Beat the Top 8 Exercise Excuses

No More Excuses

It's 4 p.m. and you're at your desk, wondering how on earth you're going to make it to the gym when there are umpteen things you still need to do. Don't despair - you can get to your workout! The trick is learning how to counter the excuses that keep you from exercising. "By adjusting your thinking, you can overcome any hurdle," says Michael Sachs, Ph.D., a professor of exercise and sport psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Taking control of your workouts not only helps you get the body you want, it also makes you feel more in control of your life. So stop making excuses-and start making progress!

1. I'm Too Tired
"Unless you're incredibly sleep deprived or jet-lagged, there's no reason not to exercise when you're tired," says Sachs. In fact, working out will rev you up. Robert E. Thayer, Ph.D., and his colleagues at California State University, Long Beach, found that just 10 minutes of brisk walking can give you up to two hours of increased energy. If possible, work out in the morning. A.M. exercisers are better at sticking to a fitness regimen, say researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. If early evening is the only time you have, try drinking a cup of coffee beforehand. The caffeine jolt will get you to the also improve your workout performance.