No Excuses!

There is no arguing. Exercise is good for us. The benefits of an active lifestyle are numerous: Increased energy, blood pressure control, weight maintenance, improved mood…

Do I really need to continue?

We know it’s good for us, yet we make all kinds of excuses. (I’m including myself here.)

Here are some leading excuses and why you can’t use them (because these people didn’t).

“I don’t have time.”

In 2010, my sister, wife and mother of two young, active girls, worked a full-time job teaching and received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Tennessee with perfect grades! Oh, and she also trained and ran a 5K that March. I’m pretty sure she also volunteered for the Special Olympics, coached her kids in basketball and cooked nutritious dinners every night. Yep, she is Super Woman and my hero!

You can ALWAYS find time to exercise!!

“Gym memberships are too expensive.”

Walking is free. YMCAs have scholarships to help those who are struggling financially. Being healthy cuts back on medical expenses and decreases sick days from work. You can’t afford NOT to exercise!

“I’m too old.”

Meet Dot. She takes water aerobics regularly and walks the track with her husband. She’s 80.

Meet Joe. He beat my half marathon PR of 2:07. He’s 70.

I wish you could have met Francis. He took whatever aerobics class was available in the mornings at the Y. He did what he could in class then went home to tend to his horses and take a dip in his pool. He died at 87 doing what he loved. It was the way he always said he wanted to go. I miss you Francis!

“I have a bad back, arthritis, hip issues, hang nail, etc. etc.”

You would never know this to look at her. You may even miss seeing the left side of her face droop and her eye momentarily close on occasion. You definitely would never expect that this super sweet, upbeat, always smiling, beautiful lady has a… BRAIN TUMOR. Yes, that is what I said, a BRAIN TUMOR! But Sue does not use this excuse to confine herself to the couch (which, honestly, I probably would do… seriously, a brain tumor!!). She is a regular at the Y and an inspiration to everyone who knows her. (Side note: if you have a brain tumor, please check with your doctor before exercising. Sue did.)

Nancy won the battle against lung cancer over 11 years ago. Unfortunately, it left her with one functioning lung. ONE LUNG! Is she sitting on the couch? Nope.

Tonya has MS. Her short-term memory fails her frequently and she is never sure how her body will react from day to day. But on a daily basis, she does what she can.

Heather was born with only three-fourths of her right arm. She takes Yoga. I watch her valiantly attempting each pose and suddenly my worry of how my hiney looks in the Bound Warrior Pose seems petty.

I have changed the names of a few of these courageous people. Not because I need to protect them, just because I’m not sure what some of their names are, to which Tonya (or Tina, or something) says I probably just have MS. LOL! A sense of humor is obviously key to overcoming obstacles!

So what are doing still sitting at this computer? Get up and get moving! No excuses! :0)