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This all sounds great and everything, but I have a few concerns…
- I don’t have any time OR By the end of a long day, I’m just too tired.
- I feel really self-conscious when I exercise OR I’m too embarrassed to have others see me move.
- I’m worried about my health. I don’t think I can do that (exercise every day).
- I REALLY don’t like exercising.
- I can’t stay motivated.
- I hate sports.
- I don’t want to spend the money (or have the money) to join a gym or buy workout gear.
- My friends and family hate exercise.
- The weather sucks. I can’t go outside/stay inside to exercise.
Concern: I don’t have any time OR By the end of a long day, I’m just too tired.
Answer: We’re not saying you have to do all this at once. It might help to break it up into manageable chunks throughout your day. 10 minutes of movement is all it takes to make a difference.
Another thing that could help is building moving into your social time. For example, that important conversation or story you need to tell your best friend? Ask her to walk with you as you talk. 10 minutes will pass by like nothing.
Answer: We understand. The gym may not seem like the most welcoming place in the world. And actually, you’d be surprised how many people are just starting out like you. Anyway, most people at the gym aren’t looking at you. They’re looking at themselves in the mirrors (ever notice?).
One thing you can do is work out at home. Kick your sister out of the bedroom (if you share one, that is) and close the door behind you. If that gets too lonely, think about a friend you feel comfortable with and ask her to come over and move with you.
You can take that one step further and have your friend join you at the gym. If you two have similar goals and promise to go to the gym together, then you can look at each other and ignore everyone else!
Concern: I’m worried about my health. I don’t think I can do that (exercise every day).
Answer: If you’re really concerned about your health, definitely talk to your doctor first. He or she will help you feel better about taking small steps to a new change. But also, remember this. You don’t have to go full out activity crazy (in fact, we encourage you NOT to). Slow and steady wins this race. Even starting with gentle physical activity will be a good change. Remember, any movement that makes you breathe a little harder counts; you don’t need to run if walking feels like exercise.
Concern: I REALLY don’t like exercising.
Answer: We have a secret for you. We don’t either. Well, not exercising in the form of push-ups or jumping jacks. But we actually love to dance and do yoga. Mostly because it’s not really like exercise because we’re having fun doing it.
So that’s what we’d recommend for you. Choose something that you like to do and do it. Ride your bike, perhaps? Play tag with your little brother in the playground? Dance with your friends? Whatever works for you that gets you moving. It doesn’t matter if the movement is silly, playful, a game, or unstructured. Moving is moving!
Concern: I can’t stay motivated.
Answer: Just like anything else in life, you have to mix it up. Try different ways to move. One day it’s riding your bike. The next day it’s playing tennis. If you constantly challenge yourself with new tasks, you might find yourself actually looking forward to moving!
Another thing that helps with motivation is setting realistic goals and tracking your progress. Like we said, this is a lifestyle change, but as you get moving every day you’ll start to notice things changing. And that change may just help you to keep going for the next day and the next and the next…
Answer: Who says you have to play sports? The key here is to find the thing you WANT to do and for you to do THAT THING. Is it belly dancing? Gardening? Ice-skating? Find the thing you want to do and do it.. You don’t have to like sports or be “an athlete” to learn something new and fun. Taking a tennis lesson, learning a new swimming stroke, or trying a martial arts class are all ways to build confidence, have fun, and move more!
Concern: I don’t want to spend the money (or have the money) to join a gym or buy workout gear.
Answer: There’s plenty of stuff you can do for free that doesn’t involve an expensive gym membership! Try walking, riding your bike (or borrow your friend’s if you don’t have one), run around the track at a park or do body weight exercises at home.
You can also see if your neighborhood has a community center or YMCA that offers gym-like benefits with half the price of your gym. Google it. We bet you’ll find something.
As for the gear issue, you could try choosing activities that don’t require you to buy anything new. Dancing just requires some music. Walking just means a pair of shoes.
Concern: My friends and family hate exercise.
Answer: Don’t let that stop you. Seriously. If this is what you want for yourself, then you can do it for yourself. If you feel better moving, maybe your friends or family will notice and want to know what your secret is. Or maybe, if they see you doing it, they’ll be motivated to get their butts in gear too
Concern: The weather sucks. I can’t go outside/stay inside to exercise.
Answer: There are lots of things you can do to avoid the weather if it’s too cold or too hot. Instead of the park, try walking around the mall. Instead of leaving your house, pop in a work out DVD or turn your music up and dance in your room.
Also, if you have the proper layers for the weather, you might just find that it’s not so bad stepping out in the cold (or the hot). There’s no such thing as bad weather for moving, just bad clothing choices!
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