Common excuses you make for your crappy health

How many of these common excuses sound familiar? When it comes to exercising more or eating well, most of us are pretty good at making excuses. How often do you say that you don’t have time to cook or hit the gym? If you’ve got an endless list of excuses that are holding your health back, it’s time to admit that you could do better. Yes, you. Yes, right now!

You don’t have to overhaul your life or eat “rabbit food” for the rest of your days to be healthy. There are some simple changes you can make that will transform your health with minimal hassle. Here are some of the most common excuses we use to wriggle our way out of healthy living and some tips to get you on the right path.

I don’t have time

Be honest. How often do you use time, or a lack of time, as an excuse? For many of us, not having time equates to not wanting to spend our time doing something. If you were honest, you could find half an hour to go for a run or to cook dinner when you got in from the office. The reality is that often, we’d rather spend our time doing other things – admit it!

The good news is that there are ways of making healthier lifestyle choices without devoting all your time to slaving over a hot stove or working up a sweat. Stick to simple, quick meals. It takes a couple of minutes to whip up an omelette and put a salad together or to boil some fresh wholemeal pasta and heat up some cherry tomatoes, basil and oregano. You’ll save yourself money, and you’ll be doing your body a favour.

Most of us don’t have time to live in the gym, but if you’ve got 20 minutes, you could do a HIIT or spin class, play a couple of games or tennis or you even just take the dog for a walk. You don’t have to go through a rigorous training session. Just make an effort to be active every day. If you’ve struggled in the past, check out LifeHack’s How To Exercise When You Really Don’t Have Time.

I get bored and distracted easily

Are you one of those people who has tried every diet under the sun or signed up for every trendy new exercise class going? If you get bored easily, you lack willpower, or you lose interest quickly, it’s a good idea to try and figure out ways to increase your motivation levels.

Work out with a friend or your partner, hire a personal trainer or join a program. If you’ve got people there to spur you on, push you and work with you, this can make training more fun and give you that extra bit of ambition you need to hang on in there.

If healthy eating is an issue, try a plan that offers flexibility or lose weight with others. Many people find that using a points system or a diet that involves a cheat day and trying to lose weight in a group works because you can benefit from the support of others and you don’t have to deprive yourself. If you find yourself getting distracted, think about why you wanted to get healthy in the first place. Are you worried about your health? Do you want to feel more confident? Are you doing it for your partner or your children?

I can’t afford it

Yes, there are some elements to getting fit that can be costly, but there are loads of things you can do that are totally free. There’s an assumption that healthy living is expensive, but this is a myth. It is true that you can spend a fortune on fancy ready-made, nutritionally-balanced meals and exercise classes at exclusive venues, but there are also myriad affordable ways to get in shape and boost your general health and wellbeing.

If you’re worried about overspending on food, look for cheap, nutritious recipes online, make a list of ingredients and stick to it and visit the store late in the day when prices fall. It’s also a great idea to prepare lunches in advance to avoid paying inflated prices at trendy cafes or succumbing to tempting treats at the canteen. If you have reservations about getting fit on a budget, there are loads of ways you can be active without breaking the bank.

Cycle to work, go for a jog in the park or look for secondhand gym equipment to use at home. If you enjoy the gym, but it’s costing too much, look for flash sales and discounts and opt for membership schemes that enable you to pay as you go. This way, you’ll only be paying for the sessions you actually do.

Let go of your common excuses

Do you often make excuses to get out of a workout or do you rely on takeaway food because you don’t have time to cook? We all have days when we’d rather hide under a duvet with a box set and eat pizza, but if you’re continually shunning healthy lifestyle choices, this could have long-term implications for your wellbeing. These simple changes could help you to improve your health without eating into your spare time or your disposable income.

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Common Excuses You Make for Your Crappy Health

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Are you making some of these common excuses when it comes to your health? Get real with yourself and your health by dropping the charade.

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Alex

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Alyce Vayle | Content Strategist

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