I know what you are thinking. How is it possible that 2024 is already over? Personally, I am still waiting for summer to start after another dull and wet wash-out. That said, there are worse places to spend the New Year than in the Cotswolds.
After overindulging at festive parties and Christmas Day meals, it is quite common for our thoughts to drift to New Year’s resolutions.
The average UK adult increases their weight by 1.3% over the festive period. That is enough for the office clothes and dog walking jackets to feel a little tighter than they did a few weeks ago. So, is it time to finally make this year the year you achieve all your fitness goals?
The gyms are ready for you with their enticing ‘no joining fee’ and reduced price offers. Having worked in the fitness industry for 25 years, every year is the same. We call this the silly season. Regular members disappear for a few weeks whilst a flurry of new members walking around, not knowing what they are doing takes over.
How long until these new members are gone, and normality returns to the gym floor? If you investigate the statistics the numbers are not flattering. Only 36% manage to maintain their resolution past January. That’s means that two out of three people stop within four weeks. Going back to what I said about the gyms, it is sad to say that I would agree with this one. How many people make it to the end of the year? Nine per cent, one in 10 people stick with it.
Now, what does this say about the great British public? We are all lazy and cannot commit to exercise? I don’t think so. The biggest reason I see people fail is they do not have a plan. I would go as far to say, they really do not know what they want to achieve. This sounds silly, everyone wants to lose weight and get in shape. But think about this, how much weight do you want to lose, why are you losing that weight, how will you lose that weight. You want to be fitter, how are you going to measure getting fitter? What level of fitness do you want to achieve?
Before you hand over your hard-earned money to a local gym, take some time to really consider what you want to achieve and why. Write this down and take it with you. Most gyms now sign you up online. I say, take a morning or afternoon and visit your nearest gyms and speak with their team. Tell them what you want to achieve and pick the brains of the PTs and staff. Is the equipment right for you? Would you be better off working out at home or taking up a sport instead? What barriers will stop you from going regularly? Do you need to speak with a nutritionist or counsellor instead? Many people do not realise they have habits which sabotage their goals of being fit, lean and healthy.
If you are curious, the most popular resolution is exercising and improving fitness – with over 53% of the UK choosing this – closely followed by losing weight and improving diet, at 47%. Unsurprising really given the amount of food and drink consumed over the previous couple of weeks. One resolution that is increasing in popularity every year is to reduce time spent on social media. I find this very interesting as there are studies showing time on social media is a detriment to mental health, especially in children.
Here’s to a fitter and healthier 2025. Plan well and make your resolutions last well into the future.
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