Column: There are many excuses not to exercise

Some of you got a head start on the new year and returned to fitness in December! Some of you are even asking Santa for new exercise clothes and a new water bottle.

However, I'll let you back into exercise even if your socks don't match. It takes a lot of willpower to return to exercise, and it takes a lot of energy to stay with it.

Every year I list the most popular exercise excuses. This time I'll make up the excuses for you. These are the easy ones, either:

-- "The floor is too cold."

-- "The floor is too hard."

-- "The room is too hot."

-- "The air is too cold."

-- "The room smells." (OK, who's been sweating in here?)

-- "The music is too loud."

-- "The music is too soft, I can't get motivated."

-- "I don't like Western, jazz, rock, old, new, fast slow-music."

-- "I need to lose 15 pounds before I start back to exercise."

-- "I need to gain some weight first, especially in the chest."

-- "The lights in here are too bright."

-- "What happened to the lights, did somebody die?"

-- "It's too crowded, I don't have enough room to exercise."

-- "Where are all the people, why isn't it crowded?"

-- "I need more running sequences."

-- "Do we have to run for so long?"

-- "Why do we have to do abdominals?"

-- "I'd really rather you included more sit-ups."

-- "I want more workout time with hand weights."

-- "Is it necessary that I work with these stupid weights?"

-- "I like traveling routines, can't you include more of them in your routines?"

-- "Don't put any of those fancy traveling steps in, or I'm out of here."

-- "I want a class for just women."

-- "Where are all the men?"

-- " What do you mean you're substituting for our regular teacher, I can't work out with a sub."

-- "How about a different teacher at this time slot once in awhile, I'm tired of you."

-- "I hate that song."

-- "I love that song."

-- "I had a fight with my boyfriend, I can't come to class if he's there."

-- "What happened to what's his name?"

Get the picture? I figure after 27 years of complaints, any excuse you hand me will be repetitious. But you can try, I'm always game for a laugh, so hit me with some new material. 2001 is bound to be a good fitness year if you work your brain right along with your body.

Jerry Vance is certified by the American Council on Exercise and teaches fitness at the Carson City Community Center and for the American Lung Association.