As we approach the midway point of the summer season I’ve noticed a common theme start to develop across the gyms I visit throughout Vancouver’s Lower Mainland – They’re empty!

I spend about 75% of most of my days in gyms. Whether it be training clients, training myself or even catching up on a few emails and working on our online programs on my laptop computer, my daily life revolves around people working out and being fit. So when 75% of my day goes from being surrounded by hundreds of lifters grunting and groaning to practically dead silence at even the busiest hours of a typical gym day, I begin to notice.

So what’s up? Where are all those people who were packing the gyms back in Spring training for their “Beach Bodies”? At the beach? Did they all achieve their “Beach Body” goals in just a manner of a few weeks? Or did they just give up on their training goals and give in to the temptation of ice cold alcoholic sugary beverages and/or copious amounts of ice cream on a hot summer day? If I were a betting man I would put my money on the latter of the two….

Now I’m all for having some fun and letting lose on my own diet every so often (did you not see my latest pic for my blog?) Despite what most of my clients think I am not super strict with my eating and training 365 days a year. There are times when I like to be human and go out and have a good time. I’ve made it no secret that I like to eat entire pizzas in one sitting and my massive consumption of gallons of ice cream within one day are epic. But this is not something I do on a regular basis and when I do you better damn well believe I’m in the gym the very next day burning those empty calories out of my system as fast as I possibly can.

But back to my original question – where did everyone go? Like a School Teacher asking for homework, as a Personal Trainer I’ve heard every single excuse in the book for not working out. So I figured what better way to help people solve their excuses….er…ummm…I mean “problems” with getting their asses to the gym by compiling some of my favourite all time excuses and providing solutions to solve them.

Let’s Start!

Excuse – “I Don’t Have Time” – This definitely has to be the the most common excuse I hear throughout not just the summer season, but the entire year.

Solution – There are 24 hours in a day. A 1 hour training session works out to 4% of your day!  Surely you can spare 4% of your day to making your body more fit and healthy. Whether you need to wake up an hour earlier, go to bed an hour later, skip lunch or happy hour with your co-workers to fit in a quick workout, it can be done.

Excuse – “I Don’t Need to Workout, I Walk Alot” – First off, let me applaud those of you that opt to walk and take public transportation rather then drive to most of their destinations. This is not only healthier for your body but also healthier for our planet. But let’s get real! Walking is just a means of transportation and therefore should be viewed just as that. It’s a known fact that to improve your overall cardiovascular health and strengthen your heart, you need to get moving. Strolling through the park or walking up a flight of stairs every so often is not going to do it. Exercise needs to be consistent and challenging so that the body is forced to change by working harder and therefore become stronger, healthier and produce continuous results.

Solution – Keep walking. In fact, walk yourself right over to the gym for an intense workout or cardio group class that gets your heart pumping blood, strengthens your muscles and core while improving your flexibility all at the same time.

Excuse – “Personal Training is Too Expensive” – You’re right, Personal Training is not cheap. In fact, many people view Personal Training as more of a luxury for the rich rather then a necessity for everyone. I mean why spend money on something that you could probably do on your own? Well first off are you going to do it on your own? Second, are you going to push yourself to true failure every time you step foot in the gym? Third, are you doing the exercises correctly and using proper form and full range of motion so that you don’t get injured? Maybe you are. And if that’s the case then why are reading this article?

Solution – Join a group class or workout with a friend or family member in a partner training session to reduce training costs. Most Personal Training companies will offer you cost-effective solutions for working out. Whether you are working with a tight budget or know how to workout but may just need the extra motivation to get yourself to the gym that you would receive from training in a small group of people who offer support and accountability, this is an excuse that really has no merit.

Okay, so at this point you might be thinking – “Who does this guy think he is? What gives him the right, to challenge my reasons for not working out?” Absolutely nothing. You’re right, I don’t know you. And if you have a medical condition or serious injury that prevents you from working out intensely then I apologize if I have offended you.

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to be healthy and fit and to be able to train my body hard on a regular basis. But this did not happen by luck. This has come with years of hard work and conditioning my body to push through even some of my most serious injuries that I’ve encountered throughout my career.

One of best pieces of advice came from my Dad when I was training for my first show, years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. He told me to train as if I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Now I know this statement is famous and did not originate from my father however because it came from him it made even more sense to me. Growing up I watched my Dad apply that “Do or Die” mentality to everything he did. Nothing was done half assed, and if I did something without my utmost effort, I was forced to do it again and again until it was done correctly.

So in the end, when it comes to training I don’t do any of my workouts “Half Assed”. Each workout is thought out meticulously and every single set and rep is given my full and undivided attention. In other words, I always go balls to wall! There is no time to talk about my stocks, the current state of the economy or Katy Perry’s latest relationship with my fellow gym goers. This is not social hour.

It’s time to throw away the excuses, stop complaining and just start training.

When it comes down to it, it really is time to just – “Shut Up and Squat!”

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
President
Forever Fit