Revealed: The Number One Reason People Do Not Work Out

So here's the million-dollar question:  

"What's the number one reason people do not work out?"  

Is it lack of money? Lack of motivation? Perhaps they lack the ideal workout plan?  

Nope. It's TIME. Or rather the lack thereof.  

"We know that 50 per cent of the population doesn't [exercise] and the most commonly cited barrier to exercise is lack of time."  This quote comes from exercise researcher Martin Gibala, a kinesiology professor at McMaster University in Hamilton.  

Gibala put his theory to the test in a study that was published in the Journal of Physiology. In it Gibala compared a group who exercised "traditionally" -- 90 to 120 minutes per day -- with another group exercising far less: Only 20 minutes per day and only three days per week.

That's a whopping one hour per week folks.  

Not dissimilar from a programme I've recently discovered, in fact: Jon Benson's "7 Minute Muscle" plan. Working out for a total of about an hour a week with only five 7-minute resistance training workouts (weights or bodyweight) plus only 9 minutes cardio a few days per week.  

And that actually works? I hear you cry! Yeah... you bet it does.  

Guaranteed to be the fastest gimmick-free method to build lean muscle and burn fat, 7 Minute Muscle details Jon Benson's trademarked Power Density Training System. With over 30 scientific studies referenced on the subjects of muscle-building and fat-burning using short, intense workouts, 7 Minute Muscle gives everyone, from beginner to advanced trainee, the exact System of training that builds muscle faster than ever before—and at the same time decreases body fat and increases overall health.

I personally think I would struggle with so little exercise, as I do have time and love to train, but more about how I may be sabotaging my own results later...

Firstly, check it out for yourself HERE: 7 MINUTE MUSCLE: AKA TRAIN SMARTER NOT HARDER!

If you've been receiving my emails (you can sign up a the top of the page if you've been missing out!) or reading this blog, or my KettlebelleBody blog, you will know that I am not an advocate of repetitious long, steady bouts of cardio. I personally have been at my fattest when I cycled a couple of hours most days and rowed for university!

Find out more HERE: TRAIN SMARTER NOT HARDER!

Back to Gibala's study: In just two weeks both groups showed improvement in both exercise performance and oxygen uptake. (Remember, fat burns in the presence of oxygen.) The kicker is that both groups were almost identical in their improvement, despite the 2nd group training far less.

Why? Because the brief exercise group trained with greater focus and more intensity -- exactly how myself and Jon suggest you train.

This is just one of dozens of studies that confirm the benefits of shorter but more intense workouts.  

However, there is a catch: Train too hard and you will shut down your fat-burning furnace.  

Your body perceives over-exertion done over an extended period of time as a sign of pursuit. It can trigger an ancient hormonal sequence that says, "I'm being chased by a tiger! Horde the fat!"  

The body literally shuts down what it considers to be unnecessary activity in favour of self-preservation. And guess what? Burning off those hips and love handles is not a biological necessity.  

You have to learn when to hit it hard AND when to rest and recover.

This is probably where I am going wrong at the moment - I love to train, and to train hard, but still like my hour-long workouts most days! I need to take Jon's advice and avoid over-doing things... Especially as my 'rest days' are then spent windsurfing or kitesurfing....

But enough about me, back to how Jon can help you save time and get results.

As I've mentioned in posts and emails before, you have to put yourself into the proper mental state in order to see greater results in the shortest period of time. Jon actually devotes an entire chapter to putting your mind into your muscle to get results faster than ever before in "7 Minute Muscle." 

You can read more here (it'll take you longer to read than the workouts do!): WORKOUT YOUR MIND AND SEE YOUR BODY TRANSFORM!  

Just remember these three key points:  

1. Time is the greatest barrier to fitness.  

2. Workouts can be short and very effective.  

3. The body goes where the mind directs. 

Train smart!