Here we are, about 2/3 of the way through January - are you sticking with your New Year's resolution? Many people (yes, the gym was pretty crowded this morning at 5AM!) see a new calendar year as a good time to make a commitment to something positive, like a more healthy lifestyle that often includes fitness. But by the time January ends, many of these well-intentioned people have drifted back to their less healthy routines. Why is that? We all know that exercising is a significant part of a healthy lifestyle, so why stop?
The most common reason for people stopping is that they try to do too much. They'll read that 60 minutes of exercise a day is what people should be doing, so they jump in on January 1st with the full 60 minutes. Ouch. Then, because they are still feeling committed to the idea, they'll keep at it, even though they are miserable from that first day or first few days. By the time mid-January rolls around, they've started skipping a few days each week, and before you know it, they have stopped all together.
Here's what they should have done. They should have absorbed the information they read or heard (about the 60 minutes - other sources might say 30 minutes or even 90 minutes), and made that their ultimate goal. Starting January 1st, they should have gone out for a 15-minute walk or jog, followed by some easy stretching. Over the course of the first two or three weeks, they should have gradually built up to 30 minutes. By the end of January, 45 minutes might be a reasonable goal, but maintaining the 30 minutes per day would be fine. Then, perhaps that 60 minute target could be reached by the end of February, or even the end of March.
Another mistake people make is being closed-minded about the type of exercise that's best. One of the most important characteristics of an exercise program is that it should be enjoyable. If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it. I'm a running coach, but the last thing I would do is insist on someone running for exercise if they don't like running. I do tell people that there are many kinds of running - running alone, running in groups (small or large), running on sidewalks, running on pathways, trail running, running in the hills, fast running, slow running, and so on. Running is great exercise, so I would recommend that a person try some different kinds of running before giving up on it. But there are many other ways to exercise, so that first month of the New Year should probably involve trying different ways to exercise.
What should you do if you already made a resolution and you're finding it difficult to stick with it? Remember that your resolution is based on an arbitrary date, so just start over. If you need help setting up a plan, a good source of help is to hire a coach or trainer to work with you to figure out a good strategy.
If you didn't make a resolution, why not start now?
Marty Beene, Owner of Be The Runner, holds certifications from USA Track & Field (Level 2 Endurance Coach) and from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition and Senior Fitness Specialist). He coaches adult runners of all abilities individually and in groups. Information about a free or enhanced running logbook (using Excel) is available on his website.
