We all know that staying faithful to an exercise commitment is sometimes difficult. Those excuse demons can attack all our good intentions and persuade us back onto the couch. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here we offer great weapons to fight the top barriers to fitness.

1. No Time – Finding time to exercise can be tricky, but not impossible; you just need to use a little creativity to sneak it into your day. Don’t have time for a full workout? Incorporate short spurts of exercise into your schedule. Even two, separate 10-minute walks provide benefits. You can also incorporate movement into your day by parking farther away from your destination, etc. or revamp social rituals – instead of lunch with friends, try a walk or bike ride.
2. Boredom – Just like eating the same thing everyday can get old, so does a repetitive workout. Vary your routine rotating among a few activities that you enjoy – such as walking, swimming and biking. Or, mix it up and try something new, like a Zumba class or even a yoga class.
3. Self-Consciousness – Don’t let your emotions get in the way of your exercise commitment. Keep reminding yourself that you are giving yourself the gift of cardiovascular health and think about how great you’ll feel after the workout. If you feel uncomfortable exercising in public, try an exercise video or invest in a piece of home exercise equipment. Keep your eye on the prize; remember that as you become fitter and more comfortable exercising, your self-confidence will improve as well.
4. Too Tired – It’s a vicious cycle: you don’t have energy to exercise; yet without exercise you’ll have no energy. Hit the hay earlier to make sure you aren’t facing the day running on empty. Put workout clothes on top of your dresser or zipped up in your gym bag, so you have no reason to nix your workout later. Or, make lunchtime count and keep a pair of walking shoes at your desk. This mid-day exercise spurt can re-energize your afternoon better than any caffeine drink out there.

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