The average person may have a thought pattern that goes like this:
“I want to start exercising or going to the gym.”
“But there is no way I can exercise like that really fit guy that I have seen.”
“Exercise is really hard. I get uncomfortable and out of breath when I exercise.”
“I don’t think I have much time to exercise. It seems impossible to make it fit in my busy schedule.”
“I don’t think I will go to the gym. Maybe I will go some day.”
It is a terrible cycle. How many people buy a gym membership for a few months and they only go for 1 to 3 weeks before they quit? Some gyms actually base much of their business on those people for their income! How can you keep from being one of those people who doesn’t try or give up? Let me tell you why starting exercise isn’t as hard as you think it is.
If you are starting from nothing.
If you are starting from ground zero and you have never done any significant exercise before, then don’t expect to go to the gym and exercise every single day to start. Maybe try going twice per week and planning a daily walk on other days. Maybe the way you should start should just be walking or jogging 2-4 times per week before you even start a gym membership. When you go to the gym, it may be worth it for you to get some intentional guidance from a trainer who is more knowledgeable in exercise, so that you can learn how to perform exercises safely. The initial investment is worth it for safety in the long term.
If you have been going to the gym off and on.
I am willing to bet you have gone in phases of motivation and no motivation. Maybe it is a new years resolution or you have a hard time fitting it in when work gets busy. Kind of like the person starting with nothing, your body isn’t ready for going to the gym every single day. Build up slowly. Starting trying to go to the gym 2-3 times per week for the first month until you are consistent and your body adjusts to the increased exercise. Fight through the body pains and soreness. Your body will get into the routine and you will feel good enough to add a little more. After the first month try to go 4 times per week. After getting consistent with this, you can decide if this is good enough for you or if you need a little more.
If you just struggle to manage your time
I challenge you to record every single activity you do and the time that you do it. I bet you will find some gaps in your day when you could either go to the gym or shift things around so that you can do something active. For me, personally, my day gets busy and my evenings are less predictable, so I decided to wake up at 6:30am every day to hit the gym and exercise for an hour and then go back home for breakfast. This gets my day going and starts my daily routine.
So, don’t give up. Don’t tell yourself those lies that exercise is too hard to start and do consistently. Everyone can do it!