I am just so tired, I did not eat enough, I am just going to skip the workout and watch Netflix: is this what you are thinking right now? That’s cute, but no you are not. Today I am taking you through the types of excuses people use to not exercise, and I am telling you why they do not count. In order to give you some perspective, I once dropped a tractor tire on my hand, because I was learning the most efficient way to flip it over, don’t knock it right away it is good for the shoulders, and did not notice until I saw the blood dripping from my thumb, on to the tire. I felt quite guilty and refused to leave until I had cleaned the thing up myself. This gives you an idea on what qualifies as an excuse to me. It is completely normal; everyone does this including myself so yeah you get the idea. Anyway, let’s get down to business. A common list of excuses that both you and I know cross every one’s mind at least once, are as follows.

1. I’m too tired

Not a problem-totally valid. I have a solution. Try drinking a pre-workout of your choosing, but remember what I said before-do your research and stuff. Do this about a half an hour before your intended workout time. It will give you a boost of energy you need to go as hard as you like on the weights. Fair warning: don’t drink coffee instead of a pre-workout. The caffeine in coffee, believe it or not, is very hard on your stomach lining so taking it before you exert yourself can make you feel really nauseous and put you in a lot of pain. Another good idea would be to take a Super B Complex vitamin. It's completely natural and, as my Editor In Chief and colleague here at the Odyssey, Ariana, will tell you after I gave her one, they give you just the right amount of a boost so you are not insanely hyper. Either of these options will work out quite well for you-have I ever steered you wrong?

2. I ate pretty badly today, no point in working out.

I hear you, but also that will not work on me. Here’s why: it’s okay to not look through every last calorie you put in your mouth. Everyone is entitled to a cheat day- it is absolutely fine. So, here is why you should work out anyway. A cheat day is fine, but you should still workout anyway because, if nothing else, you will just feel better. Also, there is no other way to put this- it will minimize the damage. If you are like me, you will go hard on cheat day. At least when you exercise anyway, it keeps you in the habit and you will not feel as sluggish and sick the rest of the day.

3. I don’t have the time!

Lucky you! Your day comes equipped with at least twelve hours of daylight. If it is that important to you, you will find a way. Go for at least thirty minutes, up to an hour. Hit the gym in the morning before work, I know people who train on their lunch breaks if they have enough time. An hour is essentially one percent of your day. You can spare that for a bunch of long term benefits, like relaxation, better mood, more energy-all thanks to those handy endorphins that will light up your brain like Vegas every time you do right by them. "Exercise releases endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people don’t shoot their husbands"- wait, that’s a different movie. But seriously, if you are tired, go workout anyway because the energy it gives you will put you in a significantly better mood then when you started. Every year, I do this challenge called NaNoWriMo. It is short for National Novel Writing Month, and every November my friends and I get together to try to write an entire novel in a month-that is fifty thousand words. What does this have to do with exercise? Because it changed my way of thinking about everything. It reminds me every time I think I cannot do something. So I don’t think I can get up early enough to work out? Oh please, I did not think that I could write five thousand words in a single week, but I did! Just like I did not think I could drop thirty pounds, but I did it eventually.

These are just the big three, but there are so much more. I mean clearly, it is a lot of stress, and I have been there. Hell, we all have at one point. Basically, drive gets you up, and habit gets you going. I cannot imagine a Friday night, where I am not itching to get out of work so I can make it to my boxing class. It is the easiest, and the best part of my day (Hear that Nick?). So just get up, and just keep going, because one day you will get up and be glad you did. Happy training!