by Chris DeLeon
It’s nearly that time of year again. The time when we think “A new year, a new me” and then decide how we want to improve. That’s right; I am talking about New Year’s resolutions.
Every year, thousands of people make one of these resolutions be about improving their fitness. “This is finally the year I am finally going to get in shape,” they tell themselves. The problem is that this is often a thought repeated annually because it has yet to come to fruition.
Getting into shape, or improving on the level of fitness you already have is a positive goal, and it is a shame that so many times the goal is not realized. One of the biggest reasons many people fail is that they don’t have a solid plan to reach their aim.
Once again, your friendly neighborhood personal trainer is here to help, and the best time to start planning for a new you next year is right now. Getting prepared now will allow you to start right as soon as the new year arrives.
The first thing you need to have a plan is a realistic goal. “I want to get in shape,” “I want to lose weight” and “I want to get stronger” all sound good, but they are too generic, and this is why it is easy to lose focus.
Decide on a specific goal and give yourself a realistic time frame to accomplish it. Instead of just stating that you want to lose weight, decide how much weight you want to lose and how long you think it will take to get there.
The best way to do this is to give yourself small goals that can be reached in a relatively short yet realistic amount of time. Rather than planning to lose 50 pounds in a year, set a goal to lose 10 pounds in eight weeks. It’s easier to stay focused, and the progress is easier to monitor.
Once you have reached your first goal, you can then reconsider your level of fitness and set a new goal to strive for. The success of the first small goal will give you the confidence you need to keep going in your noble pursuit.
Once you have a clear goal and a deadline to accomplish it, you need to figure out how you are going to get there. Again, this involves specifics. Don’t just attempt to eat better and go to the gym. Create both a diet and exercise plan that will enable you to reach your goal.
You may not know exactly how to do this, and that is okay. Some professionals are eager to help. Jess Stieler, a registered dietician working for CMU, loves to help students develop healthy eating habits. A trip to see her would be beneficial.
Additionally, the personal trainers at the gym are specially educated to tailor workout plans to meet individual clients needs. Even a few sessions with a trainer can give you the tools you need to reach your goal.
If self-starting is not easy, there is a lot of benefit in group participation. Kylie Holley, manager of wellness and fitness at the Hamilton Recreation Center, is currently working on finalizing the details of a nine-week wellness challenge that will begin shortly after the spring semester begins.
“We call it a wellness challenge because we don’t want it to strictly about weight loss,” Holley said. “They’ll have small group training sessions, one-on-ones with personal trainers and the registered dietician and group meetings.”
Whether you participate in the challenge or just visit with fitness professionals by yourself, the expertise offered will help you formulate a solid plan for a healthier year.
To learn more about the wellness challenge, or the training and dietician services offered at the rec center, contact Holley via email at kholley@coloradomesa.edu or call 970-248-1234.
