Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
New Year’s – a time to turn a new page, to change things that crept up on us throughout last year. We have all experienced making resolutions with good intentions of starting them this month. We have been motivated to succeed, to make ourselves better in some way. These resolutions could have been a plan from the previous year or something we’ve only decided within the last months. For many people, the first few weeks of the new year go great, likely with a hiccup here and there, but for the most part, we stick to our plan. Then comes February – that resolution we were determined to carry through begins to lose priority and slip to the wayside.
If you goal is to lose weight, it is recommended that you consistently work out 3-4 times a week. At Orangetheory your success is important to us! If you start to slack off, we will notice and provide you with the motivation and support you need to stay on track and ultimately meet your fitness goals!
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, approximately half of us make a resolution during the New Year. The most popular of these are exercise and finances. Of the ones who begin with high expectations, only about 25% of us make it through the first couple weeks and research research by the University of Scranton proved that only about 8% are successful in those resolution plans while the rest ultimately end up back where we began before the new year, and sometimes worse off. The stress and frustration of being unsuccessful during these times can lead to conditions such as depression, low self-esteem and many more unfavorable circumstances.
So why are the success rates so low, and what can we do to become part of that 8% who see the brighter side of their resolution?
One of the biggest reasons why the failure rate is so high is the fact that when we set our goals, they are quickly thought out and are very likely to contain unrealistic expectations. This combination has been coined the “false hope syndrome” by psychology professor Peter Herman. However, not only are big goals and expectations a culprit, so are the ways we plan and our surroundings.
An experienced Orangetheory trainer will help you set realistic goals and ensure that you are working out with proper intensity and an adequate number of times to achieve your resolutions.
Every year, during this time in the fitness industry, I have seen promises made and not long after, they’re broken. We set these expectations and goals through our own understanding – many times without seeking the advice of professionals who are able to help us set up attainable, adaptable goals. When we feel ill or have a symptom that doesn’t go away, we don’t write a prescription and take it to the drug store, hoping that it is the right one. We make a visit to the doctor, who is able to tell us what we are experiencing and provide guidance on how to solve our problem. Our health and wellness shouldn’t be viewed any differently. Without proper knowledge, we are likely to set goals that are out of reach, or expect them to happen in a time that is nearly impossible.
Let’s look at another example. When we are growing up, we first learn to roll over onto our stomachs, and then eventually learn to crawl. As we begin to develop coordination and motor control, we find things to help us stand. After about 9-12 months, we take our first – wobbly steps and it’s not until an additional 3 to 8 weeks before we begin walking normally! This means for us to just develop a “normal walk” it can take as long as 14 to 17 months. The simplest things in life take time. Those additional pounds we see don’t just show up overnight, so why should we expect them to disappear in a couple months? We must learn to crawl before walking and then, in time, we can learn to run.
At your complimentary first Orangetheory workout, a personal trainer will assess your physical ability and strength to determine your fitness level. This will ensure you begin working out at a level that will generate results and you don’t injure yourself. At each workout you wear a heart monitor that will let you and the trainer know if you are pushing yourself at the optimal level and how many calories you burn each session. Popular Orangetheory classes consist of a one hour full body workout lead by an experienced trainer. Orangetheory workouts are designed so that your body continues to burn calories long after your one hour session.
How can we apply these principles to our new years resolutions? Everyone starts their journey with different perspectives, different experiences and at different points in their life. This makes our decisions and possible support challenging, because what may work for our best friends or significant others may not be the plan that works for us and can cause even more stress, confusion and frustration.
Guidance and support from Orangetheory will make is possible for you to become part of the Elite 8% of people that actually achieve fitness resolutions!
Orangetheory is here to make those decisions a little less stressful. The moment you walk into an Orangetheory studio for the first time, you will be greeted by staff who will be by your side through your journey. This staff will determine and recommend which classes and how often you should take them based on many different factors including: your exercise history, current exercise program, your current fitness goals, injuries you may have experienced, what activities you’re doing outside of the studio and more. If you have someone close that you want to share your journey with and they’re at a different point of their story than you are, you should still be able to go together, all the while you are each working to achieving your individual goals.
Orangetheory is perfect for everyone, no matter what level of fitness or what page of your story you are on. Each and every person who enters the workout is encouraged to work out at your own level – elite athletes can frequently be found next to members with orthopedic issues – each one of them reaching their own perfect intensity by watching their heart rate.
Even better news? The staff at Orangetheory monitor your studio usage, and when they have not seen you come through the doors recently, you can expect to hear from them making sure that everything is alright, because they want you to be there, and they want you to stay on track! The Orangetheory staff is sincerely invested in you and your health and their goal is to work closely with you to develop a plan that offers you the best chance to succeed.
If you are ready to become part of the elite 8% that are successful at achieving their fitness resolutions you should include the following in your plan:
• Sett your goal long before the new year. This gives you time to prepare mentally and physically. If you did not do that, don’t worry, you can still achieve your goals with determination and a solid plan.
• Allow an experienced and trained Orangetheory staff member help you set reasonable, specific but adaptable goals.
• Set realistic expectations – learn to crawl before you walk.
• Realize that your journey is specific to YOU, not anyone else.
• Invite a friend to begin their own story!
• Continually re-evaluate yourself and your progress.
• Stay positive and enjoy the journey!
Join Orangetheory fitness to become part of the Elite 8%! Your first workout is FREE! Contact one of our locations for more information: Fort Myers Gladiolus 239-243-0730, or Six Mile Cypress 239-292-5826.
