–I don’t squat because they’re bad for the knees.
–You’re not supposed to squat below parallel.
– I don’t need to do legs because I run and go on the stairclimber.
–I’m just getting back into it. (For two years?!)
–Today is my light day. (What about all the other days?)
–I don’t care about getting strong; I just want to be big.
–I don’t care about getting big; I just want to be strong.
–I don’t want to get too big. (As if that was possible)
–I didn’t eat enough today.
–I ate too much.
–My diet has sucked lately.
–I drank too much last night.
–I haven’t had enough water today.
–I didn’t get to have coffee before my workout.
–I don’t want to get calluses.
–I don’t want to get injured.
–I don’t have time to eat that much. (Yes you do)
–I can’t eat that much. (Yes you can)
–I don’t want to get fat.
–I have crappy genetics. (Join the club)
–I just injured my_____ last week.
–I can’t squat because I have bad knees.
–I can’t squat or dead lift because I have a bad back.
–I lifted a lot more than that last time. (What could have happened, I wonder?)
– I just want to get cut.
–I don’t like working that hard. (Then take up sewing)
–I can’t get motivated.
–I’m just not into it anymore.
– Heavy lifting is dangerous.
–He didn’t touch the bar, that was all me. (Ok)
– There’s no need to lift all that heavy weight.
–You can get great results with light weights and slow tempos. (It shows)
–If I took steroids I would look like that too. (No you wouldn’t)
–If I took steroids I would be that strong too. (Ditto)
–I feel weak today.
–I feel sick today.
–I’m tired today.
–I feel like crap today.
–I didn’t get enough sleep last night. (Join the club)
–I’m too stressed out.
–I’m too busy.
–I’m too old.
–I’m depressed.
–I have too much work to do.
–I’ll train later.
–I’ll train tomorrow.
–I don’t have time.
–I can’t. (I know)
What’s your excuse? I know that I have been guilty of a few of these over the years and have always regretted it.
There is no tomorrow. The time is now. Take charge and don’t look back.
No excuses.
Jason Ferruggia
Please leave leave your comments below and feel free to add to the list.
31. Oct, 2008
at 7:46 am #
Jason – thanks as always for the great writing – the blogs and the mag articles have always inspired. I would say my own most common excuse is “My Diet Has Sucked Lately” but I have definitely used a lot more on that list as well.
But thanks again and keep up the good work….
31. Oct, 2008
at 8:08 am #
hadn’t read that before but I know alot of people that need to read that everyday. I’m linking this one!
01. Nov, 2008
at 11:24 am #
Great stuff as always Jay.
What about, “I haven’t had my red bull yet”
I’ve heard that one before.
30. Jun, 2009
at 7:50 pm #
This might be the third post of yours I’ve marked off as special. I need to read these before I workout.
30. Jun, 2009
at 8:29 pm #
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obdd31Q9PqA
this says it all.
30. Jun, 2009
at 8:30 pm #
Good stuff. Used a few myself. How about:
-I can’t work out today, I hurt my back playing golf and I am playing tomorrow so I don’t want to take any chances.
- I just want to get in shape, then I can start training with you.
-
30. Jun, 2009
at 9:03 pm #
- I don’t have enough money for a gym membership (yet I eat out every day and have beer money for the weekend).
- I need to buy my supplements first.
- I got too into the _________ TV show tonight.
- My wife (or girlfriend) was nagging me about spending quality time with her.
- My wife (or girlfriend) took my balls
30. Jun, 2009
at 9:28 pm #
How about
I’ve got a game this weekend, I need to rest
(it’s Wed)
30. Jun, 2009
at 9:56 pm #
I’m in Asia, where rice and noodles rule, and some of the hockey players I train are sketchy as hell. Here are some of the good ones:
“I don’t want to get as big as you” (I’m 5’9, 185 lbs)
“The gym is too busy” (as a tumbleweed rolls by the squat rack)
“I just washed my gym shoes”
“I don’t have any clean clothes” “You need clean clothes for the gym?” “I don’t want to smell bad.”
“I don’t want to miss _____ TV show”
“It’s raining outside”
“It’s too hot/cold outside”
“It’s too hot/cold inside”
“I just showered”
“I want to save my legs for the skate (two days later)”
01. Jul, 2009
at 6:17 am #
You missed the one I used yesterday, “I’m still sick.” Of course I still worked out super hard but I didn’t get in my traditional weird crap closer of farmer’s carry, weighted vest hill sprints, etc… and that was my excuse.
06. Jul, 2009
at 11:06 am #
what about
“I Just Have Sex, and I’m too tired”
27. Jul, 2009
at 6:28 am #
Good additions, guys.
I like “My wife took my balls.” That’s hilarious but sadly true for some guys.
27. Jul, 2009
at 10:00 am #
I have heard ‘ I’m almost ready’… 4 months later. Followed with, ‘I need to get my ass in gear’, sprinkled liberally with ‘I am just too busy’.
I have consistently heard this from what appears to be some of the world’s busiest people, ever!
20. Oct, 2011
at 1:04 am #
Hello Jason,plz advise me on how i can big but fat free
ED
22. Oct, 2011
at 10:09 pm #
The reason I don’t train at home is because it’s too easy to create excuses. So, I go to the gym.
23. Oct, 2011
at 8:22 am #
I’m gettin a huge trunk from heavy squatting, really screws my balance.. do you have a cure for that ?
23. Oct, 2011
at 10:07 am #
Where do i start lol;
-Find it hard to fit in my three workouts a week
-Really tough getting my 7-8 hours a night
-I do eat right but sometimes find it difficult eating enough calories to gain muscle/weight
-Having a lack of space in my home/lack of equipment;this makes some exercises near impossible to perform!
A lot of these reasons is due to my two jobs and also being a dad,and don’t earn enough to afford to eat the amount of food i wish i could eat.
26. Oct, 2011
at 1:37 pm #
Here are my top three excuses:
1. I suck with time management.
2. I’ll skip today’s workout, and double up tomorrow.
3. I missed my workout today because I spent too much time reading about working out.
30. Oct, 2011
at 1:43 am #
No excuses. Hit the gym and at least reach last week’s numbers; that’s the least I expect. Actually I’m really pissed if I can’t get at least one more rep (dumbbell press anyone? ARGH). But still, get your arse off the couch and GO TO THE GYM.
24. Nov, 2011
at 5:01 am #
How about “I hadn’t discovered Jason Ferrugia until today” ;-)
05. Jan, 2012
at 7:21 am #
I got my period . . . maybe next week I will work out.
15. Apr, 2012
at 5:46 am #
i get two days a week of heavy lifting no heavy leg work (two knee replacements ). sometimes just two tired.i work full time.(oh yes and i am 73 years old )
26. Apr, 2012
at 3:22 am #
“My birthday is Tuesday”, what about Monday?, “it’s the day before my birthday”. See you Wednesday then. “Are you crazy?; that’s the day after my birthday!”
I have to go tanning
Drinking all this water makes me pee too much
This is doing nothing for me, we are still losing games
Dude, my strength is genetic.
03. May, 2012
at 4:32 am #
The best one I hear all the time is “I don’t have a gym near my home”.
03. May, 2012
at 5:16 pm #
Awesome Jason…
All I ever hear is,
I have no time!
BS.
Keep up the great work MAN!
13. May, 2012
at 9:05 pm #
Excellent stuff!!!…what you’ve just said, made me think of all the opposite to that…yes i admitted i’ve said it many times too…You are a great motivater…thanks mate…