Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Let's be honest, nobody has time for excuses including ourselves. We all are guilty of trying to justify our bad habits with our busy daily routines, but aren't we just cheating ourselves? The common denominator between my clients, friends, and family is the excuse that they all simply do not have time to eat healthy or exercise. My response is always YOU MUST MAKE TIME! Without our health we have nothing.

The best way to make time for a proper diet and adequate exercise is to prioritize, make sacrifices, and develop a more efficient daily routine. For example, the best time for most people to prepare healthy meals is in the evening or at night. Most of us are running around the house like crazy in the mornings trying to get to work on time, get the kids to school, feed the animals, etc. So, evenings are typically an ideal time to pre-cook foods, put them in containers, and store them in the refrigerator for easy access throughout the week. (*Attn College Students/Low-Income*) This is also a more affordable way to stick to a healthy diet while on a budget.

Exercise can be a bit trickier because nobody wants to come to work dripping sweat and its hard to find the energy after a full work day. Ideally, I recommend reserving an hour each day to get in some cardio and weight training. However, I know this can be an unrealistic expectation for some. An alternative solution involves making subtle changes to ones daily habits. For example, while running errands make a point to park your car far away in the parking lot. Calories will be burned and your car will acquire less door dings. It is a win win!! Also, always take the stairs unless you are visiting the empire state building of course. Leave elevators to those who truly need them. Other great ways to burn calories are:

- Washing your car
- Cleaning the House
- Laundry
- Organizing
- Yardwork
- Dancing
- Sex
- Playing Dress Up
- Game of Catch
- Walking the Dog
- Laughing
- Shopping at Outdoor Malls
- Actually Cooking, not Delivery

Becoming healthy and in shape can be a fun endeavor, but it requires some "out-of-the-box" thinking. Hopefully these tips help make your personal fitness goals more achievable, as well as enjoyable.
You will be a Knock Out in no time!

-KO