No more stall tactics: got a good reason for avoiding your fitness program? Conquer that excuse demon once and for all - Mental Edge - working through exercise excuses

You read this magazine--you already know you should be eating healthful foods and working out regularly. So what's the deal with those of you who aren't already doing it? Maybe you have an excuse, some reason why you just can't get started. Well, don't think we're going to let you get away with it. Whatever excuse you've got for postponing your journey to better looks, energy, strength and health, we've got a whole bunch of better reasons not to. So read this--now--then get your butt to the gym.

EXCUSE: I DON'T HAVE TIME.

Answer: You 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. Of course, there are ways to arrange your workout so it fits into your schedule more effectively:

* Find a gym near your home or office and go on your lunch hour or after work, or set up a weight bench in your bedroom.

* Ride a bike to do errands, or an exercise bike when you watch TV.

* Fill your cupboards with healthy foods so they're always there when you want them--which means you'll never have an excuse to fill up on Ding Dongs.

EXCUSE: I PLAY SPORTS, SO I DON'T NEED TO WORK OUT.

Answer: Participating in sports is a great way to keep in shape--it's fun, and the fitness benefits can't be beat. But multiple studies have shown that adding some gym time is important for both increasing overall fitness and decreasing your chances of injury. Plus, cross training will help you perform even better. A lot of guys start out playing sports to get fitter, then decide they want to get fitter still so they can kick ass on the field.

EXCUSE: I'M WAITING FOR MY BUDDY TO START TOO.

Answer: Stop waiting. He'll get around to it when he's good and ready--you can't force him, and you shouldn't expect him to force you. When your buddy finds out you're about to have a firmer, stronger body while he remains the same tub of Parkay he's always been, he'll probably be shamed into starting a workout program himself.

EXCUSE: I'M YOUNG; I DON'T NEED TO WORK OUT.

Answer: If you're under 30 and naturally in pretty good shape, that's great. But what you may not realize is that now--when your hormonal profile makes it relatively easy--is precisely the time to start adding muscle and building stamina. You don't want to have to kick yourself at age 50 for not having done the work when it would have taken half the effort.

Besides, researchers have found that men often start developing heart disease-causing artery blockages in their teens. If you want to live--and, just as important, be fit and healthy--for a long, long time, you shouldn't wait until the damage has already been done.

EXCUSE: I MAY NOT BE BUFF, BUT MY GIRLFRIEND/WIFE LIKES ME JUST FINE.

Answer: Of course she does. Men are lucky in that women are more likely to be attracted to them for qualities other than looks. On the other hand, a recent study found that everyone is more impressed by people who work out--not just because they look better, but because it demonstrates their self-control and confidence. And while she might not love you any more if you were more of a hardbody, she wouldn't mind, either.

EXCUSE: WORKING OUT IS BORING.

Answer: Nearly everyone feels this way from time to time. Weightlifting is, by definition, repetitious--it's only by repeating the same movements over and over that you exhaust your muscles and make them grow.

But there's an easy way to snap yourself out of any feelings of tedium: Instead of focusing on the actions, focus on your immediate and long-term goals, such as lifting more weight and having a better body. When you're lifting, concentrate on doing it better--having perfect form, reaching complete exhaustion before you quit. Or you could just focus on how great you feel when you work out regularly--that's the most rewarding part.

Also, keep in mind that you'll have to change your routines at least once a month to keep the muscles surprised. It's a basic training tenet that variety, in the form of new routines or new exercises, helps generate growth.

EXCUSE: DUDE, IT'S CHRISTMAS.

Answer: That's just the time to get started. If you begin your exercise program now, you can avoid being one of the many people who put on one to six pounds over the holiday season. Your gym is probably as vacant as it will ever be, making working out easier. Besides, exercise is a great way to work off the stress that builds up around this time of year, not to mention the rich foods that build you up around this time of year.

EXCUSE: I'M NATURALLY SLIM.

Answer: Studies say thin people need to work out too. For one thing, muscle tone means the difference between a robust, good-looking slim guy and Don Knotts. Secondly, just because you're thin doesn't mean you're healthy: In a recent Canadian study, researchers found that naturally skinny men are still at risk of developing heart disease if they don't exercise regularly.