We all use excuses not to commit to an exercise or health plan. But the truth is, that’s all they are: excuses. If you find yourself full of excuses not to commit, you’re not alone – it’s a widespread occurrence. Dr. Mark Novitsky joins me to discuss the top ten reasons we don’t commit to a fitness or health plan.   The Top 10 Reasons Why You Haven’t Committed to Exercise Time Mistrust Disappointment  Shame for Needing Help Overwhelm Resistance  Always Putting Others First Procrastination Discounting Yourself Money   About Dr. Mark Novitsky Dr. Mark Novitsky is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist.  Dr. Mark believes that effective work with children involves working closely with parents, schools, and other medical/mental health providers - to achieve a joint goal of optimizing a child’s well-being.   His extensive clinical experience includes, but is not limited to: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Mood Disorders Depressive disorder Bipolar disorder Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Childhood trauma/Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Substance Use Disorders Dr. Mark is an adjunct faculty for Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University’s Department of Psychiatry.  He was previously the Corporate Medical Director for one of Philadelphia’s largest non-profit Child Mental Health Organizations.  He is a graduate of The Beck Initiative, a joint collaboration between The Aaron T. Beck Center at The University of Pennsylvania and CBH/DBHIDS, for Cognitive Therapy and Research.  For the last several years, he has had the privilege of working at Washington DC’s premier psychiatry office, Potomac Psychiatry, as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, adult psychiatrist, and a forensic expert witness providing court testimony in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.  Potomac Psychiatry has been featured as the Faces of Washington, in The Washingtonian Magazine. Dr. Mark grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, and attended both medical school and psychiatry residency at Temple University School of Medicine (now Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University). He served as Chief Resident in his third year of residency at Temple.  He completed Child and Adolescent fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University, where he served as Chief Fellow.   During his fellowship, Dr. Mark was awarded a research grant.  He has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his research at the annual meetings of both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).  In 2013, his Adherence in Pediatric Psychopharmacology-A Multi-dimensional Perspective and Approach was a docent selection of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Mark has taught hundreds of medical students and residents, and most recently was the lead Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in a non-profit public outreach campaign to Philadelphia schools through Michael’s Giving HAND (Micahel P. Donatucci Foundation, Inc ), teaching school administration, teachers, counselors, and parents about how to identify and address Depression, Anxiety, Substance abuse, and Bullying.   When he’s not working, Dr. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, walking around Longwood Gardens, checking out live music, and being outdoors with his Labradoodle.   Prioritize Your Fitness The number one excuse we hear is that people don’t have time to exercise. But making the time to take on healthy behaviors can actually make you more productive in all other areas of your life.  It really comes down to having well-defined goals, setting your priorities, and sticking to them. I find this especially helpful if you feel you’ve failed in the past – you simply didn’t have these goals