Often, this time of year people will evaluate their status in life as another year comes to an end. Some of the questions one may ask includes did I meet the goals I set for myself this year? What is going right? What am I unhappy about? What did I do well? What can I do better? Inevitably, as a certified personal trainer working in fitness for over thirty years, I often get questions like what is the best workout? What exercise do I need to do to get rid of this? Tighten this? Strengthen this? And so on…
I think the better questions to ask are what type of health and wellness service will I benefit most from? What type of workout am I more likely to stick with? What simple change can I make that I can stick with and help improve my health?
Get family and friends to join your quest for a healthier New Year!
We are bombarded with images and advertising about the latest fitness trends, gyms, fad diets, supplements, wellness services that are supposed to work wonders, and so on. Typically, I tell people to keep it simple, don’t believe everything you see advertised, don’t immediately fall for the latest gadget or fitness “must-have”, don’t spend needlessly on a bunch of supplements, and don’t set unrealistic goals.
As a new year approaches and people spend more time thinking about health and fitness goals, I suggest developing a strategy that includes figuring out what type of help do you need? What is most suitable for you? Where can you find it? What are you willing and able to spend? In answering these questions, here are some things to consider:
1. Fitness Clubs– There are many options here. There are budget friendly places to exclusive upscale lifestyle and family fitness memberships. Ultimately, all of these places typically offer the basics when it comes to fitness equipment. There may be a number of variables that make one more appealing than the other (i.e. amenities, group fitness programming, childcare, swimming pool, etc). However, what I have found that matters most is location and convenience. Whether you pay $10 a month or $700 a month, what matters is that you use the facility because it is easily accessible. Choose a place that is very convenient to where you live or work – as in it will take no more than about 10 minutes to get there.
2. Personal Trainers– I am a firm believer that everyone should have at least one experience where they work with a trainer for multiple sessions, minimally 10. One and done does not do it. Most people go through one orientation to become acquainted with the facility. That is not enough. A knowledgeable and experienced trainer will help you no matter your level of fitness. The key is finding a trainer who understands your current condition and has the skill to design a program suited to your goals and needs. Too many people make the mistake of choosing trainers simply based on a trainer’s looks and sales tactics. You may luck out and find a great trainer this way, but the best trainers are not necessarily the one’s walking around with bulging muscles, well defined abs, and a smooth talking sales pitch. The best trainers are the ones who ask you about you and seek to design a program that considers your movement patterns, areas of muscle imbalance and weakness, exercise sequencing, and effective workout programming, whether it’s at home or a crowded gym.
3. Boutique fitness– This includes anything from the cute yoga studio to the CrossFit box gym, or the spin studio with the great disco lights and videos. These can be great alternatives to traditional gyms. The sense of community that is often built in these places is what typically helps people to achieve their fitness goals. Signing up for a set amount of classes where you know that you have so many sessions within a specific time frame can also work in your favor. Your attendance may also be more consistent because you genuinely like the instructor and other people that you get to know. These people also notice when you’re absent and are more likely to hold you accountable. You may also enjoy the variety of going from one studio to another for different types of workouts. There are so many options and there is no excuse to be bored. Unlike walking on a treadmill day in and day out, the variety of specialties in boutique fitness is vast. Find something that you like, try something new, become a part of a workout community, and commit to a program.
Ultimately, you have to make your health a priority. This includes demanding of yourself a regular exercise routine and balance of wellness practices. The exercise aspect starts with recognizing some key factors about your fitness preferences and what is available to you via location, affordability, and options to choose something that you are likely to stick with. You have to start somewhere, but you also want to set yourself up for success. Spend some time thinking about your preferences and options, prioritize your budget so that it places your health and fitness at the top, and commit to a plan for the long haul, not just the first few weeks of the New Year! Commit to your health and wellness. Be fit. Be fabulous!