The Top 10 Fitness Excuses and Why We Love To Use Them

Are you tired of the same old excuses keeping you from achieving your fitness goals? 

We've all been there. 

But what if there were practical, fun solutions buried under those worn-out phrases of "I don't have time" or "I'm too tired"? 

This episode is packed with motivation and tangible tips to bust through those barriers. Join us as we debunk these classic fitness myths with a good dose of humor and a heap of actionable advice. From scheduling workouts as non-negotiable appointments to pumping up the fun in your fitness routine, let's conquer these excuses together.

"Don't let pricey gym memberships or lack of know-how keep you inactive. We've got you covered with affordable alternatives and a simple guide for beginners. 

You don't need a fancy gym to get fit - your body and our free online workout resources are plenty. We also emphasize the importance of small, consistent improvements - the essence of a sustainable fitness journey. 

Consider a few sessions with a personal trainer to get started or set simple, achievable goals by yourself. So tune in, subscribe, and get ready to move past excuses and step into a fitter, happier version of yourself. 

Remember, it's about progress, not perfection.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Hey there, champions of Chains, welcome back to another Power Packed episode of the 2% Solution. Today we're tackling a topic that might hit close to home for many of us the top 10 fitness excuses and, more importantly, how to sidestep them like a pro. So strap in, let's debunk these excuses, together with a dash of humor, of course, and a whole lot of motivation. Excuse number one I don't have time. Oh man, this one's classic. Now here's a fun fact we all have the same 24 hours in a day. It's all about prioritizing. So try this Schedule your workouts like any important appointment. You would miss a meeting with your boss, right? So treat your fitness the same way. Excuse number two I'm too tired. Oh, I get it. Life can be draining, but here's the twist Exercise actually increases and boosts your energy. But start with something like like a breast walk. You'll be amazed at how quickly your energy levels start to perk up.

Speaker 1: 1:17

One of the favorite things that I like to do is, even if I'm starting to have a little bit of a mid-afternoon crash, I look at my calendar and I'm like, okay, I've got 20 minutes between calls. I literally will go outside for 15 minutes to a brisk walk, more or less around two blocks actually, because that's how long it takes. I've got two big blocks, I'll get around and I'll come back in, and just that little invagoration of fresh air is enough for me to just feel when you feel like, oh, that's one of those interesting words, right, when you actually say, the whole body relaxes. It's an interesting little phenomenon there. Try it right now. That's what it feels like when you come back from a brisk walk outside. So I'll be waiting to hear how it all goes when you try that Now.

Speaker 1: 2:04

Next, use number three. It's boring Now. If your workout feels like watching paint dry or maybe watching the grass grow, it's time to shake things up. Try a dance class, maybe go for a hike, join a sports club. Just remember that a variety is the spice of life, as they say, but that is also very true when it comes to fitness routines.

Speaker 1: 2:28

Excuse number four I'm not seeing results. Patience, grasshopper. Fitness is a journey, it is not a sprint. I know we've all heard that cliche a few times. Ensure your goals are realistic and give your body the time it needs to transform, because consistency is key.

Speaker 1: 2:46

Excuse number five it's too expensive. Who said you need a fancy gym membership anyways? If you haven't listened to the chapter where I literally talk about one time telling a client that came into one of my equipment stores to literally save his money and go buy himself a pair of shoes instead of buying a treadmill. And, believe me, it's not a matter of buying a piece of equipment and it's going to fix all the issues. We got to start to create a routine that actually celebrates and honors our health. So what's the next alternative If we don't want to go and spend a lot of money on an expensive gym membership equipment? Body weight exercises, jogging, maybe a YouTube video on yoga or a workout right? These are all great ways that you can get fit on a budget. Your wallet's not gonna thank you, but so is your body.

Speaker 1: 3:35

Excuse number six I don't know where to start. I get this one. This is tough. I remember at 15 years old, when I was my heaviest you know more than the obese teenage version of me I was intimidated to do anything, anything, outside of my comfort zone, which is pretty much the living room, the kitchen and then going to school. I mean that was as limited as my life was back then, because that's what I was comfortable with. That was my lifestyle, and so anytime we start to challenge what we've normalized in our life, we're gonna feel uncomfortable, but it's in that uncomfortableness that change will start to happen. Remember, it's not easy, but it's always worth it, especially when it's a change that we're actively pursuing because we want to pursue it. So begin with simple, achievable goals. There's plenty of information online. Or consider a few sessions. Meet with a personal trainer or a coach just to get you on the right track.

Speaker 1: 4:30

Excuse number seven I'm not motivated. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline lasts. Create a routine, find a workout buddy or join a fitness community for that extra little push, because soon exercise will be a part of your daily rhythm. And when that happens, watch out, because it just feels like it's happening without even having to think about it. That's when we really start to have fun with it, because you're into it holistically speaking, physically, mentally, emotionally, I'd go as far as to say even spiritually and it's a lot of fun. When that starts to happen, you start to crave it.

Speaker 1: 5:08

So excuse number eight I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm too out of shape. I know that last one. People are like whoa, wait a minute, what I'm not gonna work out because I'm too out of shape. Do people actually say that? No joke, I remember when I first started getting into CrossFit and I got spanked.

Speaker 1: 5:27

It was hard. I remember going down just for the fitness test with a buddy of mine and I'll share this story for a separate time, but I'll tell you I got spanked pretty good and I thought I was a pretty fit individual, but clearly I wasn't CrossFit. But I remember sharing with some close friends of mine about a month into it and I was talking about all the things that was happening and the funny story goes that it who's a CrossFitter. Especially when you're in a room with a bunch of people, you'll always pinpoint the CrossFitter because they're the ones talking about CrossFit. And sure enough I was. I drank the Kool-Aid, I was all in and I was talking about it and I remember my friend saying you know what that sounds great for you, I'll try it one day, but I'm gonna wait till I'm a little fitter. And I was like did you really just say that? Did you say that? Was that your own side voice or inside voice?

Speaker 1: 6:11

And not to judge, because no joke of a lie, I've actually found myself doing something similar in certain areas of my life. Gosh, I could tell you a story about me trying to surf, but I've just resigned that I'm not a surfer and I don't think I ever will be, and I'm okay with it, all right. So this idea of like too old, too young and a shape, you know, fitness knows no age or shape. Right, it's about finding what works for you and just embracing it. Every step counts, no matter how small.

Speaker 1: 6:39

Excuse nine the weather is bad. Listen, I live in Vancouver, canada. It's a beautiful part of the world. I love it. It's home, but it's a Pacific Northwest and so for my friends down South, like in Seattle, you know what I'm talking about. Same sort of weather and climate. We're in a rain forest, we get rain and it's also a little chilly. Many months of the year Weather's bad. If I wasn't okay with the rain, I would be a hermit, never leaving my condo. That's not the kind of person I am and I'll tell you I couldn't do that in Vancouver. You gotta be willing to deal with the rain, so rainers shine. There's always a way to work out. Consider indoor activities, gym sessions or even a home workout that keep you on track regardless of the weather. The whole like fitness manifesto.

Speaker 1: 7:25

Yeah, I'm gonna plug my own book. If you haven't gone back to the earlier episodes of this podcast, go back. I record it every episode so you can just listen to the whole. Like you're gonna have to buy it. Of course you buy it, thank you. My publisher probably wants me to say that, so I did say it. Right, if you buy it, thank you, but if you don't buy it, you've got the audio version. But I start to dissect and go into little individual strategies in each one of those chapters. So it's definitely worth the listen, but I share some strategies around different ways to work out in your home and if you have enough room to put a towel down on the ground, you have plenty of room to do a full body workout without a quid. Need some inspiration? Well, I'll go back and listen to those episodes and I'll talk about how you can do that.

Speaker 1: 8:07

All right, and finally, excuse number 10. This is one I wonder. Can anybody know what it is? You can scream it out your phone right now. If you're listening on your phone or your computer, like whatever, just go ahead and scream out the answer. Do you know what excuse number 10 is? I bet you some of you have got it right, I'll start tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 8:29

Prograstination is the thief of all progress. The best time to start your fitness routine was yesterday and the next best time is right now. So time to get moving. So that's our top 10 list. Folks, remember, excuses are just hurdles waiting to be jumped over. With each small step, you're paving the way to a healthier, happier you. Thank you for joining me on the 2% solution. If you loved what you heard, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, share this podcast with your friends, your family, a colleague. Your support means the world and together we can keep crushing those excuses, one workout at a time. Stay motivated, stay inspired. And remember it's not about perfection, it's about making progress 2% of the time. Catch you in the next episode for more fitness, fun and wisdom. Keep moving, keep improving.