Jumpstart Your Fitness: Beat common excuses!

The word "excuse" is used so frequently when it comes to exercise, fitness, and weight loss that it's amazing anybody ever actually accomplishes any health benefits at all! Working out really has become an exhausting (and not in the good way that exercise is supposed to be exhausting) "chore" that many people hate to do. As a result it all too often gets bumped to the back burner, and even squeezed out of the daily routine altogether.

What's the most common excuse for not exercising? Well, according to a survey, 40% of us say we don't workout because we don't have enough time. I'm definitely guilty of that one -- and at the time my reason always seems completely legitimate! A suggestion for fitting fitness in to a busy schedule is to use your time wisely and prioritize your physical health as important. Whether you can find one 30 minute segment in your day, or three 10 minutes ones, most people can squeeze a workout in if they really make the effort.

The second most common excuse, at 20%, is that people think they get enough exercise at work or home during the normal course of the day. Well, unless you're spending at least 20 minutes a day in your target heart rate, you aren't really doing enough to reap any real benefits. So evaluate your activity level closely and be honest with yourself.

And to round out the top three excuses, 15% of people say they can't exercise because of health problems or illness. This one, of course, should be determined by your doctor. But make sure you ask what kinds of activities specifically you should and shouldn't be doing, so you can make the most of your situation.

Visit the site to see the complete list of the top 7 most common excuses for avoiding exercise, including being bored and too tired, and pointers on how to combat them!