Publication
Hassle free exercise
Section four: What's stopping you?
‘I haven’t got time …’
You don’t need to set aside special time. If your life is already very busy, you can try building activity into your existing routines – walk a bit more of your journeys e.g. to work or to the shops or try walking at a brisker pace. Take the stairs instead of the lift or escalators.
‘There’s no gain without pain.’
Wrong. Physical activity should feel comfortable. If it’s painful, you’re overdoing it and can hurt yourself. In the past some exercise advisers encouraged people to overdo it in the belief that it had to hurt to be doing you good. Today we know that’s not only untrue, it can be risky.
‘You need to go to classes or join a club.’
You don’t. You can be more active without having to set aside special times to go to exercise classes. You don’t have to join a sports or health club. You can have a game in the park with your friends or family. If you want to do something on your own you could go to the local pool for a swim.
‘But you’ve got to be really dedicated if you want to get fit. It takes a lot of will power.’
No really. If you build up slowly and gradually by doing a little bit more each week, it won’t be a big effort. You’ll gain a lot and feel the difference quite quickly.
‘I’m not fit enough!’
You don’t have to be fit to be active. Take your time. Take it gradually and listen to your body. Follow the guide to getting started.
‘Most of the year in Scotland the weather’s too bad to get out and be active’
The weather can put you off going out. But you can be active indoors. If the weather’s bad you could still go swimming or dancing and it would probably cheer you up to. If it’s really bad and you have to stay inside, try not to sit still for long periods. Take a lot of active breaks ‘ go and make a drink or walk about a bit.