There are many reasons to begin and continue a workout program at home (or anywhere). You gain health benefits, you feel better and you look better. You attain measurable goals – weight loss or gain, strength gains, changes in body dimensions – a reduced waist line, for example. Yet it is not difficult to find those who may spend hours in vehicle maintenance, yard work and shopping for flattering clothing – but who may have little interest in caring for the one body that they will have for a lifetime.
Excuses proliferate:
- “I don’t have the time” (Everyone has the same amount of time, priorities differ. The best abdominal program I have found takes 6 minutes to complete).
- “I am a woman and I don’t want big muscles” (This is extremely unlikely and you have total control over your program).
- “I tried it for 2 weeks and see little or no difference” (This is the “breaking in” period. You may have encountered initial soreness. Also, this is no real evaluation period. Try 6 months).
- “I am a man and I don’t want to be muscle bound” (Athletes may have been concerned with this 60 years ago. Note current weight room emphasis for all sports).
A sense of purpose is required to accomplish anything worthwhile. It helps to reward yourself along the way. I once bought a massage at increments of 5 pound weight loss. It is also very worthwhile to set goals and record your progress. I do this by daily journalizing on my computer – weight, blood pressure, pulse, calories, cardio, resistance sets, etc. It also helps to simplify what you are doing, i.e. simply expend more calories than you are taking in.
Inspiring quotes to keep you going:
- “It’s easier to wake up early in the morning and work out, than it is to look in the mirror each day and not like what you see”.
- “When you feel like stopping, think about why you started”.
- “Work out. Eat well. Be patient. Your body will reward you”.
- “Your body can do it. It’s time to convince your mind”.
- “Now matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everybody on the couch”.
- “I never regret it when I do it, because I always regret it when I don’t”.
- “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”.
- “I already know what giving up feels like.I want to know what happens IF I DON’T”.
- “At first they will ask WHY you’re doing it. Later they will ask HOW you did it”.
- “A 30 minute workout is just 2 per cent of your day”.
- “Your mind will quit 100 times before your body will”.
- “Success starts with self discipline”.
- “PROGRESS: you may not be where you want to be, but you’re not where you used to be”.
- “Be stronger than your strongest excuse”.
- “It comes down to one simple thing. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?”.
