Feeling Fit, Bit By Bit

All About Feeling Fit and Enjoying Life!

  • Beauty & Style
    • Active Style
    • Beauty
    • Cosmetics/Color
    • DIY Home Spa Day
    • DIY Makeover
    • Beauty DIY
    • Style
  • Enjoying Life
    • Dance
    • DIY Home Spa Day
    • Games & Toys
    • Healthy Home
    • Personal
    • Posture and Alignment
    • Relaxation & Stress Relief
    • Reward Yourself
    • Tips
    • Workout Recovery
  • Fitness
    • Dance
    • Exercise
    • Fitness
    • Fitness Books
    • Fitness Tech
    • Fitbit & Activity Tracking
    • Home Gym
    • For Yoga
    • Workout Media
    • Workout Recovery
  • Food
    • Coffee, Tea
    • Cooking Media
    • Cooking Product or Gadget Reviews
    • Eating Fit
    • Food
    • Food Product Reviews
    • Recipes
    • Sometimes Treats
  • Giveaways & Reviews
    • Current Giveaways
    • Fabulous Blogger Giveaways
    • Feeling Fit Reader Giveaway Policy & Terms
    • Previous Giveaways
    • Made In America Gift Guide
    • Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Cooking Media
      • Fitness Books
      • Fitbit & Activity Tracking
      • Games & Toys
      • Home Gym
      • Music Reviews
      • Reviews
      • Subscription Boxes
      • For Yoga
      • Workout Media
  • Tech & Gadgets
    • Fitbit & Activity Tracking
    • Fitness Tech
    • Tech & Gadgets
  • Blog
  • About This Blog
    • About This Blog
    • Advertising, Sponsored Post & Review Disclosure Policy
    • Contact Feeling Fit
    • Disclaimers
    • Feeling Fit’s Affiliations and Connection Partners
    • Feeling Fit Goes Social
    • Privacy Policy For Feeling Fit
    • Most Searched On Google
    • Slysam Feeling Fit YouTube Channel
    • Work With Feeling Fit – Our Media Kit
Home » Fitness » Exercise » What Does No Excuses Really Mean? #NoExcuses #SweatPink

What Does No Excuses Really Mean? #NoExcuses #SweatPink

January 26, 2015 By Sam Sly 1 Comment

noexcuses
Sometimes I am a baby when it comes to my lifestyle goals. And sometimes it is okay to “baby” myself. #NoExcuses #SweatPink

What does “no excuses” really mean to you? It is an expression we hear often and it is used as a motivational cheer for working towards fitness, health, personal and professional goals. Often it means we do it, not matter what choices and changes we need to make. I must admit, I don’t think that way.

Lifestyle changes need to be sustainable over the long-term. Anyone with a gym membership (who consistently attends all year) has witness this… In January the gym parking lot is full. You have to wait longer to use the equipment. There are a lot of new, enthusiastic (or maybe grimacing) faces. The locker room is crowded. Right? How many are left by the end of January? Or February? How many in March? April?

I think some of the problem is an all or nothing, no excuses mentality. We feel that we need to go from desk or coach potato to serious athlete overnight. And we need to go from MacDonald’s to clean eating overnight (or Paleo, Vegan, whatever plan we think may be our new magic bullet). Then we have a busy day where they feel rushed off our feet. And miss a workout and/or indulge in something that we should not eat on the new plan. What happens? Typically we may scold ourselves for failing. This can lead to a downward cycle of shame. We tell ourselves, “I messed up, I might as well also enjoy that milkshake (or whatever else seems attractive, easy and comfortable).” Maybe we start making “excuses”. But it can be difficult to get back on track as we already have the mindset of failure.

journey10ksteps

Here is something that helps me… Instead of “excuses” reflect on the reasons you did not meet your goal today. Yes, there is a fine line between excuses and reasons. For me, reasons are easier to work with. They inform me how I need to better prepare myself to face life’s challenges and they give myself permission to forgive and move on.

I also am better at sustainable change if I don’t scold or guilt trip myself. I think “making excuses” contributes to the pattern of scolding oneself and then excusing oneself. That pattern can also lead to giving up if it goes too far.

Sometimes the solution is easy, if I missed today’s planned workout, then maybe I can rearrange my workout schedule so today is my rest day. (Rest days are important by the way!). Or maybe I can fit in a short workout at home at a different time than usual. If I indulged in a sometimes treat like a glass of wine (or chocolate, dessert, whatever)… That’s okay. I personally do not want to sustain a lifestyle without an occasional treat. Rather than shame myself, I just own up to the fact I enjoyed a treat today but the rest of the day or week can still be on-plan. No biggie. (I know this may not work for everyone especially with trigger foods or addictions, but often allowing a little flexibility can make it a lot more sustainable).

Whatever goes “wrong” in our short-term plan to live a fit lifestyle, it is important for me to avoid the cycle of excuses and shame. Realizing this was a turning point in my fitness life. I still face day-to-day challenges and choices. Some days I make better choices than others. But every day I am closer to a healthy lifestyle and I am also enjoying the process!

I wrote the post as part of the #NoExcuses Challenge through Fit Approach and #Sweatpink. While working on challenges, the trap of “excuses” is very easy to fall into if one or two challenge activities do not fit in your life that week. It is easy to give up when that happens. I think it helps to remember why we do challenges. I find challenges fun in the short-term and they generate some creative ideas and opportunities to try new things. Thank you to Fit Approach, Sweat Pink, and challenge sponsors Augusta Sportswear, ShowerPill, ActivMotion Bar, Actio926, Flipbelt, Zola Coconut Water, FRS, and WIN Detergent!

Disclosure: I really have none as I have received no compensation or promotional items. I did write this as part of a fitness challenge and may possibly win a prize if I am lucky.

NoExcuses

Filed Under: Enjoying Life, Exercise, Fitness, Personal, Tips Tagged With: challenge, essay, motivation, sweatpink

Comments

  1. LaKisha Riddick says

    April 11, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    I agree! “No excuses” didn’t work for me. In fact, it made me even more defensive about my choices. I’ve learned that excuses are subjective to an individual because they are based on that person’s belief about their own capabilities. So if they don’t believe they can do it, then they will find a way (actively or passively) to NOT do it. What has worked for me is what you’ve suggested, finding reasons why I should make healthier choices. I’ve also had to change my perspective about my own ability. I can do something now (at my fitness level) and then build up to doing more later. Great post!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

For weekly tips, reviews, recipes, style and more!

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Featured Ad:


Featured ad:

Resources For a Fit Lifestyle

Work out anytime, anywhere, with Beachbody On Demand! Get your FREE 7-Day Trial today!

Resources For The Fit Foodie

Resources for the Fashionably Fit

Joseph Nogucci Holiday 2013

karina dresses

Beauty Resources:

Madison Reed - Salon Quality At-Home Hair Color

The #1 Writing Tool

CoSchedule: The Editorial Calendar For WordPress

Yoga Download Promo Code

Categories:

Active Recreation Active Style Activity Tracking Beauty Beauty DIY Book Reviews Coffee, Tea Cooking Media Cooking Product or Gadget Reviews Cosmetics/Color DIY Home Spa Day DIY Makeover Eating Fit Enjoying Life Exercise Fair Trade Fitness Fitness Tech Food food Food Product Reviews For Bloggers For Yoga Giveaways Health health Healthy Home Home Gym Made in the USA Most Searched Personal Posture and Alignment Recipes Recreation Relaxation & Stress Relief Reviews Reward Yourself Saving Money Style Subscription Boxes Tech & Gadgets Tips Uncategorized Workout Media Workout Recovery
Everywhere

USFamilyGuide.com

The Network Niche

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in