One of my favorite mantras is “there’s always a good reason not to do something.” There is. I can always come up with some really good reasons why I should not do something that I need to do.
In the fitness arena, the good reason could be a sore or pulled muscle, a really busy schedule, sickness — you name it.
I pride myself, however, on being able to work through or around those excuses. That’s really what they are, after all, excuses.
How can a legitimate injury or sickness be an excuse? Those sound like valid reasons to skip a workout, don’t they?
Sure, but that’s why the mantra: There is ALWAYS a good reason not to do something. If I let the good reasons keep me sidelined, I’d be sidelined more often than not.
Pulled muscle? Don’t work that muscle, or, better, just work it less. Unless it’s a really severe pull, working the muscle lightly will help it heal faster.
Busy schedule? Get up earlier. Stay up later. Be creative with exercise by walking and working when you would normally be sitting and working — for example, walk around while on the phone. Traveling? Walk briskly through the airport. Use your luggage for some resistance training. Stuck in the office? Put your pullup bar in your office doorway and sneak a few in whenever you get a chance.
Sick? Got a cold, or, more likely it seems, allergies? Work through it. If it is indeed a cold, you may want to avoid heavy breathing, but you can still do some resistance training.
There is always a good reason not to do something, no doubt about it. But to have success in our fitness programs — or in any part of our lives — we need to push those excuses aside, and do what we know we need to do.
Look, all I’m asking is this: If I’m not hungry, why should I force myself to eat?