This is an exciting time of year for all who teach group fitness classes. There are so many new faces in our gyms.
However, as an engineer, I like to think realistically about resolutions.
It's around this time every year that gyms fill up with all kinds of New Year's Resolutionists. Losing weight is the top New Year's Resolution every year. 75-80% of the year's annual gym memberships are purchased in the month of January.
What's the typical percentage of people that succeed at keeping a New Year's Resolution (NYR)? About 8%. Typically, only 64% make it all the way through January. Only 45% will make it 6 months. Scary thought: almost 1 in 4 people have failed every NYR they have ever made, ever.
Don't fret though, you are ten times more likely to attain a NYR if you are explicit about it and announce it to someone. However, support for NYRs ebbs pretty heavily after the first few weeks, so don't rely on others to be your constant motivation.
My advice: at this very moment, forget about your health-related New Year's Resolutions. Instead, tell yourself you're making a lifestyle change. Pretend that you decided to change your lifestyle today and remove yourself completely from the thoughts of failed NYRs in your past. (Heck, pretend that you made the change last September if you need to; don't get caught up in January NYR syndrome.)
Finally, I'd recommend not to focus on weight or body shape as your goals. I've gone through periods of intense workouts as well as intense couch-sitting over the last decade, yet my stomach has almost always remained the same shape. Focus on eating better or trying to lift more or trying to run further or trying to last longer. Those will always help, and they give you goals you can reach without beating yourself up over body image.
And most importantly, come dance with me ;).
Happy New Year & Happy Dancing,
~RoB
However, as an engineer, I like to think realistically about resolutions.
It's around this time every year that gyms fill up with all kinds of New Year's Resolutionists. Losing weight is the top New Year's Resolution every year. 75-80% of the year's annual gym memberships are purchased in the month of January.
What's the typical percentage of people that succeed at keeping a New Year's Resolution (NYR)? About 8%. Typically, only 64% make it all the way through January. Only 45% will make it 6 months. Scary thought: almost 1 in 4 people have failed every NYR they have ever made, ever.
Don't fret though, you are ten times more likely to attain a NYR if you are explicit about it and announce it to someone. However, support for NYRs ebbs pretty heavily after the first few weeks, so don't rely on others to be your constant motivation.
My advice: at this very moment, forget about your health-related New Year's Resolutions. Instead, tell yourself you're making a lifestyle change. Pretend that you decided to change your lifestyle today and remove yourself completely from the thoughts of failed NYRs in your past. (Heck, pretend that you made the change last September if you need to; don't get caught up in January NYR syndrome.)
Finally, I'd recommend not to focus on weight or body shape as your goals. I've gone through periods of intense workouts as well as intense couch-sitting over the last decade, yet my stomach has almost always remained the same shape. Focus on eating better or trying to lift more or trying to run further or trying to last longer. Those will always help, and they give you goals you can reach without beating yourself up over body image.
And most importantly, come dance with me ;).
Happy New Year & Happy Dancing,
~RoB
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