Fridae

Bob is having a bad day. His boss is on a rampage, his desk is buried in paperwork, and -- gulp -- he just found out his partner is cheating on him. That's enough to make anyone skip the gym and head directly home, grab the remote, order up a large pepperoni pizza and fully embrace couch potato mode.

Most of us, however, don't need a big drama or a lousy day to contemplate blowing off a workout. There are plenty of other excuses to keep us from hitting the pec deck or treadmill.

"Everyone knows that feeling you get after a workout. You're more energetic and livelier when you're done," says Steven Ross, a personal trainer at Equinox and Duomo gyms in New York, NY. "Remembering how you feel after a workout is one of the best ways to cut any excuses off at the pass." The problem is, the brain doesn't want to remember these feelings, says Ross. "It's much easier to go home and eat a pizza."

Missing the occasional workout is to be expected. But with summer here (i.e. Speedo season), how can we keep from cheating ourselves out of regular exercise? Ross offers some excellent advice for conquering some of those not so good -- yet tempting -- workout excuses.

EXCUSE #1: I'm too busy to exercise!
This one won't fly! We're all busy, and the real world demands we hold down a job, maintain important relationships and walk the dog twice a day (at least). The bottom line is that everyone can fit a 45-minute routine into his or her day. "I heard one of my clients telling a friend who was too busy to workout, 'It's your health and your body, you make time,' and that's about all you can say. Nothing is more important than your health."

EXCUSE #2: I don't have a workout routine.
This is a common excuse, and one of the easiest to fix.

Remember, if you show up at the gym without a specific purpose, sooner or later you're going to lose interest. So set specific goals for yourself, such as adding an inch to your biceps or taking two inches off your waist. This will not only keep you interested, but will fire you up when you're tempted to skip your workout. "Take some time and schedule your workouts by day of the week," says Ross. "Set up goals. Most people do better if they have a focus."

EXCUSE #3: I don't see the results I want.
Sound familiar? If you're not looking like an Abercrombie & Fitch model after several workouts, and it makes you want to give up, you're not alone. "Remember, even the models in the magazines don't look that way every day -- just for that photo shoot," says Ross. "You have to be realistic about your goals. Be yourself and be the best you can be. Then, results you do see will be much more satisfying."

EXCUSE #4: I planned to go to the gym but then something came up!
Let's face it, heading to your local bar for happy hour or going to the movies with friends is just plain easier than schlepping your gym bag around, lacing up your sneakers and pumping weights. In this case, hiring a personal trainer or finding a workout partner are excellent ways to keep a commitment to fitness, says Ross. "A lot of my clients have me scheduled into their books, and they have to keep their appointment -- or pay me anyway. Now that's incentive!"

EXCUSE #5: I get bored at the gym.
With the slew of fitness options available, this excuse is a cardinal sin! "There's no reason to be bored!" says Ross. "The possibilities are endless. With the classes, training techniques and other options out there, spicing up your time at the gym is easier than ever." Not to mention the TV programs and music many gyms play.