reality I would cram for a PT test and stress about my physical fitness.

    I over came it by working out again. I remembered how good I felt afterwards. Honestly, the hardest thing to do is the first step (get out of bed).
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    i have to talk myself into NOT excercising lol.

    In the past though, I have had a pretty severe shoulder/c-spine injury and I have been known to wrap myself in cotton wool when my shoulder is sore because I don't really want to go down the painkillers and semi paralysis route again. I had to remind myself that using a bike or going for a walk doesn't actually use my shoulder/upper spine...and that if i don't keep my trapezius strong then it WILL dislocate.

    Gotta say, once that message got through i was kinda okay :laugh:

    My excuses are usually injury or exhaustion related. And usually valid.

    So my tip is learn what is an excuse and what is your body genuinely saying 'please, not today'
  • karenertl
    karenertl Posts: 271 Member
    Usually I tell myself I don't have time, I'm too tired or I just don't feel like it. Now that it's getting warmer out, I'm hoping to get outside and walk, jog or go on a bike ride a few times a week. I have a bad habit of giving in, unfortunately. That's why I got a stationary bike, though. I can just hop on it and get at least some exercise.
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    If it's raining I usually say I'll go tomorrow but we're on our 2nd day of rain here in Ontario and I'm going to have to do it no matter what. I have already missed 2 days. ps - I run outside and don't have a gym membership.
  • well today it's because my daughter has to major concerts for school back to back but i am going to walk the dogs tonight.
  • Mateo1985
    Mateo1985 Posts: 153
    I'm just way too fit to exercise!!! lol. but yeah... it would always be the lack of energy. So now I just make sure I go in the morining before work. I'm not a morning person so it was tough to get used to but two months into it I'm loving it now
  • phatguerilla
    phatguerilla Posts: 188 Member
    My main excuses are tiredness or doms, but if I went to the gym and got some blood pumping the doms would probably go away quicker! I find it helpful to have my gym bag already packed the night before, although I don't always follow my own advice.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    OH and to con myself into going to the gym I stock my gym bag with body shop minis haha i love body products and often the idea of getting to use them will get me to the gym.
  • seena511
    seena511 Posts: 685 Member
    thinking that i've worked really hard lately and i deserve a day off. doesn't work if i've already had my weekly rest day >.<
  • SinomenJen
    SinomenJen Posts: 262 Member
    I willl go workout after i read some more on MFP, that is exactly what i am sitting here doing right now. I know i will feel better after, and I LOVE what results i am seeing its just that initial getting up and starting that is hard some days.
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 831 Member
    Not having enough energy, or just finishing work and being too tired to do anything but roll into bed - mostly this was due to all the bad eating I did!

    I still tell myself I will get up in the morning and exercise - but I'm terrible at it. At least now I am eating right I have the energy to work out after work!
  • redwan2001
    redwan2001 Posts: 286 Member
    Everything you mentioned chica, it is hard you just have to fight through it. My main excuse is tired from along day's work or maybe the time factor at times. I know if I don't go exercise I feel like crap. I have come along way take it from me I use to weigh 350lbs yes me lol I am at 165 lbs. So it is a constant push to make yourself work out. Feel free to add me if you need an extra motivating buddy :)


    Nadia
  • michelle7673
    michelle7673 Posts: 370 Member
    LOL -- I feel like my morning was an obstacle course of excuses!!!
    I got up and wanted to go to the local HS track to do c25k intervals. SO there's a cop and a barrier in the middle of the road. Apparently there is some kind of road race going on. I tried to go around three different ways, and road blocks on all the ways in.
    SO I drove through town to the other HS. I warmed up and did the first three intervals....and the lacrosse team came out.
    So I drove home. I was so upset and frustrated that I was in tears, and almost ran a red light.
    But I got home, and let the dogs out, and said "I'm doing the other 5 on my own hill". Now this is a pretty steep hill, and I hike it for exercise (which is hard enough). But I ran the last 5 uphill, with both dogs (90-pound rambunctious labs) charging at me and running in circles around me.
    At that point it just got kind of funny and I dodged around them. They sort of became a symbol of the obstacles, and instead of crying, I was laughing.
    So I finished that, and then did 45 minutes of hiking up and down with them.
    This is a good day. The scale's been stuck for a week, and it moved down again today, but mostly, I'm proud that I didn't give up. Because boy did I want to.
  • thesupremeforce
    thesupremeforce Posts: 1,206 Member
    I've done a good job of ignoring potential excuses lately, but I did skip a day of my DDP Yoga on Monday due to nearly breaking my thumb last weekend. I wound up going for an extra run that day in an attempt to compensate, because I'm paranoid about falling into old habits of laziness.
  • drefaw
    drefaw Posts: 739
    Just today I used, ... I only had 4 hrs sleep, I'm exhausted, and I'm in the middle of a 6 day string of 12.5 hr work days, and a 45min drive both ways, excuse.

    And I feel bad about it too. Although, I'm active and on my feet all day, I average 3-4 miles a day at work walking, along with up and down approx 40 flights of stairs through out the day.

    I just don't see the point in a heavy workout, when you are sleep deprived. ...

    So that's my excuse ... about the only one I ever have used ....I LOVE going to the gym ......
  • runningjen74
    runningjen74 Posts: 312 Member
    My excuses: I'm tired, don't like the gym at this time as it's busy, don't like running outside as it's too cold/hot/wet/dry, I'm hungry, I'm full.....Over the years, I've used them all. I've been consistent in working out the last 3 months, and baring a month with bad dose I've been consistent the last 6 months. I love it now, but not every day - I do still need to get myself out the door.

    I schedule it in now, my schedule says I need to go, so I better go.

    I sign up for a challenge that I NEED to train for. e.g. Tomorrow night I'm running my first 10km, so I needed to work up to that for fear that I wouldn't be able to finish it.

    Finally, if I really really don't want to go out, I just put on my gym clothes, then sit back down, then put on my runners, sit back down, fill up my water bottle, sit back down, I generally run out of things to do and most days actually make it out the door.
  • Bel0602
    Bel0602 Posts: 135 Member
    Normally I'll tell myself I will workout the next day. Or that I just will eat less. That I'm tired.