Adapted from "Couch Potato Contentment" on MSNBC.com

Excuse: I don't have time to exercise.
Solution: It's not necessary to carve out 30 straight minutes for exercise. Fit in 5 or 10 minutes of activity a few times a day. Take a short, brisk walk around the block at lunch. Climb a few flights of stairs between meetings. Hit the treadmill or do some sit-ups while watching the news. It can all add up to the half hour of physical activity recommended by public-health professionals.

Excuse: I don't like gyms.
Solution: If you find health clubs too crowded or intimidating, don't go. There are plenty of other places to exercise. Try a community recreation center, your home or the great outdoors.


Excuse: I'm so out of shape, I don't know where to start.
Solution: Start slowly to avoid being overwhelmed and getting injured. Try short walks a couple times a week at first, and then build up to more challenging activities. If you need help devising a fitness plan, consider a session or two with a personal trainer.


Excuse: I'm too tired to get off the couch.
Solution: That's precisely why you should. Exercise helps boost your energy.


Excuse: I hate exercise.
Solution: Perhaps you hate the activities you've done in the past. Heart-pounding, high-impact aerobics aren’t for everyone. But there's surely some sort of physical activity that appeals to you. How about snow-shoeing, swimming or salsa dancing? Try some of them -- you might like them.


Excuse: It's just too hard.
Solution: Nobody said it would be easy. But oftentimes the hardest part is at the beginning. Experts say that if you can stick with exercise for that first month, you'll start to reap benefits -- like increased energy and improved mood -- that can motivate you to stay moving. Consider walking; it’s an easy exercise that can go a long way toward good health.


Excuse: I've never exercised and it's too late to start.
Solution: It's never too late to start. Provided your doctor gives the OK, you can exercise well into old age -- and still accrue many health benefits. So get out there and get moving, just start slowly.

Excuse: The weather is too [pick one: hot, cold, wet, dry, gloomy, whatever]
Solution: In the south, Mother Nature is always a possible excuse to stay glued to the couch. For less than perfect weather, dress appropriately. If it's hot, wear clothing that doesn't soak up sweat (like nylon or anything polyester) and drink plenty of water. If it's cold, dress in layers and wear gloves. If it's wet, wear rain gear and a hat. Use bad weather not as an excuse not to workout but as a chance to cross train. If it's too hot to run, swim instead. Too wet to bicycle outdoors? Enroll in a "spinning" class. And, when it's too cold to walk around the park, head to the yoga studio or use a pilates or walking video indoors.

Sometimes I truly believe if we spent as much energy making excuses why we can't exercise and convincing our minds that they are the truth, and used that same amount of mental energy imagining ways to fit in some activity, we would be a much healthier people. For more information on why we have so many excuses for not exercising, check out this article. It's high time we started using our imagination and inventiveness in a more positive way. Don't you agree?

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Albright Bariatric Clinic