The number one reason people give me for not working out and eating healthy is that they don’t have time. There isn’t any time to cook, shop and workout. I often wonder if these are the same people who spend a couple hours a night watching TV, every night out at the bar or spending too much being non productive.
I don’t understand why someone would rather spend their time watching unrealistic made up stories on TV over making time to take care of themselves. I see nothing wrong with doing these things in moderation. However, when someone watches every TV show that is aired and then states they don’t have time to take care of themselves, I see something wrong.
I understand that some people truly have a very packed schedule. Between a full time job with kids, possibly being an only parent and having other responsibilities. I still believe everyone should make time to feed themselves properly. Eating is the most important thing we do. It does not take long to cook chicken in the oven, cook steak in a pan, scramble eggs, steam vegetables or put together a salad. Preparing a simple meal is faster than going out to eat. Eating health is very simple and fast. The key is to plan and make sure you always have food on hand.
I also hear a lot of people tell me that eating healthy is too expensive. I often wonder if these are the same people who pay for cable TV, go out to eat every day, buy pop, candy, cigarettes, spend $2 on a cup of coffee and over pay for snacks in a vending machine every day. Packaged food cost more in the long run. All the added sugar makes you more hungry which makes you eat more. Packaged food doesn’t give your body the proper nutrition and causes health problems over time. When buying unprocessed whole foods, you get more bang for your buck.
Taste is also a factor. Lots of people say that they enjoy junk food more. They believe that it taste better than healthy food. Really? Meat, vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts do not taste good? I find it hard to believe that one cannot find a variety of things they like is these categories. The only reason someone thinks junk food taste better is because sugar is addictive. Once I cut processed food out of my diet I realized I was addicted to sugar. I feel like a drug addict who finally cut my self off of an addiction, realizing I feel better without the drug. I also can taste real food better now, realizing that it taste much better thank junk food.
For the people who don’t have time to go to the gym. I can understand this. If you start with changing your diet first and try to be a little more active in your daily life, that is a great start. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away, take walks on your lunch, make cleaning your house into a workout or plan active activities with your family and friends. Once these changes are made, you may find more energy to include additional activity in your life.
Many people simply don’t like working out and/or going to the gym. This is understandable, not everyone has the same interest. However, I encourage these people to find something active they enjoy. It is important to keep muscles strong to support the skeletal system. When one’s body becomes weak they lose their independence and are prone to injury. It is not desirable to lose the ability to climb stairs, get off a chair, lift heavy items or lose the ability to do any daily tasks. When one loses muscle mass they also lose stability, become more prone to falling and breaking a bone. The loss of muscle mass also means one’s muscles aren’t strong enough to support their bones becoming more susceptible to joint problems.
I also hear people say that after or before a long day, they do not have the energy to go to the gym or do something active. Being active actually gives me energy I otherwise would not have. It is also very therapeutic, helps me clear my mind and also helps me solve problems. I believe being active makes my body and mind stronger, enabling me to enjoy my life to a greater extent.
I find that people often put their resources (time/money) towards things that do benefit them. Many of these things hold them back from become a better, stronger and smarter version of themselves. I encourage all to evaluate how we spend our time and money. How can we change how we spend our time and money to work toward a goal?
