Ever since I got off my lazy ass when I realized I was a fat slob in 2003 and started going to the gym regularly, I have been annually entertained by the influx of gym goers come the first of the year.
Yes, the New Year's Resolutioners! The past 3 years, I have witnessed this. The first two at one gym and now this year I am at a new gym, much bigger and corporate so the addition of dedicated New Year's Resolutioners is even greater. First of all, the parking lots are jam packed so I have to park further away which really isn't a bad thing cuz I'm going to work out and shed calories anyway. But with all the people, the machines are busier so its harder to get to my favorite elliptical or treadmill when its free. Sometimes I have to settle for the creaky/squeaky one that nobody likes to climb onto. Its fun to watch though, checking the people out in their new workout clothes, their shiny new Ipod Nanos filled with motivational workout songs, getting right into it. Yesterday I even saw one woman on an exercise bike have her friend take a photograph of her, maybe to prove to someone she was actually working out? I don't know. Usually the crowd thins out by Super Bowl time, or by Valentine's Day at the latest, which is sad. Especially considering at my gym you have to sign a 2 year commitment, $19 a month ain't much but when you ain't going it kinda stings.
So...I'm gonna offer up some helpful tips to any New Year's Resolutioners that might be reading this post. These are things that helped me on my way to losing 100 lbs (of which I have put back on 25 which is part of my resolution to shed at least 10lbs back off, the other 15 I am not freaked about since I have built a lot of muscle since I was at the Century Mark for weight loss but had shoe strings for arms)
1) In the early stages of your gym going, when you get back home from the gym and are feeling great about yourself, so proud that you just worked out for an hour, half hour whatever it might have been. PACK YOUR BAG FOR THE NEXT DAY! Place it by the door you exit your apt/house from. This will help you get there the next day, when you might be a little sore from the previous day. You will be less tempted to take the day off if you have to walk by your new Nike Gym Bag.
2) If you are trying to lose weight, weigh yourself every day. A lot of advice experts say not to do this, I say F-em. It worked for me. But learn how your weight loss comes and goes. Don't get bummed if one day you are down 3 lbs but the next day you put 1lb back on. Know that a lot of the big loss one day might have been water weight, etc. And if you do this, weigh yourself at the same time every day, preferably the morning and buck naked! Clothes & Stuff weigh a lot, just the other day I realized that my wet towel from my shower weighed almost 3 lbs! A benefit of this is if one day you eat really poorly or don't work out, you'll see a negative impact on your weight, and that will motivate you to be smarter.
3) Practice the "Whalom Beach Diet" that I did.....MODERATION! If you used to eat 4 pieces of pizza, eat 2 instead and mix in some green salad. If you used to drink Coke, change to Diet or skip it entirely. So many calories are wasted from beverages. Its unreal! If you go out to eat, only eat half and take home the rest for lunch the next day. You'll save money and calories. The portions restaurants typically dole out are just astonishing.
4) Look at yourself in the mirror! No don't be "that guy/girl" at the actual gym checking out the delts, do this at home. At first you might be disgusted and it can motivate you to workout harder, which is good. But eventually you'll start to see results and it will motivate you even further. Its amazing how addictive working out is when you see results.
5) Print out calendar pages from Outlook or Word, etc. Each day you work out, jot down what you did, I.E. Back/Bi's - Elliptical-Abs, have a goal in mind for workouts per week and write it on top of the page. You'll be able to scan over the month and see the weeks you met your workout goals and when you were lazy, etc.
Phew...I just kinda got myself fired back up. I had admittedly lost focus over the past year. But I had some distractions. Having a pregnant wife and trying to maintain healthy eating is a challenge for sure. And then having an amazing baby boy enter your life makes it tough to go to the gym after work when you could be spending time with him. But I'm back into a good system now....and already lost 4.4 lbs this year, well on my way to getting back under the 200 mark. Where I want to be.
Good luck all you New Year's Resolutioners out there! These tips are not guaranteed but just some of the things that worked for me.
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