New Years Resolutions

This a fairly typical post for this time of year. I'm sure there are many bloggers out there that are making fun of all the people who have made their new years resolutions and are now cramming into the gyms. I don't care though, I had to comment on it. I went to the gym the last two nights and was amazed at the lack of parking spaces that I had to choose from. My wife and I went at our usual time and prior to the new year we have never had issues with finding a space within site of the entrance. Last night was especially bad however, with us having to park on the side of the building. I was just amazed that not more than a week ago this was not the case. A week ago we could park close to the front entrance of the gym and walk in with out having to wait in line to scan in. In the locker room I could actually find an open locker without having some dude accidently brushing his naked butt against me. I could even go to where the treadmills are and find one that is open without having to wait and wipe off the previous user's gross dried sweat before jumping on myself.

I'm not writing about the fact that there are too many people at the gym and it's too cramped and I wish it would "go back to how it was". What I'm writing about is the fact that I find it very odd that in one week everyone in Grand Rapids is all of a sudden a work out fiend. I find it very interesting how with a simple change of the year that people become motivated. It's almost as if it's a full moon where strange things happen.

I don't want the newly motivated individuals who have made their new years resolutions to quit. I want quite the opposite actually. What I don't want to see is in 30 days from now all of these newly motivated people to have lost the motivation. Health and fitness is not about a 30 day craze. It's about consistency. Stick to your goals. I understand having a busy couple of days or a week where life just throws you off track, but get back on the train after that. Please don't be motivated through the beginning or middle of February and then come bathing suit season say to yourself, "I have 2 weeks to get into beach shape". You should have thought about that the 4 months prior. Stay consistent with your health goals. Find someone to keep you accountable. It is easier to build up little by little and create a habit with your fitness objectives than it is to start and stop and try to "get back into it" once more. You can only start over again so many times before you begin to think that victory will never be possible.

For all of you first time gym go'ers, congratulations and welcome to the beginning of a new you. (I know it's cliche but it fits!!) For all of you who have let life's busy ways get the best of you in the past and are now getting back on track, way to go. And for those of you who can't understand why you all of a sudden can't find a parking spot in what used to be the empty desert of the gym parking lot. .  .just give it a couple of weeks, things will be back to normal soon!