• Gyms are closed

• You have little or no equipment at home

• You're entire family is home. All. The. Time.

• You miss your friends

• Group fitness classes online aren't the same

There are thousands more where those excuses came from. Here's the truth, yes, that is all true and a pain to navigate. Here's another truth, it doesn't matter. "Where there's a will, there's a way." You've heard that one, right? Did you know the phrase dates back to 1640 -- George Herbert's "Jacula Prudentusm." "To him that will, ways are not wanting." The modern version, "Where there is a will, there is a way." appeared in "New Monthly Magazine" in 1822. 200 years of people trying to make excuses!!! 

If you really want to reach those goals, I have the secret formula: Commit to yourself that it's going to happen and find a way around all of those obstacles. Create structure, make a plan and then execute it. You will have to be the one who's disciplined enough to make it happen. If you're not, find a coach or accountability partner to help you stay on track. With a goal, a plan and discipline, you will get there.

I spent the better part of the last week trying to figure out how to cycle at home and teach my classes virtually. I spent days finding a stationary trainer that wouldn't cost me too much. Then I had to get my bike fixed up because although I have a real bike, I never ride it, ever. Then I had to master some serious AV skills to be able to get my voice, music and my participants faces all on the same video chat. It was a pain! I missed the workout and the people so much that I was determined to figure it out. 

You need to have this kind of desire to reach your goals both right now and when life returns to "normal". There will always be challenges and barriers, but you are a human with a very advanced brain. Use it!! Get creative, find a solution or a work-around. Here are just a few ideas when it comes to home workouts:

• Use household items like bags of dog food, flour or milk jugs for weight

• Use toys like jump ropes, swing sets and trampolines

• Run up and down the stairs in your home

• Use workout videos that are free via internet

• Challenge yourself by adding unstable surfaces underneath you or using one leg/arm instead of 2

• Add quick bursts of work at the end of a weightlifting set to add more fatigue to the muscle, such as squat jumps

If you get creative and determined, you'll succeed. If you want a reason to give up, you'll easily find many. The choice is yours. Will you push through or will you give up?