Don't ditch the gym just yet
Did you go the gym today? Or yesterday for that matter? Or did you start the year determined to become a regular at your gym but find yourself skipping sessions more and more as January ended? Well you’re not alone. According to Nuffield Health, February 8th is Ditch the Gym day – the day most people are likely to give up on the gym membership.
Chris Jones, head of physiology at Nuffield Health, says: “The reason for identifying this date is to flag this ‘danger zone’ and provide some advice and motivation to ensure people don’t give up on their goals. There are practical things you can do to get through February.
“Six weeks into your programme is a tough time, you may not have seen the results of your hard work, the cold snap arrives and the sofa beckons. Our fitness teams are on stand by to help members through this period with free PT sessions, programme reviews and health MOTs, but we’re keen to flag this to all those who are struggling with New Year Resolutions on the brink of failure.”
If you’re struggling to find the willpower to go the gym here are some top tips on how you can keep your membership and achieve the fitness you always wanted.
- Know your starting point – take a health MOT so you know your current health and fitness status
Being over ambitious only leads to you feeling disheartened when you don’t achieve what you’d hoped to. Instead, find out what you are currently capable of and work from there.
- Set realistic, measurable goals and reward yourself for achieving them
If you set realistic goals you are more likely to achieve them and therefore get that added boost of knowing what you’re doing is working.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t push yourself but rather don’t expect to achieve results in an unfeasible amount of time.
- Get some support - making slow progress is de-motivating, ask a fitness professional for help
Personal trainers can help you to stay on target as well as answering any questions you may have about your fitness. You can usually get a personal trainer through your gym for an additional fee. You can also go to any of the gym staff if you have a problem or query you need help with.
-Buddy up – enlist the help of a friend and plan immovable workout dates, put them in your diary and stick to them.
Working out with a friend is not only more fun but it’s also more likely to keep you going to the gym. Your friend can motivate you when you’re losing willpower and vice versa!
-Vary your workouts – boredom could be your downfall; try new classes, use the pool or join a running club.
If you use the same machines every time you visit the gym you are likely to get very bored very fast! Try new things, take classes that look fun and never do the same things two visits on the run.
