Introduction: Why Can’t I Make Myself Park Farther Away from the Store?
Chapter 1: I’m Not Motivated
Reason 1: I don’t care that exercise is good for me, I just don’t want to do it.
Reason 2: I hate sweating.
Reason 3: Exercise is boring.
Reason 4: My dad pressured me to exercise as a kid. I’m still rebelling.
Reason 5: I am great at starting exercise programs, but I never stick with them.
Reason 6: I haven’t exercised in so long, I can’t start again.
Reason 7: I’m afraid my obsessive self will take over and I’ll over-exercise again.
Chapter 2: I Don’t Have Enough Time
Reason 8: I have too much other work to do and too many family responsibilities.
Reason 9: Once the kids are finally in bed, I prioritize my favorite sedentary hobbies.
Reason 10: I don’t have enough time to do my full workout, so why bother?
Reason 11: I love morning walks, but I feel guilty not spending that time with my family.
Reason 12: I work all day just to eke out a living. No time or energy left for exercise.
Reason 13: It’s selfish to do something for myself when other people need something from me.
Reason 14: I’m burned out.
Reason 15: I spend too much time and energy doing all the things I “have” to do to keep up appearances.
Chapter 3: I’m Too Embarrassed
Reason 16: I am ashamed of my body and don’t want to be reminded of it.
Reason 17: I want to go walking with friends, but I’m out of shape.
Reason 18: I was raised in purity culture, where I was taught not to draw attention to my body.
Reason 19: I feel judged when trying to fit in some exercise while waiting around in public spaces.
Reason 20: I used to be an athlete; now I feel like a loser
Reason 21: I am in a larger-sized body and I feel judged by the people at yoga studios.
Reason 22: I can’t help but compare myself to other people in my exercise class.
Chapter 4. It’s Uncomfortable
Reason 23: My job is not physical, but my brain is too tired to do anything physical after work.
Reason 24. I have chronic pain from an illness.
Reason #25: Menopause blues weigh me down and make me not want to do anything.
Reason 26: I want to walk outside, but it’s too cold.
Reason 27: I’m grieving my dad, and feel like I’m carrying around a load of bricks.
Reason 28: I’m on my feet all day as a hairstylist. At the end of my day I just want to have my feet rubbed and watch a good show.
Chapter 5. I’m Stuck to My Screen
Reason 29: I struggle with tech addiction. It’s hard to go for a walk when Instagram and TikTok are so much more dopaminergic.
Reason 30: “I'm going to relax with my phone for 15 minutes then go for a walk.” That 15 minutes never ends.
Reason 31: The first thing I do in the morning is check social media, using up my precious morning walk time.
Reason 32: I work at a computer all day. I am productive, and if things are flowing, I hate to break that up. Then at the end of the day I realize I’ve hardly moved at all.
Chapter 6: My Environment Makes It Impossible
Reason 33: I have a lack of safety in my immediate area and a lack of resources to get to “nature.”
Reason 34: Exercise costs too much.
Reason 35: Terrible outdoor air quality compromises my ability to move.
Reason 36: Our car dependency makes it illogical and/or unsafe for many of us to get outside and move.
Reason 37: Our rural neighborhood is dangerous to walk in: aggressive dogs, and the occasional bear or mountain lion.
Reason 38: My treeless suburban neighborhood is boring, flat, and dangerous, with busy streets and no sidewalks.
Chapter 7: Other People Won’t Move With Me
Reason 39: My dog goes on strike if I try to walk her more than around the block.
Reason 40: I have five children and no one to help me get them outside, no one to help focus on child safety or hold the baby.
Reason 41: My teenagers won’t move; they’ll only game or look at their phones.
Reason 42: My partner hates to move. I can’t get him on board to move with me.
Reason 43: My partner and I just adopted a baby, and I feel guilty taking time to exercise when I could be with them.
Reason 44: Can’t do my floor exercises without one of my children or the cat climbing on top of me.
Acknowledgments
References
Index
About the Authors