With the New Year fast approaching, you’re probably starting to think about resolutions; not only those that you’ll make this year, but those you’ve made in years past. And if you’re like most people, you’ve resolved to lose weight and get in shape more than once when January first rolls around, likely to mixed results. Sure you’re gung-ho with your diet and exercise routine for the first couple months, but once you’ve lost those 5-10 pounds you gained over the holidays, you taper off. And by the time you get to the New Year once again, you’ve regained that weight and then some. This year, however, you can make a real difference by resolving to go to the gym every day for the next 365 days. Whether you walk on the treadmill, swim laps, lift weights, hit the b-ball court, or join a spinning class, there is no shortage of ways to spend your time at the gym. And you’ll enjoy all kinds of benefits when you resolve to embrace a daily workout routine.
- Form a healthy habit. It takes time to form habits. Do you think you were born wanting to sit on the couch, eat chips, and watch TV? Nope – these are bad habits you developed over time. The good news is that you can drop your bad habits and replace them with good ones simply by adopting a plan that puts you at the gym on a daily basis. Within just a few weeks you will begin to condition yourself to see your new routine as a habit, and one that is surprisingly easy to sustain so long as you’re committed.
- Get fit. This is the most obvious benefit of regular sessions at the gym, but it is a rather vague goal. If you want to make the most of your time at the gym you need to create specific fitness goals, such as reaching a certain weight, fitting into a smaller clothing size, being able to run a 5K, or being able to bench press your own body weight, just for example. With specific fitness goals in mind, you’re much more likely to stick with a get-fit regimen.
- Boost energy. It might sound counterintuitive, but when you exercise, your body produces more energy to meet the demands you’re placing on it, resulting in an energy excess that will help you to feel alert throughout the day. So if fatigue is holding you back, just remember that moving will actually give you the boost you’re looking for.
- Sleep better. Exercise is a great way to release tension, reduce stress, and burn off the nervous energy that keeps you awake at night and leads to restless sleep. In addition, exercise produces endorphins that make you feel happier and less stressed during your waking hours, potentially helping you to feel more relaxed when you want to catch some zees.
- Try new exercise options. There are plenty of resources to help you learn new exercises, from online tutorials and videos to professional training programs like GYMGUYZ that make house calls. But the beauty of going to the gym is that you have all the equipment you need at your disposal and you can find a routine that works with your schedule. If you want to add exercise benefits to your life, joining a gym and trying everything to figure out what works for you is a great option.