Don't Let Excuses Rob You of Good Nutrition and Fitness

People say they don't have time to exercise. They don't have time to grocery shop and cook healthful meals. They don't have time to eat right. They don't have time to think about their weight.

The motivation for giving up your excuses is often right in front of your nose. For many people, it's as obvious as wanting to stay healthy for their spouse,
kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews and themselves.Some may have medical fears, such as diabetes or heart disease, or they may be approaching a landmark birthday.

The people who are most successful at changing their lives don't want to be the victim of their own excuses anymore and decide to take immediate action— even simple things, such as drinking water instead of regular soda, getting up earlier to walk
and using the nutrition information from their favorite restaurants.

People are "convinced they don't have time" for exercise or healthy grocery shopping but those are excuses, says author Bill Phillips.

Phillips says when you give up your excuses, you take responsibility for your own life. "Most every transformation I've witnessed over the years was preceded by a dramatic increase of self-responsibility". Individuals have to accept the fact
that they need to "pilot" their own lives, he says.

Instead of using lack of time as an excuse, people have to schedule the time they need to exercise and cook healthful meals, just as they schedule a doctor's appointment, business meeting or lunch with a friend, he says. "There's always an
opportunity to make time."

Blatner says excuses can be overcome by thinking about them in a new way.

For instance, take the excuse that you don't have time to exercise.Think instead: It's possible to walk 10 minutes several times a day.

Or take the excuse that you don't have time to cook.Think instead: It doesn't take that much skill, fancy recipes or a lot of time to put together a quick healthful meal such as barbecue chicken on a whole grain bun and a simple salad Blatner says.

"You just have to get back to basics with real food."

Source: USA Today 9/28