In hopes of writing this article, I wish that this will help motivate myself and others to get back to working out. Long gone are the days where the word exercise seemed fun and now it feels like a chore. Unfortunately for me, my dancing schedule is not as rigorous as it once was, and I need to find new methods of burning off those evil carbs. (I love my bread).
I give much props to the women on campus who are on a sports team, run, or have found some type of exercise that works for them. I always say I too will be part of this group, but find myself making excuses. If you have perfected the art of laziness such as I have, you may recognize the following phrases when it comes to working out:
- I have too much homework
- The gym is too far (seriously who wants to walk up the hill for Peterson, and the bus takes forever),
- It’s too cold
- It’s too hot
- I’ll go tomorrow
The list drones on and excuses will always find a way to interfere with you and your health. Yes, being lazy feels good and is comfortable after a long month of never-ending tests, work, and responsibilities. However, too much comfort keeps you stuck.
Instead of creating excuses and looking at the negative side of exercise, try looking at what exercise can do for you. For example, it took me a long time to realize (thanks to my sister) that exercise was not so much about losing weight and getting toned, but to feel good about one self. It relieves stress and helps keep you focused on other work. Laziness has never made me feel good about myself. It has only made me feel that I have wasted an entire day that could have been productive. Once you feel good about yourself and stop obsessing about the weight, the pounds will slide off. Believe me, at one point I became Bridget Jones and would stare at the scale constantly; this is not healthy and you will go insane!
Maybe part of the reason your body begins to ache whenever exercise pops into mind is because you are not finding the right workout that will motivate you. If the treadmill bores you and running is not your thing try something else. This can include:
Zumba
Yoga
Pilates
Kickboxing
Tai Chi
Crossfit, or anything that makes it fun and interesting to keep you looking forward to exercising.
However, if none of this is making you feel motivated to work out, I suggest working out with a friend. No one else will drag you out of your comfy bed. You can be a support system for each other. Make it interesting and make a competition out of it (something my siblings and I are doing, which I totally will win). I know this is easier said than done, but give it a try. Charge your iPod or bring a book to block out boredom if you are heading to the gym. Don’t fret about people watching you at the gym, no one wants to be bothered and are concentrated on their own workout. If they are watching, it’s mainly the buff guys who hog up the weights and want you to check out their muscles like they are in the mirror. So kick the laziness and join me in a new vision of “exercise.”