Excuses, excuses...

trudijoy
trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
Since I started MFP I have heard SO many 'reasons' as to why other people 'can't do what I'm doing - lose weight and get healthy.

Given that I have several better reasons why I shouldn't be successful - but am anyway - I find these hard to take....

What excuses have people made to you?

- too busy
- too hard
- too expensive
- the kids won't eat that kind of food
- my partner only likes junk so I have to eat that

blah blah.....

what else?

Replies

  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Don't know where to start is a frequent one I hear.
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    most common excuse I hear "I can't exercise because my knees hurt to bad" Ya, my knees use to hurt all the time BECAUSE I was carrying around all that extra weight! I want to always say to them, well I don't think that bag of Doritos and coke are good for your knees either! lol
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    most common excuse I hear "I can't exercise because my knees hurt to bad" Ya, my knees use to hurt all the time BECAUSE I was carrying around all that extra weight! I want to always say to them, well I don't think that bag of Doritos and coke are good for your knees either! lol

    speaking as someone who has fought back from a 13 bone dislocation of my upper spine to play netball again, sore knees are definitely an excuse not a reason!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Don't know where to start is a frequent one I hear.
    yes! I don't know where to start, so I won't try..... ummmmm okaaaaay...?
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    I usually don't have time or the energy to exercise . But I am on my feet for 7.5 hours at work as well as not actually sitting down a lot at home. Basically I am usually on the go. I think if people who don't know where to start , don't have time etc, start of with improving their diet the rest can start to follow. I understand that it can take a few changes for some people, but little changes really make a big difference . Also even if your kids, or other half eat different foods deal with it. Mostly for me , I eat the same foods, just more of the better foods, or try to.
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    most common excuse I hear "I can't exercise because my knees hurt to bad" Ya, my knees use to hurt all the time BECAUSE I was carrying around all that extra weight! I want to always say to them, well I don't think that bag of Doritos and coke are good for your knees either! lol

    Tell that to my brand new titanium knee. All this has been done since it was put in. If I can do this with a total knee replacement, while rehabbing the knee, don't hand me the "my knee hurts" crap. I ain't buying it.
  • My favorite is the pain associated with losing weight. Or "that won't work for me"... I do understand the attempt and the sentiment associated, the only problem I have is with people that won't even try. Had a lady who was QUITE a bit overweight telling me that so I challenged her to pick up a gallon of water from the left side of her recliner and put it down on the right... then do that (starting out) 10 times a day. Then increased it by 5 times every other week. It was such a "simple" action she didn't even "see the point." until she called and asked what she could do because she was getting bored moving her water gallon 100 times a day. She'd been so focused on that she hadn't weighed herself, hadn't noticed that her favorite panties were dropping off of her, and that she was standing on her own... point being... folks need to stop the excuses and find ANYTHING small to do.

    Ok, I'm exhausted so rambling - will get off hte soapbox now LOL
  • chunkydunk714
    chunkydunk714 Posts: 784 Member
    We've all made excuses at some point; hence, we didn't just get overly plump for no reason.

    One day these excuse makers will no longer make excuses and just do it. Like Nike baby ;)
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    most common excuse I hear "I can't exercise because my knees hurt to bad" Ya, my knees use to hurt all the time BECAUSE I was carrying around all that extra weight! I want to always say to them, well I don't think that bag of Doritos and coke are good for your knees either! lol

    Tell that to my brand new titanium knee. All this has been done since it was put in. If I can do this with a total knee replacement, while rehabbing the knee, don't hand me the "my knee hurts" crap. I ain't buying it.

    That is amazing! So proud of you! I hope I can tell your story next time i get the ol' but my knee hurts just walking to the mailbox excuse!!! Great job!
  • getitamb
    getitamb Posts: 2,019 Member
    I dont have time and my famly doesn't eat healhy are ones that I hear a lot. Oh and my boyfirnd, husband or whoever likes me thick.
  • fullofquirks
    fullofquirks Posts: 182 Member
    "I like food too much." To which I reply (mostly in my head), "Bi*ch have you seen me? I can down a can of Pringles before you know I've opened them."

    Now I count my Pringles and devour them demurely. AFTER swimming/lifting my butt off.
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    "I like food too much." To which I reply (mostly in my head), "Bi*ch have you seen me? I can down a can of Pringles before you know I've opened them."

    Now I count my Pringles and devour them demurely. AFTER swimming/lifting my butt off.

    LOL, that made me giggle a little.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    The most common excuse I hear is mostly caused by misinformation. They say that they tried cutting out sugar or going low-fat or the Atkins and it didn't work so they don't bother trying.

    Also major LOL to the Pringles comment. I'm the same way with a Hershey's Cookies and Cream Giant bar. (The kind that's over 1,000 calories in total.) Left to my own devices, that whole thing is GONE in minutes.
  • okcat4
    okcat4 Posts: 224 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)
  • Rado_SVK
    Rado_SVK Posts: 442 Member
    Well its not common one,but rather weird :laugh: when I went to my new local beauty and tan salon,the one of the ladies involved me in quite a long conversation,talking about all kind of stuff.she did not forget to mention that she is a single mother :wink:
    anyway she said she can't push herself to do any kind of exercise really...becauuuuse.....she is affraid of getting tired and the pain after...BOOOOOOM! :laugh:
  • Alexandra289
    Alexandra289 Posts: 330 Member
    My mum tells me that she has tried everything and it just doesn't work and she's just not able to lose weight like me - I think she just doesn't have enough desire to change.
  • oldandhealthier
    oldandhealthier Posts: 449 Member
    We've all made excuses at some point; hence, we didn't just get overly plump for no reason.

    One day these excuse makers will no longer make excuses and just do it. Like Nike baby ;)
    so true
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)

    How did you get started exercising with your damaged knees? My sister and I were just talking about this last night. Her husband has had about 15 surgeries on his knees. Has no knee cap on one. I think he has lost a lot of cartlidge in both. He is in pain a lot of time just from walking. He's not obese. Maybe 15 lbs overweight.

    He wants to buy a rowing machine but she's questioning whether the push action would be too much for him. Any suggestions?
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)

    How did you get started exercising with your damaged knees? My sister and I were just talking about this last night. Her husband has had about 15 surgeries on his knees. Has no knee cap on one. I think he has lost a lot of cartlidge in both. He is in pain a lot of time just from walking. He's not obese. Maybe 15 lbs overweight.

    He wants to buy a rowing machine but she's questioning whether the push action would be too much for him. Any suggestions?

    My suggestion for him would be swimming. Find a pool and take a water aerobics class, or just swim laps.
  • Lmns218
    Lmns218 Posts: 155
    I can't speak for anyone else but these have been some of my excuses:

    I have tried everything and it doesn't work
    I like food too much
    I don't have time to go to a gym
    I'm a single mother with a lack of support system
    Running is too hard on my knees and my body
    I like exercise but I lack motivation
    I am too tired at the end of the day
    I don't have a workout partner


    And then I remember a quote I had to memorize 12 years ago as part of my pledge process: Excuses are tools of incompetence, which builds monuments of nothingness, and those who specializes in them seldom amount to anything!!!!

    So it's been some stops and starts....I have been too tired at the end of the day....most days I need the WHOLE ENTIRE DAY to motivate myself to exericse and at times I am exercising at 10-11pm!!! I've been freaking out because of all this excess water gain....but I am determined!!! NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!
  • oldandhealthier
    oldandhealthier Posts: 449 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)

    How did you get started exercising with your damaged knees? My sister and I were just talking about this last night. Her husband has had about 15 surgeries on his knees. Has no knee cap on one. I think he has lost a lot of cartlidge in both. He is in pain a lot of time just from walking. He's not obese. Maybe 15 lbs overweight.

    He wants to buy a rowing machine but she's questioning whether the push action would be too much for him. Any suggestions?

    My suggestion for him would be swimming. Find a pool and take a water aerobics class, or just swim laps.
    I use a rowing machine and it is not easy on the knees, 2nd that about swimming
  • okcat4
    okcat4 Posts: 224 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)

    How did you get started exercising with your damaged knees? My sister and I were just talking about this last night. Her husband has had about 15 surgeries on his knees. Has no knee cap on one. I think he has lost a lot of cartlidge in both. He is in pain a lot of time just from walking. He's not obese. Maybe 15 lbs overweight.

    He wants to buy a rowing machine but she's questioning whether the push action would be too much for him. Any suggestions?


    Water aerobics are great for really creaky knees. Great resistance, and work out, You can even break a sweat in the pool! I did that and a recumbent bike where my knees were not supporting any weight. I strongly suggest he talk with his doctor and get a referral to an Physical therapist or Sport medicine trainer ( Certified of course) for exercises plans he can do and prtect his knees. SLow and steady and good luck!
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    P ringles, hell Chocolate chip cookies home made! Vaccum alert! If I do, I hit the exercise.
    Excuses? Knees: no go with me: have two gravel filled, multiple injury damaged knees, one with a partial knee cap. Both since child hood. Don't hurt now since exercising regularly- was so bad could barely walk, plus a bad back that seized up. weight down, exercise to strengthen leg muscles and core: no more knee or back pain: So BZZZZZZ, nice try: not buying it! Loved the gallon of water idea. another is put 1 - 2 pounds of dry beans in a tube sock and make cheap light weights you can use for arms or wrap around ankles for leg lifts. ( Old rehab trick)

    How did you get started exercising with your damaged knees? My sister and I were just talking about this last night. Her husband has had about 15 surgeries on his knees. Has no knee cap on one. I think he has lost a lot of cartlidge in both. He is in pain a lot of time just from walking. He's not obese. Maybe 15 lbs overweight.

    He wants to buy a rowing machine but she's questioning whether the push action would be too much for him. Any suggestions?

    My suggestion for him would be swimming. Find a pool and take a water aerobics class, or just swim laps.

    I second the swimming suggestion
  • bernied262
    bernied262 Posts: 882 Member
    heard all the excuses, eve used a few of them in the past myself. However, what really annoys me is people who do make the time to go, but dont put in the effort, continue to eat a crap diet and then say that the gym isn't working for them. No ****, sherlock! If your gonna exercise, make it count and dont follow it with a Mc**** meal.