Britain's top 20 excuses for skipping exercise – rain, cold weather and lack of motivation
Millions of adults have a 'fairweather' approach to fitness - with rain and cold temperatures among the top reasons for not taking regular exercise. The top 40 excuses for not working out also include finishing work too late, already having other plans and being hungover.
Food clearly has an impact with one in 10 of the 2,000 adults polled admitting they’ve skipped exercise because they were too hungry and 16 percent have done so because they’d only just eaten. But for three in five, the weather makes a difference on their fitness routine with rain, cold temperatures, snow and it being dark all making the list.
The research, commissioned by Spatone, also found people are most likely to make an excuse to avoid exercise in the evening (35 percent), while a fifth will put it off first thing in the morning.
Julia Cameron-Wallace, Spatone brand manager, said: “The research shows how many people regularly lack both energy and motivation to exercise.
“Busy days, social plans and work commitments can easily get in the way of workouts.
“It seems the weather has a big impact, hopefully with summer around the corner more people will feel motivated to exercise outdoors.
“We hope to give people the natural energy they need to put their trainers on and get moving.”
The study also found more than half of Brits are likely to use an excuse when planning to exercise on their own.
But three in 10 admitted they have been known to bail on a planned workout with someone else.
Other popular excuses to avoid exercise include it not being ‘hair wash night’, needing new trainers and not having space to do so in their home.
Some have even used the excuse of their favourite TV show being on to get out of exercise.
However, on the flip side, things that would motivate people to workout were having nicer weather (39 percent), more energy (35 percent) and longer days (24 percent).
During the typical week in summer 30 percent of people exercise more than five times a week, but this dips to 23 percent in winter.
Working out with someone else (21 percent), upbeat music (21 percent) and having an end goal (21 percent) were also among the top encouragements.
But bailing on a workout leaves people feeling guilty (39 percent), demotivated (27 percent) and sluggish (24 percent), according to the study carried out via OnePoll.
Julia added: “If you’re feeling tired or fatigued, you might not be getting enough iron, a key nutrient required for natural energy and a healthy immune system.
“We hope to educate people on the importance of iron for the body.”
TOP 20 EXCUSES TO NOT EXERCISE:
2. It’s raining
3. It’s too cold
4. You've got a cold
5. You've only just eaten
6. It’s too late in the day to exercise
7. You don’t have time during the working day
8. You’ve got sore muscles
9. You get bored of exercise
10. You finished work late
11. You're planning to exercise tomorrow instead
12. It’s dark outside
13. You exercised yesterday
14. You’ve already got other plans
15. It’s snowing
16. You're hungover
17. You're having a rest week
18. You're too hungry
19. You don’t want to exercise in public
20. You want an early night