What if I told you my favorite time of the year at the YMCA is January?
If you are a regular at your Y or gym, you might wonder why. With so many “New Year’s Resolutioners” new to your fitness center, you can expect to wait for your favorite piece of equipment or lose your spot in a group exercise class to a newcomer. Most regulars know that after a few weeks, they will have their gym back. We have seen so many people start strong and then drop off that we expect it.
But the truth is, we are rooting for you.
Your motivation is contagious. We see you setting goals, following nutrition plans, getting into an exercise routine and vowing to get in shape this year. We want you to be successful (as long as we don’t have to wait for that leg press).
So, how do we work out in harmony?
Here’s my advice for the regulars: you know your gym is going to be extra crowded the first few weeks of the year. Rather than get irritated with the newbie using “your” Stairmaster, take a moment to remember where you started. How you welcome new members could make the difference between whether they decide to come back the next day or give up. You do not know what it took them to get themselves there. It might also give you an opportunity to try a new piece of equipment or take a group class you never tried before. After all, there will be many new people, so it is a great time to try something different.
Now that you have made the decision to join and start exercising, how do you become a “regular”?
This time of year, every fitness center is offering some kind of promotion. Truly consider what your needs are before joining so that you’ll choose the right place for you. Do you need childcare while you exercise? Will the family work out together? A gym you drive by every day would be a convenient place for you to work out. Check the hours to make sure it will work with your schedule and definitely ask for a tour before joining so you can check out the equipment and class schedule. Most places will also let you try it out first with a free guest pass.
Do you prefer working out alone, or do you need a group setting? If you are one of those people that feeds off the energy of others, group exercise classes are for you. In a group class, you’ll make new friends or get some ideas for exercises you can do on your own. If a group setting is not for you, consider working with a personal trainer. A PT can assess your current level of fitness and work with you one-on–one. If you have no experience, a trainer can really help by making sure you are doing the exercises properly, so you can avoid injury.
Set realistic goals and break them down in to short-term, achievable goals and reward yourself along the way. Tell your friends you have joined a gym and maybe share your goals. You are more likely to stick to your routine if you know your friends are going to checking in on you.
Most importantly, be patient. Change takes time. Many people assume exercise is not working if they do not see physical changes in their body immediately and give up after a month or so. Having reasonable expectations and making the gym a regular part of your routine will help you feel better and stick with it.
Welcome to the club!
Angela Fulgieri is a Program Director for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA. Write her at observerfitness@ gmail.com.