The Gym Is Not The Same As Gym Class

As a personal trainer, I've heard all sorts of reasons for not exercising. For some people, the word exercise conjures up images of humiliation in gym class. I was one of those kids. I was a nerd. I was an A student, was in the chorus, opera club (?!)...I wasn't an athlete. I couldn't hit a baseball. I couldn't catch a ball. I was always picked last. You get the idea. Gym class made me feel like a loser, a wimp and other choice words that were hurled at me and countless other geeks. But the gym is not gym class. It can be foreboding and intimidating to some people. The first time I ever set foot on the floor of a "name" gym, my first thought was "Where are the fat people?" All I saw were hardbodied twenty and thirty somethings, middle aged women trying to turn back time, middle aged men trying to pick up younger women and the occasional person actually trying to do something healthy for themselves. The people who truly needed to be at the gym weren't there. That being said, here are some of the best excuses I've ever heard for not exercising: 1.) "I don't have the time". - You have the time...you just don't want to take the time because it will cut into your "busy" schedule. C'mon, you can spare 30 minutes can't you? 2.) " I can't afford it". - Think about the cost of healthcare today. Can you afford not to? 3.) "I don't like to exercise". - Gym class rears it's ugly head again. Get over it. It's a gym, not gym class. No one's going to make fun of you or call you names. 4.) "I'm too old". - Light to moderate exercise can improve personal performance in functional movement as we age. You're never too old to learn new tricks. 5.) "I'm too fat". - My personal favorite...circular reasoning: I'm too fat to exercise; therefore I will always be fat...but if I exercise, I won't be fat...but i'm too fat to exercise...my answer-circular logic: physical activity will increase muscle mass-more muscle mass means less fat; therefore physical activity means less fat. Case closed. 6.)"I might hurt myself" - Consult a physician before you start an exercise program. then consult a personal trainer to design and guide you through a program so you won't hurt yourself. 7.) "None of my friends/No one I know exercises".- Lead by example. Be the first. 8.) " I don't like to sweat". - That's why gyms have showers. It refreshes after a workout. So enough of the excuses. You know what you need to do. Do it. Next post: The Top 10 Reasons To Exercise