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by James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM 

10(Lame) Reasons People CommonlyGive for Not Exercising

 ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS JOURNAL1

1Don’t have the time to exercise.

Research documents the fact

that exercising does not have to

be time-consuming to be beneficial.For example, engaging in physical

activity for as little as 15 minutes a day 

(either on a continuous, nonstop basisor cumulatively in several increments)

can help you be heart healthy.

2Don’t know how to exercise.

Truth be known, exercising isnot a particularly complex 

undertaking. The basic key is to just

get moving. Walk, run, swim, join

a group-exercise class. . .whatever

rings your motivational bell. If you

want sound advice and guidance on

your exercise efforts from an expert,you should consult a health/fitnessprofessional who has been certified

by a credible professional organization

(e.g., ACSM, ACE, NSCA).

3Exercise is too inconvenient.

No muss, no fuss, no way.

In contrast to the expectations of 

those individuals who feel that life’srewards should be handed to them

in a neatly packaged, effortless way,most things worth having are worth

making some sacrifice (e.g., time,money, energy) to obtain. The health

benefits associated with exercising on

a regular basis are no exception.

4Not fit enough to exercise.

Simply stated, you don’t have tobe fit to get fit. Regardless

of how physically fit you are at any 

given point in your life, you are never

so out of shape that you can’t or

shouldn’t exercise. You may not be a viable candidate for running a 

marathon, but you can engage in

physical activity at a safe exercise

intensity level that is appropriate for

your level of fitness.

5Exercise can be painful or even

dangerous.  Exercise will not

harm you. While you may experience some degree of discomfort

(as opposed to pain), such a feeling is

your body’s simple way of letting you

know that there is a price to pay forcertain actions, for example, doing too

much exercise too quickly. In fact, the

risk of injuring yourself while engaging 

in sound exercise is very low. The

danger of dying while exercising is

extremely rare.

6Get enough exercise at work.Unfortunately, too many peopleequate being fatigued after work 

with having a similar effect on their

body as exercising. Not true. Your

work may be physically taxing, but it

is not exercise.

7Exercise is too expensive.  You

don’t need to spend muchmoney to exercise. Other than

buying a good pair of shoes, yourwallet does not have to withstand

an assault to pay for your exerciseregimen. Furthermore, relatively 

speaking, exercising is a lot less costly 

than the array of potential downsidesto a sedentary lifestyle (e.g., higher

healthcare costs, lower levels of productivity, etc.).

8Exercise is too physically 

demanding. Certainly, exercising 

entails a greater physical

challenge than the vast array of sitting-on-your heinie tasks associated

with a nonphysical activity lifestyle.

On the other hand, exercise need not

be unduly tough or hard. The key is to

engage in an exercise regimen that isappropriate for your level of fitness.

 All too often, the real challenge you

face is to conjure up enough energy toget up off the couch and get moving.

9Too old to start exercising.

The innumerable benefits

of exercising on a regular basisare within the reach of individuals

of virtually all ages. In reality, you’re

never too old to begin exercising.

Depending upon your age (men over

45; women over 55), you may need

to see your physician prior to engaging 

in a vigorous exercise program.

10Don’t believe inexercise. A healthy dose

of skepticism about the

existence of some things (e.g., the Loch

Ness monster, the Easter bunny, an

honest politician, etc.) is appropriate.

The value of exercise, however, should

not be one of them. The benefitsof exercise are extensive and well

documented. If for any reason youquestion the merits of exercise, you

need to invigorate your life with a 3-G’s strategy—get real, get up, and

get moving.

 James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is 

a freelance writer and consultant in sports medicine. From 1990 until 1995,

Dr. Peterson was director of sports 

medicine with StairMaster. Until that 

time, he was professor of physical 

education at the United States Military  Academy.

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44   ACSM’S HEALTH & FITNESS  JOURNALA  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 www.acsm-healthfitness.org VOL. 10, NO. 1

A   2006 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Reprint permission is granted to subscribers of   ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal A .   CALL 800-486-5643   TO SUBSCRIBE OR JOIN

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