Living life with a thriving physical fitness and a sound mental wellness is and must be a goal of every person. Undeniably, fully achieving these is not a piece of cake, but keep in mind that it is possible. One of the key ways is to consider regular exercise as part of your lifestyle.

The importance of regular exercise to human health has never been a secret to anyone. Since preschool up to the final years in university, it has always been taught and emphasized by teachers and textbooks. Beyond school, it has always been a reminder by parents to their children and a lecture by elders to youngsters. Definitely, regular exercise is essential.

Ironically, even though people are aware and are frequently told about this truth, many just keep the knowledge in their heads and don’t make it happen. In short, lots of individuals still do not regularly exercise or do not exercise at all. Yes, they know the pros of doing it and the cons of not, yet they still set exercising aside as if there’s no such thing in their vocabulary.

Most people can attest that tagging regular exercise as a habit is not easy. Different people have different personal viewpoints and situations, so there are several possible reasons why. What’s more, it’s not simple because there are a bunch of things that keep people away from exercising — as if they are antagonists to one’s journey to a healthier life. 

Be enlightened, and check out these 10 things that hinder people from committing to regular exercise. Some reasons seem big while some look small, but see how they can all entirely block the pathway to fitness. 

1 – SUPER BUSY SCHEDULES

Some just use their prior appointments and urgent duties as excuses to not work out, but truthfully, many people cannot exercise because of super busy schedules. Although they want to make time for it, their to-do lists just do not allow it.

Others who are not in these overly busy people’s shoes would say, “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” but what can they do if these people’s hectic schedules have impeded every possible route?! 

More often than not, when one is so exhausted because of work and various responsibilities, he/she would rather rest and sleep during vacant hours or after finishing them all. They would choose to shut their eyes off than to pick up the jump rope. It’s obvious.  

People have different life circumstances, and some just cannot afford to insert regular exercise into their chock-full calendars.

2 – LACK OF SPACE TO EXERCISE IN

Not every house has a home gym. Not every house is spacious enough to work out in. 

Some people do not voluntarily refuse to exercise. They just lack room for it within their abode. Yes, they can exercise outdoors, but it’s not something that they can always do and that they prefer to always do. 

3 – LAZINESS

It’s no longer a surprise, but laziness is one of the major setbacks when it comes to starting and continuing proper workout. Why is it third on the list? Because it’s not an excuse that health considers valid, unlike the first two numbers above.

When laziness strikes, it strikes bad and hard. You will not even have the energy and enthusiasm to imagine yourself getting up on your feet to exercise. No tired bones attached, just idleness as it is, and it is always difficult to overcome if you let it be. Laziness may be just a single topic, but it leads to multiple roads to physical inactivity.

4 – LOVE FOR UNHEALTHY FOOD

In order for your workout efforts to be fruitful, your eating choices and habits must agree with them. 

Food is irresistible, especially when it’s mouth-watering and when it’s your favorite. Consuming the proper nutrients and the right amount of food is valuable. However, it’s nothing new that many of the world’s most delicious grubs are not so healthy, especially when eaten in large quantities and in high frequency.

Love for unhealthy food is a hitch to people’s dedication to regular exercise. They cannot give up or even lessen the grease, the fat and the junk; it pains them to even visualize it. They know how living a healthy lifestyle equates to cutting some not-so-helpful things in life, which include some of their beloved foods, so they’d rather not live healthy than abandon their tummy’s desires.

5 – CIGARETTE SMOKING

Cigarette smoking has an unconcealed record of destruction that it has been bringing into people’s lives. From the physical appearance to the mental well-being of humans, this vice has something to ruin. 

Smokers who are already considered addicts to the substances contained by cigarettes do not regard regular exercise as a necessity because they can only think of fulfilling their priority, which is smoking.

6 – EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL DRINKING

Similar to the previous one, excessive alcohol drinking also clogs a lot of people’s interest in regular exercise. Instead of exercising to relax and unwind, they drink. Instead of using their free time to jog and sweat off, they tank up. Their main and most important business is drinking alcohol, so for them, everything else can leave.

7 – MISCONCEPTION THAT REGULAR EXERCISE REQUIRES A LOT OF MONEY

There are people who don’t even take the first step to regular exercise because of the misconception that it requires a lot of money. Well, at some points, you may need to spend money, but really, you can go for budget-friendly options. You can even choose not to use up money at all. 

Regular exercise does not mean you have to own expensive workout clothes and complete gym equipment. Others think that these, including a gym membership or a home gym, are strict requirements, so they just scratch off the whole idea of exercising. 

They are not aware (or not accepting) that walking, running and jogging are also exercises that can be done without any gym equipment. YouTube has countless fitness video guides, and they don’t take advantage of these online contents’ offered convenience. They think that committing to working out is only for those who are wealthy when it is really not.

8 – DISBELIEF OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND REWARDS

It’s quite unbelievably surprising to know that some people intentionally refuse to exercise because they do not believe that it really works. They are not convinced of its importance and of the rewards that one can get from it. Long-term are the fruits of regular exercise, yet they are not interested. Some would even say that those online personalities who succeed in displaying a fit body are originally fit before they even show up on screen.  

9 – FEAR OF THE DISCIPLINE THAT IT REQUIRES

Without a question, if you want to regularly exercise and receive its big boons, you need discipline. You need to be tough to resist temptations that lure you to skipping workout days, to eating what’s not allowed, to waking up late for morning exercises and many more!

A lot of people are afraid of the discipline that this undertaking requires, so even before they try, they quit. 

10 – FEAR OF COMMITMENT

Lastly, somehow related to the number above, some people have a fear of commitment — yes, even in exercising. They are scared to commit to regular exercise because of its necessities and of the changes that these demands will let them hop onto. 

These people know that there will be a beneficial transformation that they must be willing and ready to take as part of committing to the health and fitness journey, and they are not courageous enough to sign up. The nine things written above can include the reasons, but there could be other personal reasons apart from them.

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THE COST IS EXPENSIVE.  

A fit physical body, a salutary mind and a blooming feeling cannot be completely achieved overnight. All in all, they require tons of effort, discipline and sacrifices too. Oftentimes, just thinking of the demands of regular exercise makes you wonder whether or not you really need its results. But just as the old textbooks say, regular exercise is indeed vital to a healthy life.

There are so many things that obstruct people from seriously devoting time to regular exercise. Sometimes, they seem simple and powerless, but the truth is that they are influential. Seeing how they can make some people very uninterested and very unconcerned about their health is proof that they truly have an impact. 

If you belong to the huge percentage of people who are hindered by one or more of these things, know that you have to begin from securing the right mindset and the willingness to get healthy. A motivated mind will eventually result in a motivated body. Together with that, be informed and reminded how regular exercise is a crucial part of human health.

The cost of combating these obstacles may be expensive, but keep in mind that the cost of living a sedentary life without exercise is also expensive. Move now, and regret nothing later on. Make regular exercise a lifestyle that no hurdle can stop. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. She finds quality and well-researched writing as a worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. For her, it’s restoring and fulfilling to the heart and a great way to clear the mind while loading it up with fresh learning. Film critiquing and filmmaking are among her interests too. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.