The Biggest Obstacle Keeping You From Fitness Success

If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely experienced the frustration that comes with struggling to get healthy, meet your fitness goals, or find motivation to keep working through a plateau.

Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, losing the extra weight, running the extra mile, or building extra muscle is impossible. We try and try, only to wind up with another goal not accomplished.

Related: 3 Genius Strategies to Achieve Your Fitness Goals

There are many obstacles that delay our fitness progress. Everything from not having enough time, losing motivation, experiencing burnout, or just getting bored with a fitness routine can leave our progress stagnant.

But among these obstacles there is one that continues to prevent us from reaching fitness success, time and time again.

So what is the biggest obstacle keeping you from fitness success?

Making an excuse for not exercising.

That’s right – excuses are the biggest obstacle keeping you from fitness success. No matter who you are – whether you’re a morning person, over achiever, couch potato, fitness enthusiast, new runner, or anything in between – workout excuses have no doubt made an appearance in your fitness routine.

I’ve definitely found myself battling excuses for not exercising a time or two before.

The thing about these workout excuses is that they can have one of two outcomes: they can stop you in your tracks, give you a break, and make it easier to skip future workouts and healthy meals, OR they can make you stronger and improve your will power.

Related: How to Successfully Adjust Your Training for Missed Runs

When you put it like that, the choice we want to make is obvious – right? Gaining strength and will power is the reason most people begin their fitness journey in the first place.

So why do so many people succumb to these excuses to not exercise?

Life gets in the way. It would be so easy to achieve fitness success if we had endless time, resources, excitement and inspiration. We’d continue on our fitness journeys without a care in the world.

But unfortunately, that’s not how life works.

That’s okay though, because pushing through the moments that aren’t ideal are where we gain the most.

However, most people are aware of the benefits of exercising and the advantages of pushing through their excuses as opposed to succumbing to them. And even still, there are many moments when we let our workout excuses get the best of us and plop down on the couch.

Sure, there are a few situations where skipping a workout is actually in your best interest. But more often than not, these excuses have been manufactured in our minds. Maybe we’ve had a long day at work, are feeling very stressed, or just really lazy one day. These moments of weakness are when the excuses creep in and try to take control.

Related: Should You Skip a Run? Here’s What You Need to Know

Overcoming your fitness excuses is never an easy task. But more often than not, forcing yourself to quiet the excuses and just do it will pay off in no time at all.

Achieving fitness success is all about consistency. It’s impossible to reach your goals if you exercise sporadically and binge eat potato chips every other day. Allowing your body time to adapt to these new habits means maintaining them for the long run.

Being able to see progress in your fitness requires time. Progress doesn’t happen overnight, and it especially doesn’t happen when we find a reason to avoid hard work time and time again.

Setting a goal to improve your fitness is admirable. It’s an incredible first step.

Related: What to Know When Achieving Your Goals Feels Out of Reach

Laying out a game plan to achieve that goal requires careful thought and consideration, but following that plan requires work. Remind yourself every single day why you started, and keep your mindset focused.

Mental strength is a skill that no one really talks about when it comes to fitness, but achieving the right mentality accounts for so much of your success.

You can do it.

If you think you don’t have time, can’t find motivation, or don’t see the point anymore – change your mindset. It can be done, and there’s no reason you can’t get there.

Everyone encounters obstacles at some point or another. That’s what makes the journey interesting. Evaluate your obstacles and determine how to get past them without using them as an excuse to quit or take a break.

You will thank yourself down the road.

If you’re struggling with overcoming workout excuses, remind yourself that you’re not alone. Everyone battles the temptation to quit at some point along their journey, and the way they handle those temptations is what determines their success.

Here are 5 resources to overcome those exercise excuses and keep going!

5 Simple Ways to Overcome Workout Excuses

• Workout Excuse: I don’t have enough time
  • How to Make Time for Running: 5 Tips for Busy People
• Workout Excuse: I really don’t feel motivated
  • 5 Ways to Overcome Low Workout Motivation
• Workout Excuse: There’s no point
  • What to Know When Achieving Your Goals Feels Out of Reach
• Workout Excuse: I hate exercising
  • 15 Amazing Reasons to Stay Active
• Workout Excuse: It’s too hard
  • 8 Simple Ways to Make Staying Active Easier