Jump Start the New Year...Early!

Ugh… here we go again; creeping up to another year and another shot at following through with our new year’s resolution. Do we really understand or even care about creating a new fitness plan for the New Year? I see it every year and like clockwork; the new gym memberships pour in and already existing members dust off their membership card in hopes of a better year.
Okay, so you’ve forgotten or fallen through on every single one of your New Year’s resolutions. You tell yourself “I’ll just abuse the holiday eating and start anew come January 1st”. Whether you realize it or not you are setting yourself up for failure. You are what you eat and with the thousands of unnecessary calories you’ll consume will make it that much harder to get the mind in “workout mode”. Let’s fix that, because you’ll be damned to let one more year beat you; right?
This is the time that you give yourself that wakeup call and a verbal pep talk acknowledging and reprimanding yourself for your current state of being.

Our body is the single most important thing we have, if it breaks down, your job, family and most importantly your health will suffer severely. Instead you are reprogramming yourself and engraving a new, positive “must-do” attitude. We religiously use this tactic on a daily basis when we wake up, go to the bathroom, shower, brush our teeth, eat, go to work, etc.. Now insert “GO TO THE GYM.” As you do this, going to the gym will become second nature with time. You simply have to do it! You don’t think about it, you don’t question it, you just simply do it. Commit two days a week to go to the gym then shoot for 3 then 4 then 5. My personal fitness results did not come over night. It took time and consistency. Nothing worthwhile comes with ease and we all know that. There are thousands of companies that are rich and successful because we fall for their “get in shape quick” schemes and equipment gizmos. Right now, at this moment, decide to accept and commit into building a new you!

Creating the mental aspect takes constant self coaching. Verbally ask yourself, “What are my physical results going to be if I exercise regularly?” Answer the question in writing and reflect on the results: weight loss, muscle gain, definition, toning, and boost in energy or self confidence. Also focus on how your life will change…you’ll be able to run the marathon you always wanted to run, finally take up snowboarding or simply have enough energy to go out with friends after a long day at work.

So you’ve been out of shape for five plus years? So you don’t see a change in a few weeks or even three months? Why get frustrated? You’ve been out of shape for 5 plus years - give yourself a year. Allow your body a chance to react to your new healthy lifestyle. Your body has been going in one motion for a long time. It takes a bit for the body to slow down and then finally go into the direction that you want it to.

BY: AARON SAVVY (Andrew Christian's Head Fitness Editor and Los Angeles Representative)