Physical fitness in the military is as important as knowing how to administer first aid on the battlefield and learning to shoot straight. Unfortunately, the human psyche is wired to talk us out of doing things we don’t like to do. And a sizable portion of us don’t like to exercise.
The psyche’s main weapon is the excuse. Excuses, or what I refer to as “exercise killers,” lurk in every nook and cranny of your mind. They are ready and waiting to take out any thought or behavior intended to motivate you.
These excuses are abundant, accurate and lethal to any haphazard or poorly thought-out plan. So if you plan to launch a successful exercise program, whether in the morning or after work, you need to be aware of the most common exercise assassins.
- I don’t have time. I get it, you’re busy. We all are. But did you know the average American watches 34 hours of TV each week? That’s an average of around five hours a day. If you exercise just 30 minutes a day for four days a week, that still leaves you 32 hours to veg out in front of the tube. If you’re not interested in giving up a single minute of TV time, exercise over lunch or get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning.
- Exercise is boring. It’s hard to argue with this one. Yes, exercise can be boring. But it’s most boring when you do the same thing over and over each day. Shake things up a bit. Instead of running, do pushups, or lift weights; try a few different activities. For example, go for a swim or a bike ride, go hiking, or play a brisk game of racquetball. Or, if you want to be a bit more creative, take your partner dancing. This may lead to another unnamed activity that’s good for your fitness and a lot more enjoyable than hitting a ball around a court.
- Getting started is expensive. Starting an exercise program doesn’t have to cost a bundle. If you head to your local mall and drop $250 on a pair of the newest running shoes that flash and have gold-plated coil springs in the heels, then yes, it can be expensive. But instead of spending your hard-earned money at your local fitness boutique, visit a “big box” sporting goods store, where you can find a decent pair of shoes for less than $50. And before you take out a second mortgage to finance a gym membership, try exercising outside.
Many more exercise excuses lurk out there. Do your best to not let them get a grip on you. Once they do, they’re very difficult to shake. If you can ignore them — at least until you can get your shoes laced up — you’ve already won the toughest battle.
Bret A. Moore, Psy.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. Email him at kevlarforthemind@militarytimes.com. This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance.
