Planning on Getting Fit in 2022? Will YOU give up that Easily?
Reasons why many stop keeping fit in the new year.
I write this article on December 31, 2021, with 2022 arriving in a few hours. The Christmas festivities have come to a close, but we still have those cookies, cakes, eggnog and food remaining. Also, for some, family and friends are still around and we make every effort to spend time with them to build those memories, which can last for a lifetime. We never know when we’re going to see or hear from them again.
Also, we begin making various resolutions for the new year; to do the things, which we think our important to us. They can range from spending more time with family or friends, getting a better job, graduating college, eating healthy or just exercising.
Once fall and winter hits, many of us get very lethargic as it gets progressively cold and darker outside. Thanksgiving and Christmas coming around this time makes us complacent about eating a lot, most of them being unhealthy foods. When we go to someone’s house, we don’t really get a choice to eat what we really want to, but have to eat what is placed in front of us. Certain foods bring back nostalgic memories of what our moms or grandmas used to make when we were younger. Some of us who don’t control ourselves watch the pounds adding up and, in some cases, exponentially. In some cases, peer pressure to eat more or take-home leftovers helps us gain more weight. NO- I’m not saying refuse leftovers as I abhor wasting food, and eating left overs can safe money, but eating a lot of food does make us add those pounds.
Once the new year begins, we start thinking about spring, or the summer and those plans to go to the beach or to an exotic destination place in the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean. We no longer can hide those extra pounds under heavy winter clothing. Those who are still in the dating scene want to attract people possibly in the hopes of finding a suitable spouse for the future. Therefore, gyms and athletic clubs see a surge in many people joining to get trim and fit. In fact, some see a slight surge during Thanksgiving, when these gyms offer discounts and various perks under the guise of ‘Thanksgiving discounts’ or ‘Christmas discounts.’
After New Year’s Day, we end up going back to offices to work and begin adjusting to what is normal to us. Come 5 o’clock, and as we head to the gyms, the parking lots are full and the gym is like a store on Black Friday with people trying to get the next available exercise machine or free weights. Those of us who have to be up early in the morning have only this window between 5 to 8 pm to get our exercise in. Nobody wants to run outside as it is still cold and dark. God forbid if someone runs in the snow and slips and breaks a bone due to some black ice or frozen snow. Nobody wants that trouble and hassle. Therefore, indoor gyms are the next best option.
Those of us who are flexible in our schedule, can go either early morning before the morning rush gets there or during our lunch break or probably after 8 p.m. to get the maximum benefit of our workouts. For a majority of the population, that is not an option.
Some like me, prefer the crowds because it incentivizes us to workout harder as we see others trying to achieve their goals. Others like crowds because they get to meet new people, build connections (business or friendly), find a soul mate, or forge everlasting friendships. We look forward to going at those times when we can meet these new friends of ours. Sadly, in many cases we end up talking instead of exercising.
As the year progresses, things change. Babies are born, which require our constant attention and care. Kids need help with their school work, we travel for business, move to a new place, also doing things, which we want to do while we’re still young and have the energy to do them. Life is short, so might as well enjoy our youth while we can, right? We think we can always go to the gym at any age, which is true. As a result, we forget about our goals we made to get back in shape.
Some people give up easily, because they have no plan or goal on what they want to achieve. They think that by just going to the gym, they can get in shape in a few weeks. However, diet also plays a huge factor in getting in shape. No point working out hard and doing all that cardio getting rid of that water weight when we continue to eat junk food, like burgers, fries, milkshakes or fatty foods either homemade or bought from outside. True, they taste better than salads and healthy meals, but in order to get in shape, you have to sacrifice what we like. No pain no gain, right? Here I mean gain in the sense gaining muscle or a nice trim body.
Another reason why people give up is the cost of having a gym membership. True, it costs money, but nobody knows what the future brings. Your rent may increase, you may lose your job, not get that expected pay raise, have a new family member born or living under your roof, new bills and also loans to pay, which are of course and understandably far important and need your immediate attention. A gym membership is an added cost, which we think is not worth keeping when other costs keep mounting every day. Therefore, people then tend to cancel their membership and save that money. Also, buying protein powders or pre workouts costs a lot of money. That too is another added cost. So they make the decision to give up their gym membership and begin to use that money for something more important.
Some give up because they get tired. Many people go to the gym almost everyday of the week so that they can get in shape faster. Some go for less than and hour, an hour or maybe two. If they have more time, they stay for three hours. The body then gets tired and we also get lethargic and we need to stay alert at our jobs and at school. So we tend to take a few days off and then something else comes our way and we forget that we need to head back to the gym. I have gone through this period and what I do is, take a few days off and if I still feel tired, I go to the gym, and avoid doing heavy weights. Even if I do cardio, I just walk on the treadmill or if I use the bicycle, I put it on a very low setting, just listen to music; try and relax. It gets my body some exercise and get in shape, but at the same time exerting it. Your body knows what it wants and you need to let it have its way. Forcing yourself to do more than you can, is like making an engine work beyond its capacity and it will ultimately break down. Once we have that breakdown, we don’t want to go to the gym for a long time as we need time and rest to recuperate. As a result, whatever motivation you have, evaporates and before you know it, your body is putting back that weight you have lost. Then it is fall and winter and you are back to eating, drinking and having fun. At the end of the year, you’re back to square one.
Many lack motivation. In order to keep motivated, it is good to have a partner or a group to work out with. Someone who you can answer to and also help and encourage you to achieve your goals is one way to keep you motivated. Many people find that having someone to work out with encourages them to stay focused and try new machines or learn new ways of exercising to get their results faster. Many unfortunately, just talk and waste time. It tends to happen in larger groups. That is why, chose your exercise partner/s carefully. That may also be a factor why people stop going to the gym to avoid wasting time and money and abandon the whole resolution all together.
I think I have highlighted the many reasons why we give up on our resolution as the new year progresses. What matters now is the being committed to achieving our goal. True it is not easy and things come up unexpectedly, but we have to be flexible. As they say, ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ So, if we really are serious about being healthy and keeping in shape, we will find a way to do it and beat all odds. It is good to go meet new people and build connections, but the main reason why we’re at the gym should never be forgotten. And, as we keep our goals in mind, we get that motivation to continue. True, we encounter many challenges, but that’s life and we must face those hindrances and get back on our exercise regimen to look good, feel better and be in shape.
Happy New Year and may 2022 be a year where all your dreams come true and you follow through with your resolutions making you a better and fitter individual.
Please clap for the article and also leave comments, follow me and also please consider joining medium by clicking here.
To see my website, articles, novels and short stories, please visit my website www.trevordsilva.com
