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New Year's Dissolution and the "Fitness Cycle"
January 29 , 2005 by Mike MasoodHow many of you made a New Year's resolution to get in shape this year? Now, how many of you are still sticking to your resolution?
Over the last fifteen years of training I have observed a pattern that I call the" Fitness Cycle." This cycle doesn't begin with a New Year's resolution, but with the start of the holiday season. It use to begin around Thanksgiving, but in more recent years around Halloween. It seems that we tend to shall I say, "slack off" with our exercise programs at this time of year. For whatever reason(s) we may have, our exercise plans become second to everything else that is going on in our lives. Making travel plans for the holidays, shopping, parties, etc, all influence the decisions we make at this time.
What is the "Fitness Cycle?" I believe that this "cycle" has six phases. The first phase of this "cycle" starts around Halloween. Our visits to the gym tend to diminish and the next thing we know it's Thanksgiving. Depending on the holiday you celebrate, there are only so many days of shopping and everything else until New Year's. We become so consumed with everything else that we delay or put off our workouts and focus on making a "resolution" at the start of the new year to pick things up again. What happened to all of the time and effort you put in during the rest of the year?
Phase two: This is the time when everyone in the fitness industry makes their money for the year. We EXPECT you to spend money. We join gyms, fitness centers and seek the advice of others to get us motivated to get back in shape. Whether you are buying products online, off of the infomercials on television or at the store, this is "our time" as fitness professionals to earn our keep. Fortunately in this day and age we don't necessarily lock you into long term contracts anymore. These are usually replaced with higher initiation fees and other incentive programs with added costs to make up for the continuous stream of money that a long term contract would have created.
Phase three: What has happened to your program over the last six to eight weeks? Have you noticed that you're not getting to the gym as often? Are you back to your regular routine? Are you already bored or frustrated with your program? This in my opinion is the most important phase of this cycle. This is the make or break part. Will you stick with what you're doing to achieve your resolution or give it up all together? What most people don't understand is that you might not have given your body sufficient time to adapt to what you are doing. Over the years I have asked my clients to give themselves at least three months before they make any decisions about their program. You MUST allow your body time to start to change. Yes, when you first started you felt better, had more energy etc., but physiologically you haven't really given yourself a chance to change. You haven't changed your lifestyle yet. Re-connect with your trainer or find one to keep you on track with your goals.
Phase four: This is where you decide that since spring break is coming up that you need to get back into the gym. So for the next two weeks prior to the break, you are very diligent in your training. Have you noticed that there aren't as many people in the gym as there was two months ago?
Phase five: Spring break has passed and so has the diligence of getting to the gym on a regulat basis. We know we should get back to our workouts, but for some reason we are sporadic at best. The next thing we know school is almost out and that means summer. Summer means bathing suits. Bathing suits means body exposure. Better get back to the gym. School's out and we feel a little better that we have been getting to the gym on a more regular basis.
Phase six: Summer is over and it's now back to the regular routine. Kids are in school, work is steady and for the next three months we are really good about a regular workout schedule. What's going to happen in three months?
There are few steps you can take to prevent this "cycle" from happening to you: First, as part of your lifestyle change, make it a point to do something active every day. It doesn't matter what it is just do something. Second, seek out a fitness professional that you can use on a monthly basis (or more if necessary) to keep you on track. Third, recognize that for most people New Year's resolutions don't work because they don't incorporate true change in lifestyle. Fourth, set ATTAINABLE short and long term goals. Finally, recognize this "cycle" and plan accordingly. During the holiday season eat before you go to a party so you control what and how much goes into your body. Make vacations active. Go and do things you haven't done before. Find out if there are gyms nearby or a fitness center in the hotel. It's always harder to start a new path than to continue building the one you're on.
This article is written by Mike Masood, who works as a personal trainer for The Sanctuary in Paradise Valley. Contact Mika via email at fitness@evliving.com.
Do you have a question on Fitness? Send an email to Ask a Trainer and Mike may address your questions in this column. Mike Masood is a frequent East Valley Living contributor whose articles are featured under Health/Ask a Trainer.
