Articles
Barriers to fitness: Overcoming common challenges
Content
1. I don't have enough time to exercise
2. I think exercise is boring
3. I'm self-conscious about how I look
4. I'm too tired to exercise after work
5. I'm too lazy to exercise
6. I'm not athletic
7. I've tried to exercise in the past and failed
8. I can't afford health club fees
9. I'm afraid I'll hurt myself if I exercise
10. My family doesn't support my efforts
7. I've tried to exercise in the past and failed
Don't give up. Reevaluate what went wrong, and learn from your mistakes. Although you can't always see visible changes when you lower your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, you can make a positive impact in your health through regular exercise.
- Pace yourself. Start small and build up to more-intense workouts later, when your body is ready.
- Set realistic goals. Don't promise yourself you're going to work out for an hour every day, and then get down on yourself when you fall short. Stick with manageable goals you can achieve, such as exercising 20 minutes a day, three days a week for the first month.
- Remember why you're exercising. Use your personal fitness goals as motivation, and reward yourself as you meet your goals.
