How to overcome the # 1 exercise obstacle

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK… Ask just about any woman the reason she doesn’t exercise, and you’ll hear, “I just don’t have time.” “Lack of time, however, is not the real reason,” says Laura K. Bryant, women’s health and fitness speaker and author of Trust Yourself to Transform Your Body: A Woman’s Guide to Health and Weight Loss Without Diets. “The minute you tell yourself you don’t have time you shut yourself off from considering the possibilities. It is the very act of telling yourself you don’t have time that keeps you from exercising,” says Bryant. The tips offered below will have you exercising in no time: ASK YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. The question isn’t whether you have enough time; the question is whether you’re spending your time in the way that’s best for you… in a way that will help you meet your health goals,” says Bryant. This means you have to know exactly what you want to achieve. Bryant suggests setting a timer for one minute. “For that one minute, write every single health goal you’ve ever had. Do not allow your pen to stop. And don’t censor yourself. If it enters your mind, write it down,” says Bryant. Then you can choose your top goals, determining how much time is necessary for success. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW. The only way to take time for your health is to change your current schedule. The first step is to know how you’re currently spending your time. Bryant urges women to keep a detailed log of what they do for at least one weekday and one weekend day. “This way, you have a visual and can recognize patterns,” says Bryant. “I also have women ask themselves, ‘Will what I’m doing at this specific time help me meet my goals?’ If the answer to that question is ‘no,’ working to either minimize or eliminate that activity will provide more time for the things you consider most important.” CREATE A SYSTEM. Consistently taking time to do anything is all about creating a system or plan that allows you to take the time. “This process is individual to each woman,” says Bryant. Schedule it in your planner; meet a reliable friend at the gym; hire a personal trainer; or wake up early, so nothing else gets in the way. Do whatever it takes you to meet your goals. When you’re clear on what you want, create a system to get it, and follow through there is no way to fail!