10 Most Popular Excuses Women Give for Not Going to the Gym (10 photos)

Everyone knows the magic combination that works 100% of the time: proper nutrition and regular exercise. Yet, despite knowing this simple truth, many women still torture themselves with grueling diets and fasting, and dismiss going to the gym, saying they don't have the time or energy. So, ladies, you'll never lose weight if you make the following excuses to keep you from hitting the gym.







1. Excuse #1: "What fitness? I have no time at all! I've been entrusted with a new project, and it's a real challenge; I'll have to work late. And at home, there's still my husband, kids, cat, fish..."

Indeed. Yes, there's a catastrophic lack of time for anything. Just spend half an hour scrolling through Odnoklassniki, writing a post or two on LiveJournal, watching the latest episode of a new sitcom, calling friends on my cell phone... Seriously, if you take an objective look at your schedule, you'll discover the "black holes" where your time is wasted.

Therefore, a lack of free time is often just an illusion. Incidentally, very busy businesswomen easily find an hour or two a week for exercise. What's the secret? It's the habit of clearly planning and organizing your schedule. Let's follow their example. Write out a rough schedule and allocate just two hours a week to fitness—that'll be plenty to start with. Your husband, kids, and fish will all benefit from your good mood.





2. Excuse #2: "Right now, as luck would have it, I just don't have the money for a membership." "And you still need to buy decent clothing, sneakers..."

A membership at an elite fitness center certainly costs a lot of money—not many can afford it. Small, mid-range gyms are coming to the rescue. The price is about $15 a month for one type of exercise—swimming, aqua aerobics, yoga, Pilates, belly dancing, etc. Finding it hard to come up with that kind of money? Then take advantage of the nearby park or the treadmills at a nearby stadium—they're available completely free of charge. Finally, you can work out at home, following the pace set by the instructor on the DVD. It's easy to find workout DVDs from Cindy Crawford or Claudia Schiffer these days—these divas are still in great shape.

Speaking of fitness equipment, it's crucial to have the "content"—motivation to exercise. Therefore, it makes sense to work out not in stretched-out sweatpants, but in a beautiful, high-quality tracksuit. Such an inexpensive set can be purchased at a brand-name boutique in a discount supermarket.



3. Excuse #3: "I don't even have the energy for a book or a movie in the evenings—I'm exhausted. What kind of dancing or aerobics can you do after work?!"

Oddly enough, the "I'm exhausted" feeling is alleviated by actively engaging those very legs, arms, and the entire body. Where do I get the energy? A change of activity is a rest in itself, so it guarantees a surge of energy. And then, vigorous physical exercise triggers a whole chain of chemical reactions in the body—blood circulation increases, metabolism accelerates, and, most importantly, hormones responsible for our cheerful mood are released into the bloodstream.



4. Excuse #4: "I'd like to exercise, of course, but I just don't have the time." Maybe someday it will work out…”

If this excuse is “the most familiar of all,” perhaps your strong point is rooted in typical procrastination (the obsession with putting everything off until later). This “affliction” nurtures and fosters a fear of trying something new, even if your current situation is completely unsatisfactory. For example, you constantly make grandiose plans that you enjoy dreaming about, but you “don’t have the time” to implement them, or they are constantly interrupted by insidious force majeure. The paradox is that constant procrastination doesn’t make your life easier; on the contrary, it leads to an internal “vanity of vanities.” Or perhaps you should seek advice from a psychologist and try fitness, dancing, or diving—and thereby experience life to the fullest? The question, as you understand, is rhetorical.



5. Excuse #5: "With my back (legs, arms, eyes—underline as appropriate), I need to see a doctor, not a trainer..."

Yes, of course, if you have health problems, you should consult a doctor first. And they—the doctor—will likely prescribe an active lifestyle, aka fitness, along with therapy. By the way, if you're concerned about any specific issues, don't give up on your workouts. Just consult with a doctor at a fitness club—they'll easily find the perfect workout plan and determine the optimal load, which will definitely improve your overall well-being.



6. Excuse #6: "I don't need yoga or Pilates anymore... At my age, starting a workout is the height of frivolity."

It's interesting that this excuse occurs to women of all ages—from 50 to 25. There's zero basis for such a verdict, but plenty of evidence of harm to the body and appearance. Need proof? Please. By avoiding physical activity, we sooner or later "wean" our bodies off efficient use of their resources—it begins to function at half capacity, and then malfunctions frequently. Circulation deteriorates, metabolism slows, and excess weight, puffiness, and shortness of breath appear—in other words, the aging process in all its glory. To radiate freshness and prolong your attractiveness, exercise is essential. Feeling the unusual tension, the body mobilizes—and then excess "weight" is released, your eyes sparkle, your skin becomes firm, and that means you'll be the recipient of compliments like, "You look like a girl!" for a long time to come.



7. Excuse #7: "Fitness is soooo boo-oring!"

If you add sugar to sour lemon juice, you get delicious lemonade. The same goes for fitness. If you're bored and tiring, you need to change things up with an eye toward enjoyment. Not inspired by the weights at the gym? Swap the dumbbells for Latin, belly dancing, or energetic step dancing. If you enjoy water activities, try aqua aerobics and aqua ride (pedaling an exercise machine in the water is easier and more fun). If you don't like jumping to music, try working out at the gym, but not alone; try it with a friend, sister, or husband.



8. Excuse #8: "I worked out for a whole month, and I got zero results. So, I just wasted my money..."

You went to the gym for a whole month, and only lost a kilogram? Or maybe you didn't consider it a crime to indulge in a pastry after a strenuous workout? Then your disappointment is understandable. Unfortunately, many women believe that fitness is a temporary measure to improve their figure. In reality, it's a lifestyle, as important as work or study. And fitness isn't just about exercise; it's also about healthy eating, self-care, and positive thoughts about yourself—beautiful, attractive, and radiant. But don't expect to look like Angelina Jolie in a couple of weeks—just keep training, and the results will come naturally.



9. Excuse #9: "I already missed a workout anyway—I'll start over next Monday. Or Wednesday. Maybe…"

It sometimes happens: you went to the gym, trained hard, but something throws you off track, and you start to think, "It was all for nothing." It turns out the same mechanisms are at work here as with diets. You spend a whole week trying to stay within your calorie limit, but then you eat a cupcake and decide—alas!—the whole diet has gone down the drain. In reality, one missed workout, like one cupcake, isn't a disaster. But blaming yourself and making promises to do something on Monday, next month, or next year is a psychological trap. It's enough to resume your diet or exercise the very next day.



10 Excuse #10: "Oh, all the girls there are probably flaunting their 90-60-90 measurements, and here I am with my CURVES. No, thank you – I don't want to be a laughingstock!"

This excuse could probably top our "hit parade." Where does it all come from? Glossy magazines, promoting runway standards bordering on... anorexia, have contributed to the fear of not being "the standard." That's why many people think fitness clubs are filled with skinny models who look down on "mere mortals" burdened with cellulite and extra pounds. In reality, 90% of gym-goers are ordinary women who, just like you, want to solve some aesthetic problem. If you're still struggling to overcome your fear, imagine what terrible things could happen if you step foot in the gym. Will people point at you? Will there be laughter or screams of horror? Of course not. After all, everyone—even the most perfectly formed beauties—was once a beginner and experienced the stress of taking that first step. A skilled instructor will help you relax and adapt to the rhythm of the class—and after just a couple of sessions, you'll forget about your "imperfections," experiencing all the pleasures of your movements.