Why don’t we exercise?

So, we know that exercise is good for us, but many still struggle with making it a priority.  

Why is that?  

We cognitively know that regular exercise creates so many positive outcomes in our health and in our lives. 

Yet we still find it really challenging to create and maintain a healthy exercise habit. 

The key is to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of that healthy habit. 

Let’s talk about those obstacles - and how you can overcome them. 

Obstacle number 1: It’s not convenient.  

As humans, we just don’t do what isn’t convenient. To overcome this obstacle, make exercise easily accessible! 

For example, you’ll have greater success when you choose a gym that is on your way home from work, so that you don’t get home and then have to leave again. 

The less you have to rely on your own personal discipline, which waxes and wanes, the greater success you’ll have! 

Make working out convenient!  

Obstacle number 2: you don’t have social support.

This applies to any change you’re working on making: if you don’t have social support, you’re less likely to be successful. 

We tend to become what our environment supports.

Studies show that convenience and social support are the two most powerful factors that determine how successful we are at developing healthy habits. 

The support of your family, friends, and community are so important! 

If you’re committing to an exercise habit, enlist the support of the people around you. Tell them what you need to feel encouraged and supported, whether that’s an affirming word, or a fist bump acknowledging your hard work. 

Community support is the reason why CrossFit, Peloton, running meet-ups, and other group fitness organizations can really help someone to stick to a routine. 

Even finding one other person who will workout with you, or checking in with a friend every time you workout will make a difference! 

And one last thing…the opposite is true too: if you have someone in your circle who actively does not support your creating and maintaining a healthy habit, that’s a tough obstacle to overcome. YOU CAN do it, though! Create boundaries around that time and your efforts. Find people who will and do support you. ...and consider whether you need that kind of negativity in your life at all. 

If you’re struggling to create an exercise habit, make it convenient and get support. 

Optimal is possible!

Obstacle number 3: Subconsciously, you don’t feel like you deserve it.

Reason we don’t exercise number three: subconsciously – or even consciously – you don’t feel like you deserve the positive outcomes you would receive from working out. 

Perhaps you have a mental model that is keeping you from feeling like you have permission to feel healthy, to have energy, to be strong, to be fast, or to have a fit-looking body. 

Maybe you’re actually afraid of how you might make others feel. My friend, if you’re just doing your thing, being your authentically awesome, kind, loving, fitness-committed self and someone is intimidated by you or feels a certain negative way about you, then that issue is with them, not with you.

Maybe you’re worried about how others will treat you, or you’re nervous about attracting attention to yourself. 

Maybe you truly don’t feel like you are worthy of fitness.

These are deep issues that merit reflection. If you’re struggling to create a healthy exercise habit, the reason could be in your subconscious. 

But we can change our mental models! Optimal is possible! 

The bullshit story that you’re not worthy is just that: a story. You can tell yourself a different story. 

Thoughts are actual physical proteins that make up the structure of the brain. 

When you reflect and become aware of subconscious programming that is harmful or false – or both – you can choose to literally rewire your brain by thinking different thoughts. 

We become what we think about. We are the stories we believe about ourselves. 

Believe about yourself that you are worthy of health, energy, fitness, community, and LOVE. 

Because you ARE worthy. 

Obstacle number 4: You don’t have a sense of self-efficacy around exercise.

Reason you don’t exercise number four: you don’t have a high sense of exercise self-efficacy.

Your sense of self-efficacy is your belief in your own capacity to execute behaviors to create an outcome.  

It’s your belief in your own ability to do a thing. 

Our self-perception isn’t always accurate. Sometimes we look at something and think, “I could never do that,” when the reality is that we can absolutely do it, we’ve just not done it before and we need to learn how. 

If you have a low sense of self-efficacy around working out, you may feel intimidated or nervous. You might procrastinate or avoid. 

If this is the case, start with movements that you already know how to do, like walking or riding a bike. 

Work with a personal trainer or fitness coach to provide you guidance and a space wherein you have the psychological safety that you need to learn something new. 

Learning a new thing with a group that will encourage and support you can also be helpful.

Much like your fitness level, you can take action to improve your sense of self-efficacy! 

Obstacle number 5: You haven’t made it a priority.

Get ready for some tough love, people.  

Reason you don’t exercise number five: you just haven’t made it a priority. 

There’s a big difference between wishing and goal-setting. When you wish for something, you’d like to experience it. But when you have a goal, you’re COMMITTED to experiencing it and you have a PLAN. 

Here’s the thing. You could have convenient access, super awesome social support, a belief that you are worthy of fitness, and a high sense of self-efficacy. 

It still requires discipline and commitment to consistently do something that is temporarily uncomfortable. 

When you’ve made exercise a priority:

- You’ve scheduled the time for your workout. It’s on your calendar. 

- You have a plan for what workout you’re going to do.

- You have a consistency goal to motivate you to do the thing that number of times per week. 

- You’ve set the conditions for your success by addressing the obstacles that will keep you from working out. 

-  And most importantly – you’ve got your mind right and you are committed. 

Optimally consistent exercise is possible when you are disciplined, committed, and make it a priority.  

If you’re struggling to commit to exercising regularly, what obstacle is standing in your way?