Starting or continuing an exercise program can be hard for everyone.  Whether it’s your first time out or years into a consistent program, finding the right motivation is hard at times.

The Top 3 Exercise Barriers and How To Overcome Them.

#1.  “I don’t have time to exercise.” 

    We will tell ourselves this myth constantly in order to justify not exercising.  Our lives are busy and this is an easy justification.  The truth is that even on our busiest days, we still have time to do some exercise.  

    The beauty of exercise is that it can be done in many different ways.  Of course it’s better to stay consistent with a time and exercise but not every day will allow this.  Short burst of exercise throughout the day will keep you going and work in your schedule.  5, 10, or 20 min is still better than 0.

    Starting with a small time commitment is a great way to begin an exercise program.  The most important thing you can remember is to stay consistent each week.  Jumping into an hour 3x week may be overwhelming at times.  Instead of skipping or not starting, just modify to fit your schedule.  

#2.  “I’m too tired to exercise.”

    This is the start of a viscous cycle that we all fall into.  The secret here is that exercise actually makes you more energetic.  Inactivity will always lead to the body feeling tired.

     In this situation, you need motivation to keep moving.  Motivation can come from changing the exercise type, an exercise partner, or creating accountability with friends and family members.

    Make sure you are working on providing you body with what it needs to engage in exercise such as good sleep, enough energy from foods, and ways to prevent discomfort/pain during exercise.  All of which will help with that feeling of being too tired to work out.

 #3.  “Exercise is too boring.”

    Yes, exercise can be boring, repetitive, uncomfortable, and can get in the way of life.  However, you might find interesting that there are many things activities that you might not consider “exercise” but do qualify.

    Walking briskly with a friend, gardening, bike riding, playin golf, or even cleaning the house can all count towards exercise.  The way to make exercise interesting is to engage in activities you already like to do.  Just make sure you do them for long enough or with enough intensity to get your hear rate up.

    Exercising with a professional, changing up your program, and trying new way to move can all make exercise more interesting.  The point is that you are already doing “exercise” with many of your daily activities.  Avoiding stagnation and sitting will keep you moving for much longer.

How Much Exercise Do I Need?

 According to the CDC, 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity with 2 separate days that have an focus on muscle strengthening for major muscle groups.

    Still not sure if your ready to exercise?  Talk with you doctor and make sure you find the right way to go about it.  If an injury is preventing you from completing the exercises or activities you want, talk with Bodywise Physical Therapy & Wellness to get you back to the life you want to live.