Don't Make Excuses for Not Exercising

It's old news that exercising is the single best way to beef up your weight loss regiment. The activity perks up your metabolism and thus eats up more calories. In addition, the more you exercise, the better the effect on losing weight. Exercising creates and strengthens muscle mass, which is denser and more compact than fat. This means your body must expend more effort to pump blood through it, and it requires more nutrients to keep it healthy. The end result: even at rest, your body naturally burns more calories.

Alas, the prospect of exercising tends to elicit moans from most people. There's all the logistics to work out -- the time, equipment, expense and the sheer, utter monotony of it all. Negative thinking about exercise can sabotage any good intention. Here's a list of answers for some of the most commonly used excuses people build against exercising.

I don't have the time to exercise.

Exercise can be one of the most important things you'll do for your health today. Make time to exercise. If you're doing traditional workouts, move your weights and mats right out into the family room and make use of your television time. Instead of relaxing in a chair while you watch the news or your favorite TV show, be active. Run in place, do leg lifts or pump weights. Use the time in your car to tighten and tone muscles with isometric tummy tighteners. Elimate the elevator from your daily life. Exercise does not have to be a solid hour at the gym three times a week. Anything that revs up your engine is great for your body.

I don't have the right equipment at home.

Equipment is not necessary to exercise. A brisk walk around the block is good for you -- and it burns over 200 calories. And Vacuuming your carpets can burn nearly as much. Flip on the radio or pop in your favorite high-energy CD and dance. Don't fool yourself into thinking that your "exercise" has to be a meticulously planned workout to use all the right muscles in the right order with the right tension. Exercise means being active.

We can't afford a membership to the gym.

If you'd rather exercise at a gym (and use their fitness machines, whirlpools, swimming pool and trainers), there are many ways to make it affordable. Check with your health insurance company to see if they offer something called "incentives." Most of the major insurance companies, including Blue Cross, cover part or all of fitness club memberships included in your benefits. If yours doesn't, or if you don't have health insurance, call your local YMCA or YWCA. Most offer sliding fee scales for memberships to their facilities.

But exercise is such a pain.

According to who? You can make getting your daily exercise fun. Play a game. Go dancing. Call a few friends and plan a weekend hike in the state park. Exercise doesn't have to be routine or boring. Stop thinking of it as a chore; think of it as recreation. You will be amazed what a difference it makes.