Fitness

13 Excuses Super-Fit Chicks Never Make

Hate to exercise? These expert tips will motivate you to reach for your running shoes

by Sarah Carrillo

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The Excuse: "I just don't want to work out" If your basic problem is that you just don't want to/don't see the need to exercise, you need a major wakeup call. We all need to work out regularly if we want to live longer, better-quality lives, says LA Fitness Trainer Danielle Spangler. She says she has friends and clients who just refuse to exercise, and so she has to give them a little tough love. "As a last resort I'll tell people about the health risks [of not exercising] and ask them whether they want to be independent, or dependent on others when they're older. It's an eye opener."

While this may sound harsh, Dr. Michael Gervais, Ph.D, a sports psychologist who works with US Olympians, says a shock to your system can be just what you need to get motivated. "The only reason people change is because they've touched pain," he says. This pain can be anything from seeing an older family member struggle with his health, to getting fed up with being out of breath after a flight of stairs. "Embrace that, remember it, and figure out what you want to do differently."

If you haven't had your "moment of pain" yet, here are a few stats from the Get America Fit Foundation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that may serve as your wakeup call:

• Obesity is the No. 2 cause of preventable death in the United States.
• Being overweight or obese increases your risk for breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, hypertension, and strokes.
• People who are severely obese (with a Body Mass Index of 45 or more) live about 20 years less than people who are not overweight.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Excuse: "I'm already skinny, what's the point?"

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Older comments

That's true not because you are skinny you can't eat anything. Exercise and proper nutrition is the key to be a healthy you

by Carl30 Friday, April 19, 2013 at 08:26AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips!

by tallredamanda Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 03:41PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting tip's... great advice if only I wasn't sick with LUPUS def. would love to be able to it all..

by Tlee Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 10:12AM Report as inappropriate

Dang! I just got my slap in the face.

by Sari Monday, January 7, 2013 at 09:34PM Report as inappropriate

Love this. It just killed every excuse I've ever made and some I never even thought of.

by NillaButterfly Monday, December 24, 2012 at 09:18PM Report as inappropriate

Darn, this article shot down all my excuses. Now I guess I'll have to get off my lazy butt and exercise!

by WiccanLady Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 02:40PM Report as inappropriate

Great article.

by nicky22 Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 11:41AM Report as inappropriate

This article does a nice job at pointing out hurtles in adopting a lifestyle of working out. It does not however emphasize the lifestyle changes needed to keep fit beyond working out. Simply creating habits like walking a mile to work from the bus stop and going out of your way to be thoughtful of the food you eat, makes a much greater difference in health than a rigorous work out regime without lifestyle change.

by summerlotus5 Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 06:11AM Report as inappropriate

Definitely guilty of a few of these

by kimihavens Monday, November 5, 2012 at 12:57PM Report as inappropriate

excuses come so easily! i used to do that and ever since i just stopped making them, i have been feeling so much better about myself and it feels great!

by danny54f Friday, October 12, 2012 at 09:00AM Report as inappropriate