Common Excuses

		Excuse #1: "I'm not sure I have enough time..."
		Excuse #2: "I want to think about it..."
		Excuse #3: Intimidation and lack of confidence...
		The bottom line

Excuse #1 : “I’m not sure I have enough time…”

In the past, people didn’t call their daily struggle for survival “stress.” They didn’t have the time or energy to obsess over how busy they were. The fact that they
were so focused on critical daily tasks kept them from feeling that vague, gnawing
dissatisfaction we call anxiety.

People today have more leisure time that at any point in history. We have more
labor-saving appliances and due to increases in productivity, more material bounty.
Yet, many people don’t feel like they have more time. Technology has actually
been a double edged sword: It has given us a high standard of living, but it has
also changed the pace of modern life. What used to be expected in the mail in a
week or two is now expected by email or fax in an hour or two. That’s one reason
people feel so busy and stressed out.

Of course, technology isn’t the only reason that many people perceive that they
have no time. Some of the problems come from the tendency to try to do too many
things, the inability to say “no,” procrastination, or other time-management
mistakes. When you begin to approach time as the valuable resource it is, you may
realize that time management is life management.

A quote to ponder…

“Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather
than invest it.”     -Jim Rohn

Excuse #2 : “ I want to think about it…”

Most people will do whatever it takes to avoid working out in a health club, even
though they need to do it. We know we need to work out, but human nature wants
us to procrastinate doing the inevitable. It is certainly much easier, less scary or
intimidating, and more “comfortable” to tell ourselves “I want to think about it,” rather
than just taking that decisive step and joining a health club.

Another obstacle that gets in the way of being healthy is the idea that people need
to radically alter their lifestyles to be fit. One of our many goals is to spread the
word that it is possible to positively impact health, wellbeing, and energy levels by
making simple changes. Many of these changes are possible even for time-
challenged, stressed-out people.

What we are offering is the use of our club as a resource for learning these
practical strategies which, while small, will yield big results if practiced consistently.
Our entire staff will be here to answer your questions with understanding and
empathy, give consistent feedback, and provide you with support when you need it
most.

A quote to ponder…

“ When you get right down to the root of the meaning of the word ‘succeed,’ you find
that it simply means to follow through.”      -F.W. Nichol

Excuse #3 : Intimidation and lack of confidence…

Lifestyle changes, including exercising, involve leaving a comfort zone. It’s not only
fear of failure; it’s also what psychologists would call “dissonance,” or not wanting to
look like a fool. People can spend most of their waking hours functioning well at
work, at home, and in other situations where they feel competent and comfortable.
In the arena of exercise, however, they feel anything but. They don’t know what to
do or how to do it, and they don’t know who to ask. They are intimidated by the
mysteries of the equipment, the other gym members, and even the language.
People naturally avoid situations in which they feel helpless and less than
intelligent. Just what are “sets” and “reps” anyway?

The fitness industry has not always been sensitive to the concerns of the people
who feel intimidated, although this group represents the vast majority of Americans.
Many of these people associate exercise, fitness, and therefore, our club, with the
excessively tanned, lyrca-clad and often surgically enhanced “experts” who they
see on cable TV. They see these young hard bodies and say, “That’s not me! I’ll
never look like that.” But it’s not us either.

Exercise, to us, is a commitment made to have strength, good health, and
functionality; not just a way to fit into a thong. Everyone here is here for the same
reason, and we therefore have at least one thing in common right off the bat. Most
of our members felt just as anxious before they began their exercise programs. But
it does not take long to discover the support gained from joining a health club, and
joining the fight to better our health along with the support gained from our peers
and neighbors.

A quote to ponder…

“ The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often
merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.”
–Richard M DeVos

The bottom line…

Purchasing a health club membership is a big step. It is also one that can and will
change your life for the better. Almost anything worthwhile takes a certain amount
of risk; but as our current members will tell you, the benefits you will gain will greatly
outweigh the threats you perceive.

The bottom line is that your life will change for the better. It is completely up to you
whether that change will begin now… later…. or never.

A final quote to ponder…

“ The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is
now.”          --Chinese Proverb