I always hear women making excuses about why they don’t exercise. However, they are simply excuses, which often stem from a combination of psychological, physical and environmental factors. Here are the five most common excuses that I hear from women about not exercising, as well as my response to them:

Excuse #1: I Don’t Have Time

I say: We all have busy schedules, work commitments, family responsibilities and other time constraints, which many women find challenging to make time for exercise. And they use their lack of time as an excuse to avoid physical activity. However, with some planning and creative solutions, it is possible to find time for exercise, even with a really busy schedule, such as scheduling in shorter workouts, exercising with your family or meeting with friends to exercise as a way of socialising — and you can also keep each other accountable! In addition, it’s all too easy to prioritise other activities and interests over exercise, such as watching your favourite TV shows, playing video games, or socialising, over exercise. This might be because you view exercise as less enjoyable or less important. However, you will definitely feel better about yourself and have more confidence when you find a form of exercise that you enjoy.

Excuse #2: I Have Too Many Family Responsibilities

I say: Women often have significant family obligations, such as taking care of their children or aging family members, which can limit their exercise time, as well as lower their sense of wellbeing. In addition, the changing landscape of complex family structures, such as having to consider the needs of stepchildren, present their own unique challenges to middle-aged women. However, remember the oxygen mask analogy, which is the best metaphor to explain the importance of self care. Just as in flying, you need to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others, so you must prioritize your own wellbeing before you can effectively care for any others. It is not at all selfish to take care of yourself first, because only then can you be in a better position to help others that you love.

Excuse #3: I Have A Demanding Job

I say: If you have a job that takes up a lot of your time, then it can leave you with little time and energy for exercise, especially when it comes to balancing work and family responsibilities. However, these challenges can have negative impacts on your physical and mental health, as well as your career prospects. If you don’t have a lot of leisure time for exercise and other self-care activities, then you could find a good, experienced local PT and health coach (like yours truly) that offers express 30-minute sessions, which are designed to maximise your workout efficiency and burn more fat in a shorter space of time. Contact me on 07748 298728 or CLICK HERE to find out more, Remember that any amount of physical activity is better than none. The most important thing is to find a routine that you can maintain and that fits into your busy life. Adaptability and consistency are the keys to success when you have limited leisure time for exercise.

Excuse #4: I Have Health Issues

I say: As we get older, many of us face health challenges that can make a previous exercise routine more difficult that will require you to modify your routines. However, if you do have health issues, then it is usually even more important that you continue with physical activity. But before making any changes to your exercise routine, it’s essential that you consult with a healthcare professional, such as your doctor, or fitness and nutrition professional, like myself, to get personalised advice based on your specific condition. You will need to start slowly if you’re completely new to exercise or haven’t been active for a while by starting with low-intensity activities. You can then gradually increase the duration and intensity as your fitness level improves. So, for example, if you have joint problems, then low-impact activities like swimming, cycling or restorative yoga will be better for you than high-impact activities like running, so that you can work on enhancing your balance and flexibility while reducing the risk of injury. If you have joint pain such as back, knee or hip issues, you can book in for a Biomechanical assessment with our B-Fit Exercise therapist Guy, who can assess what is causing your pain and give you corrective therapy exercises to help reduce it.

Excuse #5: I Don’t Have The Money

I say: One of the biggest excuses I hear when asking women why they don’t exercise is that it is too expensive. And the news reminds us daily that there is a cost of living crisis, which means many people are feeling the pinch. However, there is also a ‘cost of being unhealthy’ crisis the news doesn’t tell you about that has come in the form of rising disease rates and mental health issues post-covid. As the saying goes, if you don’t pay for it now, you’ll pay more for it later, which is true for most things, especially your health. Luckily, here at B-Fit, we offer tailored fitness, nutrition and weight loss courses to suit all budgets and needs, because trying to lose weight on your own is a bit like trying to give yourself a stylish haircut — it’s just too difficult and usually doesn’t end well! If you REALLY want to put in the effort needed to do to the job right, you have to invest in the right professional to help you (like yours truly!), in order to get the results you want. I also offer group personal training sessions at a reduced rate to suit most budgets. Call/text me on 07748 298 728 or CLICK HERE to secure your spot and get things moving! It’s also worth remembering that if you don’t invest in your health now, you will definitely have to pay for it later!

In Summary

Encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle should focus on understanding your individual challenges and providing support and resources to overcome them, which is much easier to do if you have someone like a fitness and nutrition professional like myself to help you. Overcoming these excuses often involves setting realistic goals, finding enjoyable forms of exercise, building a support system and addressing any psychological barriers. It’s important to recognise that regular physical activity has numerous physical and mental health benefits, so making exercise a consistent part of your routine will definitely lead to an improved overall sense of wellbeing!!!

Love, Gaynor x