We get it. Going to the gym 4-5 days a week is tough! And all of us (yes, even us), make the occasional excuse. But when you’ve logged more quality time in the last month with Ben and Jerry (the duo of Chunky Monkey fame) than with Ben and Jerry (your names for your used-to-be bulging biceps) you’ve officially got a problem. Here are the top 10 gym excuses we’ve all used a time or two.
1. “I’m too tired”
We’re looking at you, mister hit-snooze-at-5-a.m.-for-the-fourth-day-in-a-row guy. Yes, getting up early sucks. But so too does going after a full day of work. But research shows that those who work out regularly–even if they get up at 5 a.m.–report feeling more energetic than those that don’t. So suck it up, buttercup. You’ll feel better when you’re done.
2. “The weather is really bad today”
Rain, sleet, snow, hail, etc. We get it, the weather sucks. But guess what? Your gym is climate controlled. Excuse denied.
3. “It’s always so crowded”
Being in a packed gym is no fun. You have to wait to use a machine and sometimes you are only allowed to run on the treadmill for a limited amount of time. But don’t let this deter you from going. Use this time to try out a machine you have never used, grab a smoothie, or see if there are any new classes you can jump into.
4. “But my favorite show is on TV tonight!”
TIVo. DVR. Netflix. Hulu. HBO Go. This is 2014! You can watch pretty much anything on the internet. And yes, that includes the latest episode of “Scandal” or the entire series of “How I Met Your Mother.” Seriously, unless you’re an 85-year-old woman who still uses a dot-matrix printer, this excuse is bogus.
5. “I already went to the gym once this week.”
Great! So, go again! Going to the gym once a week is not going to do anything (trust us, we’ve got first-hand knowledge on this one). You need to make going to the gym a habit more than a ritual. Want results? You need to work out at least 3-4 times a week.
6. “I am too sore from my workout last week to go.”
Often having muscle aches means that you are doing something right! If your legs hurt from running, then try focusing on your arms or back, and if you’re sore all over, do some light cardio to help aid your recovery. Research shows that light cardio–like an easy jog or spin–increases blood flow to muscles, helping to speed recovery.
7. “There are so many other things I could be doing…”
Like what?! Nope. Don’t even start. It’s one hour–that’s 1/24th of your day. (And Taco Bell is open until 4am).
8. “Honestly, I don’t even think I need to work out anymore.”
Here’s the ugly truth about working out: you can never stop. The second you stop, your results go away.
9. “I have been working out for the past six months and I don’t see any changes to my body.”
Well, what are you eating? You could go to the gym everyday, but if you come home, eat an entire pizza, garlic bread and an ice cream sundae every night for dinner, you are not going to see results.
10. But, out of all these excuses, the main reason is:
So, yes. We know getting the energy to go to the gym can be tough sometimes, but in order to get that body you have always wanted, you need to make some sacrifices. So what are you waiting for? Put on your sneakers and get to the gym!
