Oh the exercise battle. . . doesn’t someone know that I am way to tired in the morning to start a fight? At night I am so motivated and excited to hit the gym in the morning and the second my alarm goes off the exercise excuses start flying.

“I’m way to tired. I better sleep in to make it through the day”

“The gym is too far away and I don’t have enough gas to get there”

“I will just go tomorrow”

“I just don’t have enough time”

I feel like I have a hat load of excuses and each morning I draw one out and use that one for the day.

For some of you it’s the excuse that you will start excising tomorrow, but tomorrow has come and gone and you are still stuck on that couch. But don’t think you are alone is the exercise excuse train… here is a list of American exercise excuses:

40% say that don’t have enough time

20% say they get enough exercise at work or home

15% say their health gets in the way of exercising

12% say it is boring

10% use their age as an excuse

9% don’t see the benefit of exercising

7% pull the tired card

It’s time that we stop losing this battle and start hitting the exercise excuses head on to overcome them and start living a healthy lifestyle. The only way to beat this battle is to reason out your excuses. Here are 6 way to beat your exercise excuses:

“I’ll just start working out tomorrow”

Oh please! We all know that means in a few months. If you say it, mean it. Set a time and day and make sure that your schedule is clear. Tell a friend and make them hold you accountable the next day. . . or even better, meet up your friend for a walk.

“I don’t have time”

… ok, but you have time to watch TV several hours a night and hangout with friends around the lunch table for an hour at work. Prioritizing is key here! Pretty sure TV shouldn’t be on your top 5 priorities of the day

If you want to get get healthy and active, you are going to have to make some changes and give up 30 minutes of your day. Turn off the TV at night and take a walk or pop in a workout video. Have an hour lunch break at work? Cut that break in half and use the last 30 minutes to go on a walk with your co-workers.

“But I don’t have a gym”

The gym isn’t the only place to workout. Go outside and enjoy nature and the beauty that it holds. Here are some fun exercise to do outside. Not to fast, think the weather won’t allow it or it’s too dark? Pop in a workout video and get to work! Here are some of my favorite workout videos less than $20.00

“I hate exercising”

Exercising doesn’t mean spending countless hours on a treadmill or bike. Find something that you enjoy doing that will increase your heart rate. Go for a walk, swim, dancing, join a recreational adult sports team.

“I’m too tired”

Being tired has been linked to a sedentary lifestyle. The best way to beat this cycle is to get up and go workout. I know I always dread putting myself out of bed but at the end of my workout I am full of energy and feel ten times better!

“I don’t get a break from the kids”

Kids exercise too you know. In fact, it’s not only a great way to let them have a good time but it’s a way to wear them out and get them ready to hit the pillow hard tonight. For those of you that have little ones, pull out the stroller and take a walk to a nearby Starbucks or grocery store.

When you find yourself jumping on the exercise excuse bus, just think through all these reasons as to why you should go workout. And remind yourself of all the major benefits of working out… weightloss, lower body fat, decreased risks of illnesses / diseases, reduce depression, and increase energy.

I don’t have a gym pass, so I don’t get the benefits of going to workout classes without shelling out money week in and week out, so I have turned to workout videos. They sound old school, but I love them. It’s a great way to get a workout in and have fun. There are all sorts of workout videos, including country line dancing, hip-hop, kickboxing, pilates, yoga, and tai chi. It definitely beats the mundane elliptical or bike!

Here are a few of my favorite workout videos:

Beach body’s Turbo Jam workout DVDs
There are five calorie blasting workout DVDs, including Fat Blaster, 3T, Cardio Party Mix, Lower Body Jam, and Cardio Party Mix 2.

Dance off the inches: Hip-Hop Party

The Firm: The 500 Calorie Workout

The Biggest Loser Workout DVDs

For free workouts, check out Fitness Magazine’s website here 

It’s easy to get burned out of workout videos, so switch it up.
What are so of your favorite workout videos?