"I don't have time."
"It's too expensive."
"I'm not ready."
"I don't have motivation."
"I'm scared I'll look silly."
"I might hurt myself."
You've heard them and you've most likely said a fair few of them yourself. Am I right?!
With that in mind, you're now asking, "how do I overcome these barriers?"
Let me take each one of these common barriers (there are more) and provide at least one solution that could work for you.
Not enough time
Such a huge barrier for sure, especially as life is crazy busy and we all have different commitments, responsibilities, deadlines, etc.
My advice would be to plan! Make movement a priority throughout your day, like walking to work or parking further away to allow for more steps. Take the stairs more. Walk during your lunch break. If you can only squeeze in 20 minutes to work out, hey go and do it. That 20 minutes is so much better than nothing.
You do not need to workout everyday. Nor do your workouts need to be for 1 hour or more. Seek guidance from a professional to structure your workouts so you get the most out of them in the slots you have free each week.
Too expensive
It really doesn't have to be. List down the activities you enjoy and I'm sure there are options that are more cost effective. Walking, cycling (as long as you already have a bike), jogging and doing internet workouts are free. Swimming will cost you very little at your local leisure centre, as will gym memberships there. If you want a personal trainer and you're worried about the cost, speak to them before you right it off. They will advise you of their different packages, price plans and services. For example, small group training costs less per person than one to one training and you can often spread the cost over several weeks.
Not being ready
Sometimes you have to do things before you are ready. If you keep waiting to improve your health and fitness you might find yourself 2, 3 or even 10 years from now thinking "eeek I'm not in a good place now." Don't let that be the case and start now!
I don't have motivation
Yikes, we all feel like this! I too am never 100% motivated all of the time. You have to ask yourself why you are doing this and then write that reason down and put it up somewhere you can see it everyday. Are you improving your fitness to set a good example to your children? Do you want to feel good in your own skin? Do you feel weak and struggle to do day to day activities? If that why is strong, then it will motivate you and keep you going.
Lack of skill
Try activities that don't require too much skill, such as jogging, step ups or walking. You can find tutorials for basic movements online too. If you want to hit the gym or do an exercise then just remember that we all start somewhere. Everyone had a day 1, where they didn't know how to use the equipment or do the movements. In time, you too will become skilled. Lean on a great personal trainer who will coach you through the exercises and help you feel more confident.
Injury concern
Yes, there is a chance of injury with some exercises. You also risk injury when you get in your car or go for a walk or cook your meals. If you're swimming you have a life guard who will look out for you, if you're at the gym and you're unsure about a piece of equipment then ask a member of the gym staff for guidance. My advice would be to have a personal trainer, either one to one or in a small group. Doing so, will enable you to have someone qualified to demonstrate movements to you, explain their benefits and most importantly, observe you executing them so as to ensure you are doing them safely with good technique.
There are always going to be reasons why you can't start your fitness journey but only you are in the way of your progress. Remember that and use the above advice to help you overcome your barriers and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
** Do you need more help overcoming barriers to fitness and nutrition? Give me a shout today, for Free, and lets have a chat through your concerns and how I can help you :-) **
