New Year’s Resolution #1

Told you I’d be back with more New Year’s stuff – this is one of five
Go to the gym, get thin…

I’ve rolled all the wellbeing goals together for the sake of this exercise – lose weight, get fit, exercise more…

Going to the gym is a good start, but you have to do something when you get there. It’s like joining a gym or buying a diet book thinking that will be enough. We know it’s not, but for some reason, there’s always this hope.

I asked Personal Trainer, Jonathan Owen how people who have these wellness goals as their New Year’s resolution can give themselves the best chance of success. He says it’s necessary to address three areas:
1. Exercise – the right variety and often enough
2. Diet – what you eat and when you eat it
3. Lifestyle – addressing bad habits, getting enough sleep…

He said that those most likely to succeed have clear motivation for making change – often a health scare which has shocked them into taking action – and are working with a professional to help them meet their targets. You can do it yourself, but as with many coaching topics, if we could do it, we’d already be doing so.

A wellness professional – like a Personal Trainer – should be able to work with you in all three areas. In terms of exercise, for instance, a personal trainer will make sure that you train ‘smart’, meaning that you have a balanced work out. You work in all areas of the gym, don’t just slog away on the cross trainer for half an hour while reading your paper and then have a little stretch. Smart training will result in weight loss, improved muscle tone, increased strength and better aerobic capacity.

A trainer will also give you new things to do all the time, this means that you develop your capability and don’t get bored when you have sessions by yourself. S/he will also help with motivation – it’s someone to answer to, and you’re paying them money, so you might as well get some benefit.

Jonathan says that as with many goals, it’s important to set your intention- why do you want improved wellness? Other than it being a ‘good thing’ know what your personal benefits will be. Be able to visualise yourself getting fit, or losing weight, and how you will be when you reach your goal – not just what you look like, but how you feel.

If it helps you, put pictures, photographs or encouraging words where you will see them often to keep you going. You’ll need this positive mind set to help you when you don’t feel like taking action – to get you to the gym and not let yourself off once you’re there. To step away from the pastry and have the fruit smoothie instead. And feel good about it.

As with all goals, know what your small steps are that are going to get you to your larger goal. Jonathan says, ‘Day-to-day change results in a year’s worth of difference’. Remind yourself of your progress as you go – look back to where you’ve come from as well as forwards to where you’re going. You can do this.

According to Jonathan, the two most important things to have to achieve your wellness goals are discipline and commitment – these you have to bring for yourself. He says it takes 90 days before you can see substantial difference, though smaller changes will be eveident sooner. He also recommends training every other day and at least 3-5 times a week. Don’t become obsessive though. Jonathan recommends the 80:20 rule – do what you’re meant to most of the time and you can afford to relax a bit one or two days a week. Remember, you’re doing this because you want to. He also doesn’t value fixating on weight. Rather than weighing yourself, it’s much better to review how you feel, how you look in the mirror, how your clothes are fitting, what others are noticing about you…

So, on you go, or do you not want to look better, feel better, reduce your stress, have better posture, have more energy, have improved self esteem, be able to run for the train without passing out…