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

12 of 14

The Excuse: "My life's depressing/stressful enough, I'm not adding exercise to it" If you're dealing with a job you hate, a stressful home life, or any major (or even minor) life crises, exercising is probably the last thing you want to do. But really, it should be the first. Exercise boosts endorphins and allows you to handle stress better (both by releasing stress during the actual workout and building up your stamina to deal with life in general). If you can't get out of your slump, here are two tactics to try:

First, re-work your thought process. Instead of saying, "I must work out," say, "I choose to work out." Vokshoor says "choose" statements are healthier for your brain, and those "must" statements keep you from reaching a workout-induced euphoria.

Next, practice gratitude. In a study where one group was told to keep track of things they were grateful for and another group was told to keep track of their hassles, the gratitude group was found to exercise about 90 minutes more per week than the hassle group. It makes sense when you think about it: Mulling over the raise you didn't get or how far away the gym is isn't exactly going to motivate you to get up off the couch.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Excuse: "I'm too busy with my kids"

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage

leave a comment

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