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The most common excuses people give for not exercising and advice from PE Professionals:
'I don’t have time'
You need to decide how exercise will fit into your day, what exercise will be most practical for you and what is going to be the most enjoyable. Consider any of the following time slots:
Before class – It will work best if you're a morning person. You can go for a swim, a brisk walk or a jog and be back in time for breakfast.
During lunch break – How about exercising with a classmate?
After class or in the evening – this is a good time to involve friend or family for sports or walk/jog.
There are many other simple ways to include exercise in your daily routine, such as walking up stairs instead of taking the lift, getting off the bus stop a few stops earlier, take a 30-minute walk after dinner. Do some sports activities with your friends or family during the weekends.
'I'm not the sporty type'
You don't need any special skills to exercise. For most people, walking is the easiest way to exercise. If you don't want to play team sports, then swimming, jogging, cycling, bowling and dancing are all activities you can do when you feel like it and for as long as you like.
'I need rest indeed'
If you exercise regularly you will find you feel more confident, happy and relaxed. You’ll even sleep better! 20 to 30 minutes of exercise per day will help you work more efficiently. You may well find you don't need as much 'rest' as before.
'I'm too fat'
You don’t need to wear figure-hugging clothes to exercise. You can wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as tracksuit pants and a T-shirt. Take comfort in the knowledge that, over time, the calories you burn up in exercise will amount to significant weight loss. For instance, a female weighing 80 kg can, walking at a normal pace, burn up 6.4 calories per minute. If she walks for 30 minutes, that's 192 calories she’s burning up. If that level of exercise is maintained every day for a year, she could loss approximately 8.5 kg.
'I'm not fit. I'm scared of injuring myself'
If care is taken to avoid injury by warming up, cooling down and stretching, then injury can be avoided. It is important to start exercising at a low level and build up gradually. Don't overdo it. It is also important to avoid exercise in extremely hot, humid or cold weather, if you have a serious illness, or straight after a meal.
You should see a doctor first if you have a disease that may impair physical movement, if exercise causes chest pain, or if moderate activity leaves you breathless.
'I've tried before - and I always give up'
It's important to choose an activity that you will not simply endure. Why not try exercising with friends or family, varying the type of exercise, or taking up a team sport? Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Listening to music can take your mind off the fact that you’re exercising. Watching TV while using an exercise bike or doing simple stretches while sitting at a desk are other ways of distracting your mind. If you do have a lapse in your exercise program, don't feel bad or give up – just start again.
'I don't have the right gear'
If you're well equipped for most exercises already, all you need is a pair of legs and arms! You don't need special clothing for most sports. Just wear comfortable, loose clothing and supportive footwear.
'I'd be too embarrassed at a gym with all those fit people around.'
If you don't want to exercise in a gym, there are a number of activities you can get into, such as walking, swimming, dancing, cycling or jogging.
You don't need any special skills to exercise. For most people, walking is the easiest way to exercise. If you don't want to play team sports, then swimming, jogging, cycling, bowling and dancing are all activities you can do when you feel like it and for as long as you like.
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