Health and fitness make sense.Yet, when faced with actually being more physically active, most people can come up with scores of excuses, concerns, and worries. These 1and1 barriers can prevent us from even taking the first step. Here are some common barriers and possible solutions:
“I don’t have enough time.”
Everyone has the same amount of time. We just choose to use it differently. It’s a matter of priorities. Some find a lot of time for television, but nothing to spare for fitness. It doesn’t really take a lot of time. Even five minutes a day is a good start, and it’s much better than no physical activity. You may be able to combine midphase activities, like watching television while pedaling a stationary bicycle, or arranging “walking meetings” to discuss business or family matters.
“I’m too old.”
You’re never too old for some type of physical activity.No matter what your level of fitness or your age, you can always find some ways to increase your activity, energy, and sense of well-being. To date, our oldest self-manager has been 99. Fitness is especially important as we age.
“I’m too sick.”
It may be true that you are too sick for a vigorous or strenuous exercise program, but you can usually find some ways to be more active. Remember, you can exercise one minute at a time, several times a day. The enhanced physical fitness can help you better cope with your illness and prevent further problems.
“Exercise is painful.”
The old saying “No pain, no gain” is simply wrong and out-of-date. Recent evidence shows that significant health benefits come from gentle, low-intensity, enjoyable physical activity. You may sweat or feel a bit short of breath, but if you feel more pain when you finish
than before you started, take a close look at what you are doing. More than likely you are either exercising improperly or overdoing it for your particular condition. Talk with your instructor, therapist, or doctor. You may simply need to be less vigorous or change the
type of exercise that you’re doing.
“I’m too embarrassed.”
For some, the thought of donning a skin-tight designer exercise outfit and trotting around in public is delightful, but for others it is downright distressing. Fortunately, as we’ll describe, the options for physical activity range from exercise in the privacy of your own
home to group social activities. You should be able to find something that suits you.
“I’m afraid I might fall.”
Many people who are afraid of falling, or who have fallen, decide to limit activity in order to avoid falls. This might seem to make sense in the short run, but before too long, inactivity and the weakness and stiffness that occur actually increase the risk of falling. Maintaining strong and flexible legs and ankles and staying active so that you practice balancing in different positions are important to reduce the risks of falls. If your balance worries you, be sure to start out with stationery exercises to allow your body to adjust.
“I’m afraid I’ll have a heart attack.”
In most cases, the risk of a heart attack is greater for those who are not physically active than for those who exercise regularly. But if you are worried about this, check with your doctor. Especially if your illness is under control, it’s probably safer to exercise than not to
exercise
“It’s too cold, it’s too hot, it’s too dark, etc.”
If you are flexible and vary your type of exercise, you can generally work around the changes in weather that make certain types of exercise more difficult. Consider indoor activities like stationary bicycling or mall walking.
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