Ever wake up in the morning and feel like you're stuck in a rut that you are never going to get out of? Did you ever have a day when you were SO Tired that you didn't think you were going to make it through? A morning when the kids woke you up way too early and you couldn't go back to sleep? We all have those days. We get up in the morning and come up with lots of reasons why we can't work out.

Here are some popular excuses...

I'm too tired.

I don't have time today.

I over slept, so I don't have time.

I don't feel like it. (Say it with a whine.)

Something unexpected happened, ie. flood in the basement, someone spilled juice all over the floor, etc...so I don't have time.

I'm still sore from my last workout.

I have too much to do today. I don't have time.

I'm tired.

I feel too fat.

I just don't have the energy.

I could probably go on, but you get the picture...Some days, we just don't have the desire to make the time. We are legitimately tired, busy and sometimes overwhelmed by the things going on in our lives. If you're sick, that's a different story. Then you need to rest, but you know the difference. I think that I've probably used every one of those excuses myself, but I'll tell you what. I did it anyway.

Those are the days when you have got to push yourself just a little bit harder. The days that really count. Face it, if you don't workout, you're going to walk around in a "fog" all day anyway, so you may as well see if you can work up a little sweat. If you're sore from a previous workout, you need to move the lactic acid out of your muscles. It's the only way you are going to clear your head and feel better. The way that I look at it...anything is better than nothing.

OK, so you only have 15 minutes; it's better than nothing! Hell, 10 minutes is better than nothing! Get the excuses out of your head and try to focus on getting through that workout. The first 5 minutes are the hardest. That's when the little voice inside of your head will tell you that "you just can't do it!!". Get through that, and you'll make it. Do some jumping jacks, push-ups, crunches, go for a walk/ run...ANYTHING!

Trust me. You will feel 100% better, you'll have the energy that you need to get through your day, and you won't feel "guilty" for skipping a workout.

Now, if you've been in a rut and missed a few days, or you're just thinking about starting again after a few months or weeks off, the same principles apply. The first and second day are the hardest. Get through those two days and it will be full steam ahead. The key to working out and staying in shape is being consistent.

You can thank me when you're done.

Yours in Fitness & Health,