Dont have the time to exercise.

Research documents the fact

that exercising does not have to
be time-consuming to be beneficial.
For example, engaging in physical
activity for as little as 15 minutes a day
(either on a continuous, nonstop basis
or cumulatively in several increments)
can help you be heart healthy.
Dont know how to exercise.
Truth be known, exercising is
not a particularly complex
undertaking. The basic key is to just
get moving. Walk, run, swim, join
a group-exercise class. . .whatever
rings your motivational bell. If you
want sound advice and guidance on
your exercise efforts from an expert,
you should consult a health/fitness
professional who has been certified
by a credible professional organization
(e.g., ACSM, ACE, NSCA).
Exercise is too inconvenient.
No muss, no fuss, no way.
In contrast to the expectations of
those individuals who feel that lifes
rewards should be handed to them
in a neatly packaged, effortless way,
most things worth having are worth
making some sacrifice (e.g., time,
money, energy) to obtain. The health
benefits associated with exercising on
a regular basis are no exception.
Not fit enough to exercise.
Simply stated, you dont have to
be fit to get fit. Regardless
of how physically fit you are at any
given point in your life, you are never
so out of shape that you cant or
shouldnt exercise. You may not be a
viable candidate for running a

marathon, but you can engage in

physical activity at a safe exercise
intensity level that is appropriate for
your level of fitness.
Exercise can be painful or even
dangerous. Exercise will not
harm you. While you may
experience some degree of discomfort
(as opposed to pain), such a feeling is
your bodys simple way of letting you
know that there is a price to pay for
certain actions, for example, doing too
much exercise too quickly. In fact, the
risk of injuring yourself while engaging
in sound exercise is very low. The
danger of dying while exercising is
extremely rare.
Get enough exercise at work.
Unfortunately, too many people
equate being fatigued after work
with having a similar effect on their
body as exercising. Not true. Your
work may be physically taxing, but it
is not exercise.
Exercise is too expensive. You
dont need to spend much
money to exercise. Other than
buying a good pair of shoes, your
wallet does not have to withstand
an assault to pay for your exercise
regimen. Furthermore, relatively
speaking, exercising is a lot less costly
than the array of potential downsides
to a sedentary lifestyle (e.g., higher
healthcare costs, lower levels of
productivity, etc.).
Exercise is too physically
demanding. Certainly, exercising
entails a greater physical
challenge than the vast array of
sitting-on-your heinie tasks associated

5
6
7

with a nonphysical activity lifestyle.

On the other hand, exercise need not
be unduly tough or hard. The key is to
engage in an exercise regimen that is
appropriate for your level of fitness.
All too often, the real challenge you
face is to conjure up enough energy to
get up off the couch and get moving.
Too old to start exercising.
The innumerable benefits
of exercising on a regular basis
are within the reach of individuals
of virtually all ages. In reality, youre
never too old to begin exercising.
Depending upon your age (men over
45; women over 55), you may need
to see your physician prior to engaging
in a vigorous exercise program.
Dont believe in
exercise. A healthy dose
of skepticism about the
existence of some things (e.g., the Loch
Ness monster, the Easter bunny, an
honest politician, etc.) is appropriate.
The value of exercise, however, should
not be one of them. The benefits
of exercise are extensive and well
documented. If for any reason you
question the merits of exercise, you
need to invigorate your life with a
3-Gs strategyget real, get up, and
get moving.

10

James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is

a freelance writer and consultant in
sports medicine. From 1990 until 1995,
Dr. Peterson was director of sports
medicine with StairMaster. Until that
time, he was professor of physical
education at the United States Military
Academy.

A 2006 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Reprint permission is granted to subscribers of ACSMs Health & Fitness Journal A.

44

ACSMS HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNALA

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

CALL 800-486-5643 TO SUBSCRIBE OR JOIN

www.acsm-healthfitness.org

Copyr ight Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

VOL. 10, NO. 1

(cut, copy, and distribute to students, clients, patients)

ACSMS HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL1

10

(Lame) Reasons People Commonly

Give for Not Exercising

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM