I was once called a couch potato by my parents and siblings, but I never considered myself being one. The reason why I hate being called a couch potato is because of the fact that it is defined as someone who never does anything, even the simplest chores. For me, couch potatoes are the type of persons who literally sit on their bottoms until it pains them.
Most would think that the only thing keeping these people from getting up and moving is their own selves; but there are studies that will prove this wrong.
Some studies show that motivation alone is not the problem with these people; researchers say that it is also linked with their genes.

Okay, let’s get this straight, even if you do have the genes that make you lazy, it does not give you the license to make it an excuse from getting up and moving.

According to a Swedish study, genes account for much of the variability in physical activity levels between people even between twins.

The question now is: What makes people want to exercise?

Past studies suggest that dopamine has something to do with the physical activity levels. Another factor is the environment – an example is when one needs to go to a higher floor level and he has the option to either climb the stairs or use the escalator, this person would normally choose to use the escalator for an obvious reason.
Below are the steps you can do to overcome the couch potato lifestyle:

1. Dress appropriately
If you can’t seem to get over the feeling of reluctance to exercise, get dressed in your outdoor clothes anyway–it’s actually quite uncomfortable to sit glued to your TV. if you’re wearing clothes for going out. Remember, staying in your pyjamas all day won’t encourage exercise in the slightest!

2. Write down your goals
Goal setting is a great way to get some focus. So, write down what you want to achieve in the coming days, as well as for the weeks and months ahead. Then make sure you display them somewhere visible to help maintain that focus.

3. Move in the right direction
If you haven’t exercised lately, first try out a few stretches, then head out for a short walk. Next week think about going for a longer walk, and perhaps adding in an exercise DVD, etc. The idea is to begin small, and aim for bigger things.