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Excuses, Excuses
By Dr. Robert Osgoodby
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WARNING!! Always seek the advice of a Medical Doctor before
starting, or making changes in your diet or exercise program.
In today's fast paced world, sometimes it can be challenging to
find the time to get to the gym to workout. I am sure you have
heard many people say, "There just aren't enough hours in the
day." The number one excuse for not training on a regular basis
is not being able to find the time.
Ninety nine percent of all excuses are not valid! If you are
serious about getting in shape, if it is a top priority, nothing
will get in the way of you achieving your goal. If you want
something bad enough, it is amazing what you will do to get it.
Here are a few things you can do to eliminate the "I don't have
time" excuse.
1. Get up an hour earlier, or stay up an hour later. Dedicate
this extra hour of time to training and achieving your fitness
goals. Fact: Most people spend more time sleeping than they need
to. Eight or nine hours of sleep can be great, but by no means
necessary to maintain your health and let you feel good.
Personally, I find it easier and more effective to get up an
hour earlier and train first thing in the morning for two
reasons. Training first thing in the morning increases your
metabolism and keeps you burning calories at an increased rate
throughout the day. Another great reason to train first thing is
to eliminate the possibility of procrastination and blowing off
a workout. By the end of the day, the last thing in the world
you want to do after a long day of work and responsibility is
workout. Getting your training in first thing will also increase
your energy level and make you feel good about yourself. It
gives you a sense of accomplishment which will help you tackle
the rest of your day and insane schedule with a smile.
I am sure that at least one "morning person" reading this said
to themselves, "Get up an hour earlier, he must be out of his
mind!" Even if you get up half an hour earlier, this equates to
three and a half hours of exercise time a week that you didn't
have before. With only investing a half hour a day, you can get
quick, noticeable results.
2. Put together a home exercise program for those days you just
can't get to the gym. For about $150.00, you can buy some
dumbbells, a bench, and a floor mat for abdominal training.
Although you can not get as thorough a workout as you could in a
health club - it's better than nothing! Herschel Walker, a pro
football player, has one of the best physiques around and he has
never touched a weight! His workout consists of push-ups,
sit-ups, and cardiovascular exercise. You can get great results
sticking to the basics. Remember, consistency and intensity are
your key ingredients for success.
If money is an issue and you can't afford to buy the equipment
mentioned above, all you need is a VCR. There are hundreds of
great video tapes designed for toning, weight loss and fat
burning. If you don't want to go to a gym, this allows you to
exercise in the privacy and comfort of your own home.
All exercise video tapes are designed with music as a
background. Music is a powerful tool when it comes to exercise.
It lifts your spirits and increases your enthusiasm. Music also
takes your mind off the clock and makes your workouts seem to go
faster.
Exercise to music that you enjoy. If you like music from the
50's, 60's and 70's, Richard Simmons "Sweating To The Oldies",
or Cory Everson's "Step In Time" are great beginner level
programs. If you like martial arts and self defense, purchase a
tae bo tape.
If you are in decent shape, semi-coordinated and like today's
dance music, you can choose from several of MTV's "The Grind
Workout Hip Hop Aerobics", Paula Abdul's, "Get Up And Dance",
Milo Levell's "Hip Hop Body Shop", Kathy Smith's "Latin Rhythm
Workout", or Christy Lane's "Funky Freestyle Dancing."
If you have two left feet like me, you will quickly be able to
master Denise Austin's Xtralite Beginner's Aerobics.
All of these tapes and hundreds more are available for sale at
most music and major department stores. If you want to check out
a tape before you buy it, most of these video tapes can also be
rented at your local video store.
Incorporating these simple principles into your daily routine
will make it much easier for you to stick to the program,
improve your health, and move closer to your fitness goals.
About the author:
Dr. Osgoodby was a finalist in the "EAS Body for Life" Contest.
Stop by his web page at bestbodyever.com to see his before and
after pictures and subscribe to his monthly newsletter.
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