No more excuses! Get moving today!

We’re already three months into 2012. I know many of you have made your annual fitness resolutions at the start of the new year, vowing to work out, eat healthy, and get in shape. Well, the time has come to check your progress. So, how are you doing? If you’re not where you would like to be on a fitness level right now, then maybe you should take a look at what is preventing you from getting into great shape.

“I’m too old to keep up!”

How often do you think to yourself, I’m too old to start a fitness program.  I’ll never look as good as those 20-somethings. I’ll never be able to wear a bikini again at this age. Sound familiar? Well, the perfect age to start a fitness program is whatever age you are at right now! Age ain’t nothin’ but a number! Sure, as we age our metabolism begins to slow down. But, just four 35-minutes sessions of intense exercise per week is all you need to kickstart that metabolism into high gear. If you stick to any program for three months, you will see definitive results. Don’t let your age deter you from hitting the gym. It’s true that the younger bunch might be able to perform better in the gym at first. But stick with it, and before you know it you’ll be keeping right up with them. So get moving!

“I just don’t have time to work out.”

With kids to take care of, cleaning to do, a job to attend to,  and an endless to-do list, who has the time to work out? You! That’s who! We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Devoting as little as 35 minutes a day for four days a week is a great start towards a healthier you! Think of it as a very small investment in your future that will pay off in big ways. Getting healthy and fit now is key in helping to prevent many illnesses and diseases. So, plan to be fit. It’s important, so it has to be penciled in somewhere. So get up a half hour early, so that you can work out. Hit the gym on the way home from work or even during your lunch hour. Make fitness a family affair by taking a walk or going on a bike ride together after dinner. Getting into shape does not take as much time as you might think. Again, the important thing is to get moving. In fact, you will actually have more energy for your daily events when you exercise.

“Gym memberships are too expensive!”

While it’s true that gym memberships can be expensive, there are many gyms that offer reasonable rates. So be sure to shop around. But, working out at a gym isn’t your only option. With the start of spring, the weather is beautiful. Walking, running, biking, hiking, and rollerblading are all activities that you can do for free. Also, many cable companies offer free on-demand fitness videos. So, be sure to check them out. You might have a whole library of free fitness instruction right in your living room. You can also set up a small home gym for a fraction of the cost of a yearly gym membership. Some dumbbells, workout bands, and a bench is all you need to get started on the path to a healthier and fitter you!

“I can’t afford a personal trainer.”

While it’s true that a personal trainer can help whip you into tiptop shape, there are many other options available to help you get moving. Enlist the help of a workout buddy to help you stay on track. Setting a workout date with a friend will hold you accountable, making you more likely to stick to your workout schedule. Print out routines from the internet. A simple Google search for beginning fitness programs will unveil unlimited workout routines, weightlifting instruction, and nutritional tips. Workout in your living room. Workout DVDs such as P90X, Hip Hop Abs, and Insanity will get you moving with noticeable results when you stick with them. Again, the key is to get moving at least four days a week.

So, no more excuses! Plan to be healthier, get moving, and get into great shape! Take care of your body, because it’s the only one you’ve got!

Christy Burke

Christy is a freelance graphic designer, full-time mommy, positive thinker and part-time blogger.