February is almost over and that means that many people will be giving up on their New Year’s resolutions if they haven’t done so already. 80% of people abandon their fitness-related resolutions by the time February rolls around. Gym memberships plummet from January to February.
Yet, it’s always the most popular New Year’s resolution, year after year. People make every attempt to get fit in January and then abandon their goal in February, only to try again the following year. If this sounds like you, I have a message for you. Are you ready? …. You are NOT a failure! Let me say that again…you are not a failure. If it’s your goal to live a healthier life, good for you! But I want you to know that there are so many different ways to live a healthier lifestyle. The gym is a wonderful place to tackle this goal but it’s not the only option.
So many people sign up for the gym at the start of a New Year and go all in for a couple of weeks but then end up burning out and giving up. Some people get discouraged because they don’t see results right away. Some people can’t manage to find the time because let’s face it, it’s hard to find the time sometimes. Some people find that the gym is intimidating and don’t know what to do when they get there.
Small steps and small wins are more likely to have a lasting impact on your goals to become a healthier version of yourself. That could be as simple as drinking more water or taking a 10 minute walk every day. If you start small with one simple task and do this for a week before adding in another small task, you are more likely to succeed and stick with your goal. Set realistic goals and have realistic expectations of when you should start seeing or feeling results. 4 weeks to lose 40 pounds is an unrealistic goal but drinking 8 glasses of water every single day and taking 5 short walks a week is totally attainable. When you set realistic goals and achieve them, you feel a sense of accomplishment and are more likely to stick with it as well as to continue setting more small goals. Before you know it, you’ve achieved your large goal of shedding some pounds or fitting in a smaller jean size.
Choose a gym with an inviting atmosphere and one where you would feel comfortable. If you want to lift heavy weights, find a gym with a wide variety of lifting equipment. If you prefer machines, find a gym that has mainly machines. If you’re someone who benefits from instructed fitness, find a gym that offers group classes or individual sessions.
If the gym is intimidating to you, I want you to know that you deserve to be there just as much as the veterans who have been going to the gym for decades. Everyone pays the same membership fees. Don’t let anyone intimidate you out of working towards your goals. If you don’t know where to start, an easy way to learn your way around the gym and get ideas on what to do is to just observe other people. Now I’m not saying to watch the most muscular people and do the same exact exercises with the exact same weight they do. I’m saying to hop on a treadmill and while you’re walking, watch how people move from machine to machine, watch their form and how they lift the weights, watch for proper gym etiquette. Learn the layout of the gym and when you feel comfortable, hop on a machine or grab a bench and just start! I promise that nobody will be watching you. Everyone is more concerned with what they’re doing than with what you’re doing. Another good idea if you’ve never lifted weights before is to research proper form with any exercise you are wanting to attempt. The last thing you want is to injure yourself.
If it’s your goal to be healthier, either by eating a more nutrient dense diet or getting in more exercise, I believe in you! You can absolutely make it happen! And if you need some guidance, then let’s chat! I would love to point you in the right direction!
Katey Did It 