Nearly everyone knows exercise is good for them however, knowing and doing are two different matters. You may have told yourself dozens of times that tomorrow you are going to start exercising. Yet, tomorrow has come and gone, and you still have not got moving. So, what is really holding you back?

In our busy and often stressful lives, we often convince ourselves that there simply is not time to be physically active. If we examine our days a little more carefully, however, they are most likely filled with all sorts of "unplanned time robbers" like phone calls, requests for assistance, deadlines etc. Before long, the needs of others begin to far outweigh our own needs. Our bodies need to be physically active so we can remain healthy and disease free.

"I Don't Have Time": Time is the easiest cop-out for not exercising but it doesn't hold water. People that use this excuse are actually saying that their health is not enough of a priority to make it on their weekly to-do list. If you fall into this category, then it's time that list got reviewed. Nobody has time; you have to make time by giving exercise the same priority (or even more so) as your other activities.

Free up some time by asking your family for help with housework tasks. Eat lunch at your desk and exercise during your lunch hour. Get up earlier a couple of times a week to do it, trade in some TV time. You always make time for the things you find important in life, don't you? All the more reason to squeeze in a couple of hours a week to do something that makes virtually every other aspect of your life better and healthier.

Remember that exercise generates energy ? it gives you more time, it does not take it away. The more energy you have, the more you will get done each day, and the more productive you are. As you get stronger and fitter, you will find you accomplish a lot of ordinary tasks faster as you naturally walk faster, run up stairs and carry shopping more easily.

Habitual exercisers know when they are going to do some activity and are not just hoping it will happen. They have a firm plan before the start of each day and have figured out the best time to exercise. It may be at 6 am before going to work, during the lunch hour, right after work or in the evening. They are able to remain active long term because they make it a priority, and because they have learned to manage their behavior and their time.

If you are determined to get strong and fit and stay that way you will make the time regardless of how busy your schedule is. You simply have to make time to exercise whether you like it or not.

Certainly there must be something less important that you are doing that can be replaced with exercise. After all, exercise is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family to ensure that you live a long, full, disease-free life.

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to stop making excuses about why you can't exercise. You only have one body for this lifetime and the only way to keep it healthy and disease free is to give it the tools it needs to do this. And the major tool is regular vigorous activity which will go a long way to keeping it in top condition. Think of it as a gift to those that love you as they would want you to live your very best life.