--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My doctor told me I shouldn't work out…" description: "\"My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I told him, 'All right; don't send me a bill until I pay you.'\" — Steven Wright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg" --- # My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better… ![“My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I told him, 'All right; don't send me a bill until I pay you.'” quote by Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg) > “My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I told him, 'All right; don't send me a bill until I pay you.'” [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The doctor advises against exercise until healthier, but the speaker jokes about paying only after improvement, highlighting procrastination. **In simple terms:** Doctor says no exercise; speaker jokes about paying later. Key Takeaway Avoid delaying health improvements. Themes health procrastination humor Mood lighthearted ironic Type comedic motivational When to use this quote - gym - medical advice - personal finance Key Concepts self‑care financial incentives Questions to Reflect On - What excuses do you make for avoiding exercise? - How can you motivate yourself responsibly? A Different Perspective Humor may downplay serious health advice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Shape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-shape-538172/) [Bills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bills/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Doctor Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-told/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told/) [Told Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-shouldn-1498330/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-better/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/when-the-doctor-told-me-i-had-cancer-i-was-scared/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [We live in a world where we often get told what we should and shouldn't do. I don't think we should worry so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadiya-hussain/we-live-in-a-world-where-we-often-get-told-what-we-should-and-shouldn/) [Nadiya Hussain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadiya-hussain/) > [I was told I shouldn't transition, and if I did, I'd never work again. That really bothered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-tur/i-was-told-i-shouldn-t-transition-and-if-i-did-i-d-never-work-again/) [Zoey Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-tur/) > [“I need you like - like light. You're light, all right - like a flame to a moth. I told you once that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/i-need-you-like-like-light-you-re-light-all-right-like-a-flame-to-a/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [As a kid, I was always being told what I should and shouldn't do - which way I should go, what would be best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/as-a-kid-i-was-always-being-told-what-i-should-and-shouldn-t-do-which/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) > [Everyone told me that I shouldn't have started a production house, but I think otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajpal-yadav/everyone-told-me-that-i-shouldn-t-have-started-a-production-house-but/) [Rajpal Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajpal-yadav/) > [A wise woman once told me "you shouldn't have written that song" I now believe her completely. I should've never put that pen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-worsnop/a-wise-woman-once-told-me-you-shouldn-t-have-written-that-song-i-now/) [Danny Worsnop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-worsnop/) > [Things work out better when you're straight up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/things-work-out-better-when-you-re-straight-up/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [I was in better shape when I went into boot camp than when I came out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-ryssdal/i-was-in-better-shape-when-i-went-into-boot-camp-than-when-i-came-out/) [Kai Ryssdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-ryssdal/) > [“Running is not just exercise for your body, it tends to get your whole life in better shape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/running-is-not-just-exercise-for-your-body-it-tends-to-get-your-whole/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“Things that are falling apart encourage me: whatever else, I’m in better shape than they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/things-that-are-falling-apart-encourage-me-whatever-else-i-m-in/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [When you look back at your body of work, no matter what your career path, by the time you hang 'em up, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/when-you-look-back-at-your-body-of-work-no-matter-what-your-career/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [I am always in much better shape when I am doing a Broadway show because you have the eight shows a week to kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/i-am-always-in-much-better-shape-when-i-am-doing-a-broadway-show/) [Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/) > [If you're gonna put your faith in something, then it better shape who you are and what people see in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/if-you-re-gonna-put-your-faith-in-something-then-it-better-shape-who/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [If they can play eight more years, then I can too. I'm in better shape than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-selanne/if-they-can-play-eight-more-years-then-i-can-too-i-m-in-better-shape/) [Teemu Selanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-selanne/) ## More by Steven Wright > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-i-ever-had-twins-i-d-use-one-for-parts/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Nobody can really compare a relationship in which the victim is 15 years old to one where she's 6. While both criminal, they're very different circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/nobody-can-really-compare-a-relationship-in-which-the-victim-is-15/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I saw a tree fall in the woods, and I didn't hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-saw-a-tree-fall-in-the-woods-and-i-didn-t-hear-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I don't like politicians, and I don't like politics. I definitely don't want to be associated with any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-don-t-like-politicians-and-i-don-t-like-politics-i-definitely-don-t/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of an Ouija board. You'd think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-to-this-restaurant-last-night-that-was-set-up-like-a-big/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) [Explore all 564 Steven Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) [Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I told him, 'All right; don't send me a bill until I pay you.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-until-i-m-in-better-shape-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-until-i-m-in-better-shape-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/steven-wright-432_better_my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-u_2696987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My doctor told me I shouldn't work out until I'm in better shape. I told him, 'All right; don't send me a…” — Steven Wright", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My doctor told me I shouldn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-until-i-m-in-better-shape-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-doctor-told-me-i-shouldn-t-work-out-until-i-m-in-better-shape-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```