Exercises and Excuses

All I can say is that if you want to stop making excuses, stop making them.
Hey, that's real helpful, isn't it? :^)

But it's worth thinking about. That might be the first step for you to take. No excuses. You don't have to be heroic about it, but you can just stop thinking in that direction.

Excuses give you short-term ease, but it wears off quickly as you realize you should have been doing something that benefits you long-term. There will ALWAYS be excuses handy. ALWAYS. But you don't have to pay attention to them. You can recognize when a "reason" is an excuse and say no.

I can't tell you how to manage your time schedule. But when you decide on a time to work out tomorrow, that time is *only* for working out. Walking the dog burns calories, builds muscle, and helps your breathing (both for you and the dog), so that's great. That's part of your workout. Since you have decided to do something else as well, decide when and for how long. Even fifteen minutes at a time is better than none. During that time - let's say 3:30 to 3:45 or so - the house can wait, the laundry can wait, the dinner preparation can wait, the mail can wait, the computer can wait, and even the phone doesn't have to be answered. That time is for exercise and exercise only! Don't let anything persuade you it isn't! Once that time is up, you can pay attention to the other things you need to do. They'll wait for you.

Look at it this way: if you had to take medicine at certain times of the day in order to save your life, you wouldn't let anything stop you from taking that medicine at those times, right? No excuses. Do the same for exercise. It won't be a perfect arrangement, but it doesn't need to be. Concentrate on using the time you've dedicated each day until it gets to be a thought habit.

You can also help yourself by doing invisible workouts - taking the stairs instead of the escalator, parking at the far end of the lot, taking a walk at lunchtime (even in the corridors), anything that makes you move more. You don't have to put on a workout outfit to work out.

The only way to do it is to be mentally prepared and just "ready" to do it. If you haven't committed to change, then you're not ready & it's probably not going to work.

Hi A.,
Exactly...all what you have named are excuses..we always find excuses not to exercise; however, we don't have excuses to watch TV, or to sit down and eat ice-cream... I learned long time ago, that exercising make me feel good spiritually and physically which leads to being healthy. It is not easy, so what I did I just put a treadmill in front of the TV, and every single morning before doing anything I exercise watching the news, a movie or just news. I homeschool, so I try to do this before the kids are awake or while they are reading early morning.
My ONLY MOTIVATION has been my HEALTH. My kids are still small children, I love them, I love my husband and I am 49, I want to be there for them as much as possible, so for me I make my own time and they know it.
I know it is not easy, so many things to do, but when you make that your "me" time everyone in the house will understand. Use wisely your time, it is the only way, even though you are tempted to do something else..If you want to eat a snack, go and take a walk, use a treadmill, jog around the house, or just use your stairs at home....anything that make you sweat for about 30 minutes will help you to pump your heart out....Gardening and doing the lawn are also excuses, but help a little bit...Use excuses for exercising or working out, stop before sit down and watch TV, instead (at ANY time), grab a jumping rope and jump while watching your favorite show..Do it every single day and increase your exercise 5 minutes every week starting on 15 minutes. Oh God, I promise that you will feel so much better about yourself, and you will recover so much energy to deal with everything....
If you have the chance to go to a recreation center, enjoy it.... it will be more fun, but still if you don't have that chance, you don't need money to exercise..it is free, yay!!!
Just my thoughts...good luck...you can do it!!!!!!

Haha. I've been making excuses for the last two months! But before that I found that by setting the bar really low I could do it. My goal was to work out for 15 minutes a day. (10 minutes to run a mile, 5 minutes to stretch) That got me to the gym. Now, once I am already there and working out, I would usually do at least 30 minutes or longer. I say go straight to the gym at 3:15, and tell yourself that you only have to do 15 minutes. Still gives you time to walk the dog or do some housework, but you could always stay and work out longer.

I love to exercise, yes I'm weird. But even if it doesn't feel great while you are exercising, it always feels fantastic when you are done!

When my kids were little, we belonged to the YMCA and they had a great kids program. If your gym has different programs and teachers, you can go when there are activites that your daughter likes. Or see if she can bring her own toy or book with her. Don't let keep you from going. If you go to classes consistently, it will become more routine for your daughter. She'll make less of a fuss if she knows you'll go whether she wants to or not. After working out, I'd take my kids to the pool or do something fun with them. Less guilt for me and something to look forward for them.

When I worked full time, I'd walk during my lunch break.

Now I have my stair machine set up in front of the TV in the family room. There are some free weights and one of those elastic bands right there, too. If I want to watch HGTV, it's easy to use the machine and lift a few weights while the show is on. I always tell myself I'll just do 20 minutes to trick myself into getting started. Once I do, I usually work out for longer because I'm in the mood or because I want to watch something else on TV.

I have girlfriends who like to walk and work out. We plan to meet at the gym or for a hike so we are committed ahead of time. Then it's hard to back out!

I started doing Zumba a few months ago and am now addicted. Perhaps you can try different exercise classes and see if there is one that you like. Or if you go regularly and see the same people, it becomes a social time and you might find you look forward to going because of that.

You have lots of excuses, don't you?!?!? LOL. But, I guess that's why you're asking for support... All kidding aside...

My first thought is, your daughter shouldn't dictate whether you go to the gym with her. If the childcare is good and they have room, bring her with you. The ONLY way she is going to get used to the childcare there, is if you take her. Don't let her make an excuse that prevents you from going to the gym. She will learn to become more comfortable with other caregivers. It's good for her.

Take care of your body by exercising. I've found it to be one of the BEST ways to manage my physical health and mental health. I feel good, I have good energy, and I'm more motivated to take care of my whole body. I DO believe that I am a better mom because I exercise. My stress level is managed better and I feel accomplished when I'm done working out.

The best thing I did at the gym was hire a trainer. I take some small group classes (with 3 or 4) other people in the class and it's so motivating. I've found that my results have improved since i hired a trainer. It has definitely worked for me. I think that most of us get bored at the gym when we do the same exercises and machines over and over again.

Change it up a bit. If you can afford it, call and make an appt with the trainer. Bring your daughter to the childcare if you feel it's a good environment. See if your gym has a free trial with a trainer. Many of them do.

Take care of YOU! You will feel so good and you will be a better Momma for it.