It’s that time of year again. That time of year when the weather gets cold and the holiday season has everyone in frenzy. It is precisely this time when people self-reflect and start making resolutions to put into effect in the New Year. According to Google searches, each year the overwhelming majority of New Year’s resolutions are related to health and fitness. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who start the New Year with health and fitness related resolutions fall short of their goals. This article outlines the two major reasons why you are falling short on your resolutions and how personal training can get you back on track.
According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) the number of new gym members climbs from 8% to over 12% in January at the start of the New Year. Of these new gym members upwards of 80% of them will quit within 5 months of joining. A major reason for the staggering number of fitness resolutioners who give up on exercising is accountability. A 2014 study looking at factors influencing adherence to regular exercise in middle-aged women found that one of the main influencers on adherence to regular exercise is accountability. Mainly, having a structured daily routine that includes exercise. If this sounds familiar to your reasoning for skipping exercise please continue reading.
Another key contributor for people not sticking with the gym is the obvious one, cost. Unfortunately most people who have a gym membership are not getting their monies worth, or even coming close. A 2006 study looking at the payment and attendance rates of roughly 8,000 gym members found that people paying a $70 monthly membership attended the gym an average of 4.3 times per month. Leading them to pay over $16 for each day they attended the gym. What this shows is that people are paying to NOT go to the gym. This may be the time where you’re asking yourself, so how can I spend less money each time I exercise and be held accountable to actually exercise each week?
Finding a skilled and knowledgeable personal trainer to construct a comprehensive plan for you can be the most effective way to reach your health and fitness related goals. Talk to your doctor, do some research, ask friends and find someone in your area with experience and understanding of how to properly integrate diet and exercise into your daily routine. An experienced personal trainer can do a thorough assessment on you to find areas that need improvement and create a detailed, structured exercise program for you.
Committing to a personal trainer will help hold you accountable to attend scheduled sessions. The personal trainer takes the psychological stress of health and fitness away because you are no longer concerned with when you are going to exercise, what you are going to do for exercise, and so on. In addition, having proper coaching and instruction of exercise will help you reach your goals faster with less wasted time.
With the benefits of being held accountable to exercise and having an organized plan to meet your individual goals, personal training now becomes a more affordable way to reach your health and fitness goals. Rather than stress yourself out with the ‘how’ of reaching your health and fitness goals, let an experienced personal trainer develop the plan. All you need to worry about is showing up and trying your best. Don’t let 2019 pass you by, find a personal trainer in your area and finally fulfill your health and fitness resolutions!
For information about Marathon’s Fitness Coaching program and to schedule your fitness consult, please visit our Fitness Coaching & Massage Therapy page.