The document discusses 10 common excuses people give for not exercising and rebuts each one. It summarizes that brief periods of physical activity can provide health benefits, exercise does not need to be complex or expensive, and one does not need to be highly fit to start exercising. Regular exercise provides numerous health advantages that outweigh any challenges of beginning an exercise routine.

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by James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM
10 (Lame) Reasons People Commonly
Give for Not Exercising
ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL1
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Don’t have the time to exercise. marathon, but you can engage in with a nonphysical activity lifestyle.
Research documents the fact physical activity at a safe exercise On the other hand, exercise need not
that exercising does not have to intensity level that is appropriate for be unduly tough or hard. The key is to
be time-consuming to be beneficial. your level of fitness. engage in an exercise regimen that is
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For example, engaging in physical Exercise can be painful or even appropriate for your level of fitness.
activity for as little as 15 minutes a day dangerous. Exercise will not All too often, the real challenge you
(cut, copy, and distribute to students, clients, patients)
(either on a continuous, nonstop basis harm you. While you may face is to conjure up enough energy to
or cumulatively in several increments) experience some degree of discomfort get up off the couch and get moving.
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can help you be heart healthy. (as opposed to pain), such a feeling is Too old to start exercising.
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Don’t know how to exercise. your body’s simple way of letting you The innumerable benefits
Truth be known, exercising is know that there is a price to pay for of exercising on a regular basis
not a particularly complex certain actions, for example, doing too are within the reach of individuals
undertaking. The basic key is to just much exercise too quickly. In fact, the of virtually all ages. In reality, you’re
get moving. Walk, run, swim, join risk of injuring yourself while engaging never too old to begin exercising.
a group-exercise class. . .whatever in sound exercise is very low. The Depending upon your age (men over
rings your motivational bell. If you danger of dying while exercising is 45; women over 55), you may need
want sound advice and guidance on extremely rare. to see your physician prior to engaging
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your exercise efforts from an expert, Get enough exercise at work. in a vigorous exercise program.
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you should consult a health/fitness Unfortunately, too many people Don’t believe in
professional who has been certified equate being fatigued after work exercise. A healthy dose
by a credible professional organization with having a similar effect on their of skepticism about the
(e.g., ACSM, ACE, NSCA). body as exercising. Not true. Your existence of some things (e.g., the Loch
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Exercise is too inconvenient. work may be physically taxing, but it Ness monster, the Easter bunny, an
No muss, no fuss, no way. is not exercise. honest politician, etc.) is appropriate.
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In contrast to the expectations of Exercise is too expensive. You The value of exercise, however, should
those individuals who feel that life’s don’t need to spend much not be one of them. The benefits
rewards should be handed to them money to exercise. Other than of exercise are extensive and well
in a neatly packaged, effortless way, buying a good pair of shoes, your documented. If for any reason you
most things worth having are worth wallet does not have to withstand question the merits of exercise, you
making some sacrifice (e.g., time, an assault to pay for your exercise need to invigorate your life with a
money, energy) to obtain. The health regimen. Furthermore, relatively 3-G’s strategy—get real, get up, and
benefits associated with exercising on speaking, exercising is a lot less costly get moving.
a regular basis are no exception. than the array of potential downsides
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Not fit enough to exercise. to a sedentary lifestyle (e.g., higher James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is
Simply stated, you don’t have to healthcare costs, lower levels of a freelance writer and consultant in
be fit to get fit. Regardless productivity, etc.). sports medicine. From 1990 until 1995,
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of how physically fit you are at any Exercise is too physically Dr. Peterson was director of sports
given point in your life, you are never demanding. Certainly, exercising medicine with StairMaster. Until that
so out of shape that you can’t or entails a greater physical time, he was professor of physical
shouldn’t exercise. You may not be a challenge than the vast array of education at the United States Military
viable candidate for running a sitting-on-your heinie tasks associated Academy.
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