5 UNACCEPTABLE EXCUSES for refusing to get in shape

5 UNACCEPTABLE EXCUSES for refusing to get in shape

As someone who has previously used every excuse in the book to avoid regular workouts and eating healthy, I feel I have some ground to stand on in the area of " excuse making". I am an expert in this area, if you will.


There are a lot of reasons why a full grown adult may make lame and childish excuses in life. For example, to avoid going back to finish a college degree, to not have any more kids( or to have more kids), to get out of cleaning and cooking at home or to exercise and eat right on a regular basis. Considering that there is a solid obesity epidemic going around in the great U S of A, I would say the highest item on that list (exercising) is the biggest problem. People just hate it. What do people hate more than exercising? You guessed it, eating right!
There are a lot of myths to getting fit that the average person believes in, holds fast to and continues to live by. Its easier to hold on to silly myths and to falsely categorize yourself than it is to face the music, implement changes and start kicking butt. The worst thing we can do is pass on false information so that the truth never comes to the surface. I am here to extend some valuable truths to the masses! By no means am I a nutritionist, personal trainer or health guru, but I do know bullshit when I step in it. You get my meaning? And to be frank with you, the stench is hitting my nose with a vengeance these days.
Out of all of the shenanigans I have heard in regards to why a person allegedly " will never be fit", I have narrowed it down to only the top 5 for the sake of brevity and to further drive in my point. For every excuse there is an explanation. If we could redirect the excuse making energy into some sweat making energy, and the world will be a better place. Now let me go into detail.....


1. " I've just always been a big person. My body is not meant to be small"


This excuse has got to be one of the most nonsensical out there. How do you know what your body is meant to be? Have you spoken with a doctor and did he/she confirm that you, in fact, have a minimum and maximum weight limit set for your lifetime? No possible way. We have all watched The Biggest Loser where 400 lb people have been whittled down to size 4 and size 6 clothing sizes over the course of a few months. I wonder how many of them, prior to the show, swore that they would " never be small". My guess would be, ALL of them. Now look at yourself, if you are seriously overweight, or maybe just slightly heavier than you would like, do you think for you to get toned and fit like them it would take near as much time and as much work? No, it sure wouldn't. If a 350 lb lady can get to single digit sizes, then surely a 150 or 200 lb lady can as well, and probably in more healthfully of a way. Everyone knows The Biggest Loser situation isn't realistic or ideal because it is a TV show and operates within a controlled environment. Us "regular" folks can get in shape the same way, just will require a little more will power and focus and of course, a little more time. That's all it takes. In addition to this, I hear the excuse of genetics. Such as " My parents are large, so I am meant to be larger. I can't control my genetics". Yes, you would be correct. You can't control your genetic makeup but you can work hard to beat it into oblivion. Science has proven that heavy people are often genetically predisposed to gain weight more easily and genetics also dictates when and where you gain that weight. However, what the genetics studies don't tell you is that you can fight it, and you can win. A "predisposal to gain weight" is all that it is,a predisposal.. its not a guarantee to gain weight nor is it set in stone. Jessica Alba would be a good celebrity example. She has been very vocal in articles and interviews about how she has heavy family members and her mom loves to "throw down" in the kitchen. She understands that is the direction she can go if she is not careful, but she isn't throwing in the towel and giving up just because. That makes no sense. If anything, understanding your genetics helps you make a plan for your health and gives you a major advantage. Its like playing a football team whose tapes you have watched and you know their every move before they make it. Having a genetic tendency to be larger only means you have to work twice as hard as the average thin-pin and actually pay attention to what you eat. You do not need to starve or be lunatic-like at the gym, you just cant treat life like one big party/buffet or you will most certainly blow up. As someone who puts on weight really easily, I can personally attest that simply "paying more attention" to what you eat and planning out exercises each week can help the body maintain a more desirable weight regardless of genetics. If I eat bad foods and don't work out, I get heavy, and if I eat healthy 80% of the time and workout steady, I stay fit.,There are no tricks or secrets to this, simply proper planning and of course, science.

2. "I love food. I just really love to eat! Sorry"


This excuse is laughable. The fact that someone loves food should have no bearing on having a lifestyle of fitness or not. If anything this should spur a person forward into fitness. You eat crappy, so you are gonna wanna work out to edge off those spare calories. I love food, fatty foods. True, I can't indulge whenever I want but I certainly do indulge. Being healthy and fit does not mean cutting out everything you love. In fact, programs like Weight Watchers allows to eat all the foods you love, every day, just within moderation and in certain preset portions. My current diet plan allows for flexibility on the weekends and a more strict regiment during the weeks. During the week, I can stay on plan because I know on Saturday I will be chomping on pizzas or whatever may tickle my fancy. Food is not out for the count. A healthy lifestyle is not polarized. You aren't in or out! There is a middle ground. It may take years to find that perfect balance, but thats ok, lets just do that. I get so personally frustrated with this excuse because I LOVE food. Literally sometimes I cry when a craving hits me on a Wednesday or Thursday that I can't fulfill. Yes, sometimes it sucks and its not easy, and no, I can't sit around eating brownies around the clock, but you get used to it. I promise. At least try. And I don't mean a sketchy month or two, I mean REALLY try.


3. "I don't have the time, I am too busy"


My goodness, here we go again? No time. You want to know what kind of people I hear this one from? The people who go to bars every night with their friends, go shopping on their lunch break or or have time to watch 100 shows stacked up on their DVRs. I am wondering, hmmm, how do you have time for all that, but not even 30 minutes to take a walk around the block or time to wake up prior to going to work to do a 15 minute exercise video? Interesting. This type of excuse is so difficult to refute because people who use this one swear on their LIFE that they absolutely do not have the time to work out. It has been proven that a person can lose weight through proper diet alone. So technically a person could just eat healthy and never work out and actually get more fit, to some degree. Eventually you will have to add in exercise in order to tone lose skin and to get the fire burning again in your metabolism! The reason this excuse is truly null and void is because "any working out" is better than " no working out". So technically you could eat healthy and walk around your office building during lunch and that counts. Oh yes it does. I work two jobs and I travel often with my career and I still work out, so I challenge anyone to explain to me how they simply do not have even 15-30 minute spare minutes on any 3 days of any given week ? That is BS and we all know it. You don't want to work out, because you hate it. I would respect the honest truth more so than some fantasy created in your head to fool yourself. " oh why yes, I am far too busy for the gym..see you at happy hour!" .. lol. Goodness! I wish I was joking but this is real life stuff here people. Even if you have kids, no excuse. Do an at home tape in the mornings before they wake up, or even better, have them watch you and cheer you on. Instill some fitness into their lives at an early age.What would that hurt? Heck most gyms have a nice kids club where you can leave your kids for an hour or so while you get your sweat on. Try something on your lunch hour while you are at work. I used to run the stairs at the convention across the street from my job for just 20 minutes during lunch on days that I knew I wouldnt get any other work out in. I didnt feel bad because I knew it was better than nothing.

4. "I've had kids, my body is destroyed, it will never be fit again"

You know what's great about this excuse ? The moms who say this generally have not tried very hard to get fit and have given their lives over 100% to their kids. Any psychology journal you read today will attest that this is an unwise choice. And yes, this is a choice! A mom must carve out time in her week to take care of her own health and well being.Obese people have shorter lifespans and more serious health problems. How can you be there for your kids if you simply no longer exist ? Healthy moms live longer and have more energy to keep up with a dozen crazy kids! Ok I get it, you've had a baby and your body has warped beyond recognition. Well get this, the sooner you get back in shape after the birth, the better the shot you have at getting back to pre pregnancy shape or better. I have fellow Beachbody coaches ladies who all have 3 kids or more who now have 6 pack stomachs even firmer than before getting pregnant. They had no surgery or special procedures. You can't just go on a crash diet for a few weeks, fail and then give up by claiming that "you tried ".. You most certainly did not! "Trying" is putting in a good solid year of steady and serious exercise and minding your diet to the letter. 12 months. Moms can reclaim their figures and feel good about themselves . Time will tell. I plan to use myself as an example when I turn into a preggie giant and then document my journey back to fitness. I intend to practice what i preach. Working out can retrain your muscle and toning like pilates and bodypump can tighten up loose skin. The body can be trained and then retrained ! This is proven stuff people. Sitting back , eating comfort foods and blaming it all your baby is the lazy, easy way out and that makes me mad. Sure some tummies will not be 100% tight like if you were a teenager but why not get it to its best possible point ? They even make exercise tapes where you use your baby as a weight! And you lift and firm! Women have been getting pregnant for all time, getting fat and then slimming Down again. Yes, some take 3 months and others 3 years , but it's not a contest as long as you get the job done. Do work and keep doing work and the body will listen. Studies show that fit moms are happier, healthier, smarter and more focused. You can be the best supermom ever plus wear cute jeans too! I'm loving the sound of that plan.


5. "I don't have the money for expensive trainers, gym memberships or fitness videos"


Really? Spare me. This excuse, I saved for last because I work as a coach for team Beachbody and I do help people with diet plans but I also promote the awesome products( products that I personally buy and use myself ). To be frank, Beachbody products aren't cheap and require a person who is serious about fitness and ready to make an investment in themselves.
I know people who desperately want to get fit but wave my advances because it's all " too expensive" and then go on lavish vacations , high dollar shopping sprees or buy the latest gadget ( iPhone 4s !!). I say all that to say that we all do have the money to dedicate to fitness we just would rather spend it elsewhere. How can you invest in material items week after week, spending hundreds on various items yet neglect what matters most ? Your own health. That's like your doctor telling you that you have a heart condition and you decline the expensive meds in order to go on a vacation. Seriously ?

Gym memberships offer specials year round and there are little mom and pop gyms on every block that cost $9 per month to be a member. Sure it's not fancy or exciting but neither is an untimely and unexpected demise ! You don't need a personal trainer and you don't ,technically, need a gym membership to get in shape. You can work out at home doing fitness DVDS or walking around your neighborhood running trail/jogging track.
There are ways around the costs. For example a friend of mine purchased a workout DVD from me and split the cost with her friend and they do the workouts together. Sure it would have been nice for me had they both purchased but at the end of the day, I care about my friends fitness and I was happy they were so clever to split instead of just telling me no ! I even saw fitness videos for rent at the public library. Talk about free? I am a huge advocate of Shakeology, a nutritional shake that provides for weight loss ( of course) but also boosts energy and mood and includes every vitamin and nutrient known to man. The price point is higher than most but so are the benefits. I have seen tremendous changes in myself just from a few months on Shakeology. I get so frustrated because I see people spend $100 on new boots that they may wear once or twice or blow $60 + on bar tabs every other night but then not be able to " have the funds" to support their own well being. ( insert frown face here). Excuse me for sounding edgy or angry but I just can't believe I am sitting here with the tools to provide potential fitness and happiness to everyone who desires it around me and the matter of money is stopping them. Its not a matter of money, its simply a matter of prioritizing. It may take a few months to get your mind right, reorganize your thoughts and your budget and then come back to me and WE can get you in shape. And rather fast, if I may so myself!


Regular People, like you and me, can get in shape. That is a fact. People who don't even have two working arms and two good legs are running marathons, completing triathlons and even playing basketball. And you are telling me you don't have what it takes to do jog/walk a couple of laps around your neighborhood block on a nice Saturday morning?


I call bullshit :)





-Tanya Birks




Learn about Shakeology here!

www.myshakeology.com/Tri2BfitT