How to stop the top four excuses

In the 17 years I've been a fitness professional, I've found that there are only a few minor barriers to fitness success — and that they are a matter of perspective.


Things often look different when you look at them from the "30,000- foot level," then from ground level. If you really examine these "barriers," you'll see that in the scheme of things, they are easily overcome.



Here are the top four:



1. No time.  There is always time. You just have to be willing to create it. Can you get up just a little earlier?



A tactic I used to employ when I was working and going to school in Frederick, Md., and living in Gaithersburg, Md., was keeping a gym bag with clean gym clothes in my car so I would hit the gym immediately after class or after work.



When I got home, I immediately put fresh clothes in the bag and put it back in the car.



If you are a full-time mom and your gym doesn't have child care, try networking with fellow moms to share sitting duties.



All you need is three good solid days at the gym, and some daily walking to drastically improve your condition. If you always wait until you have time, you never will. You'll always fill that free space with more of what you put more value on. 



2. No money. This is an easily solved problem. First, you don't need money to get into your best shape. Bodyweight training is free and can be just as good as any machine that a gym might have. Bodyweight training is the oldest form of exercise known to man. Variations of pushups, squats, pull-ups and core-strengthening rotation are some of the best exercises you can do, and will produce great results in a short amount of time.


Semi-private, or small group training like my "Metabolic Mayhem," accelerated conditioning system are a great option if you want a structured fitness program for not much money. Plus, it is a fact that people who work out in groups work harder and get better results


3. Self-consciousness. If you aren't exactly looking your best, chances are you aren't at your most confident. Find a friend to start your new fitness program with you. Having a partner to train with at the club helps to create a kind of micro-gym around you, and takes your mind off what you believe other people are thinking about you.


Also, try joining a smaller, less intimidating club. Bigger clubs tend to become more like "meat markets" than fitness centers, where smaller clubs tend to be less image focused and a better environment for someone new to exercising.


 4. Don't know what to do. Nothing saps motivation more than walking into a gym with no plan and having no idea where to start. Your first 90 days dictate what condition you'll be in for the next year. Hiring a qualified trainer, even if it's only once a week is crucial to your success.


When looking for a trainer, make sure you ask about his or her qualifications. If he or she has worked with people who have had similar goals in the past, the trainer can provide proof of client successes. And ask if he or she offers a money-back guarantee.


Asking these questions will ensure you have the best person for the job. Remember, you get exactly what you're paying for.


There you go. Four excuses out the door.


Take it and run with it, start building the body of your dreams today with nothing holding you back. Don't resign yourself to thinking that you can't get it done because __________. Examine the situation, and take action. It's smooth sailing from there.


Chad Smith is a Hagerstown personal trainer, fitness columnist, FTNS radio show host, and co-owner of Home Team Fitness Training. Visit his website www.hometeamfitness.net, or find him on Facebook www.facebook.com/hometeamfitness.