Resolved: This year I am going to exercise more, get fit, lose weight, get back into my favorite skinny jeans, be the most amazing person at my high school reunion, prove my mother wrong, really irritate my sister, wow my husband, inundate my seamstress with alterations or buy a new wardrobe, and otherwise become a new me.
A lot of women go through pretty much this same type of New Year’s Resolution at this time of year, and they plan for it by putting cute workout clothes on their Christmas List or by shopping for their own exercise attire as the calendar for the old year runs out and the new possibilities of 2012 seem doable.
There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. In fact, here at Ladies Only Sports we’re really in to helping women become the “new me” or simply staying on track with a healthy lifestyle. We are all for fitness, and we do of course sell the sports bras, tops, bottoms, and gear that not only are meant for athletic pursuits, but fairly cry out and demand that fitness happen.
But we’re realists too: we understand how hard it is to keep a resolution and stay on track for more than a short period of time on that goal of getting more fit. We’re here to help.
We looked up some background information on New Year’s Resolutions and were very astonished at some of the numbers. Seems that only about 44% of Americans even bother anymore making a New Year’s Resolution, and only some 8% of the resolvers actually stick to the resolution throughout the year. And this doesn’t count the people who resolve each year never to make New Year’s Resolutions (then again, maybe it does).
There are the obvious things on the list of what the resolutions concern – quitting smoking, quitting drinking, spending more time with family, etc. – but study after study show that ranking very high on the list of the most resolved is a) weight loss, or b) exercise more. Indeed, 38% of resolvers address weight loss in their forward-looking plans.
Also these studies show that the younger you are, the better chance you have of achieving resolution results, and that less than 15% of people over 50 years of age meet their resolute objectives. On the plus side, depending on where you fall on being a resolver or not, all the studies show that people who make and/or achieve resolutions are absolutely no more happy than those who don’t bother or are unsuccessful.
And on the front of resolving to exercise more or to lose weight or both, you probably already know that January is the busiest month of the year for people to join gyms and health clubs. Interestingly enough, there’s about a 20% to 30% dropout rate after three months of gym membership, studies say, and that ultimately some 67% of the members don’t use the facilities – ever. And just so you know, women make up slightly more than half – 52% -- of gym/health club memberships.
Here at Ladies Only Sports we want more women to resolve to be fitter, and we want as many of them as possible to achieve their goals. So here are a few ideas to help:
Set realistic goals. Rather than say “I will lose 50 pounds” or whatever, resolve instead to shed a couple of pounds each week or each measurable period – a much more realistic target. In other words, take baby steps that are achievable rather than staring high expectations in the face.
Find an exercise routine that works. One of the biggest reasons that people start and then quickly stop exercise programs is that they set their sights too high. If you don’t think you make it to the club every morning or even every other morning for an hour, don’t resolve to do so. The object of exercise, especially if you’re a relative newbie, is not to kill yourself, but rather repetition: going for a daily 40-minute brisk walk, or doing a half-hour to a workout tape in front of the TV will bring results.
Get a friend -- or two. There is always strength in numbers. If you set your sights on walking or running at the park, or going to the club for a spinning class or elliptical workout, having a workout buddy helps. You can share the driving, talk, push each other, and subtly guilt the other one into not blowing off a day or two.
Read up. There are plenty of resources available for both weight loss and exercise regimes – which often go hand-in-hand but are not necessarily linked – that help in setting goals and measuring success. Many fitness instructors believe that those who are more informed are more apt to participate and stay involved.
Think about diet. Obviously, if weight loss is a goal you’re thinking about a diet, but thinking about diet is different. Many people who begin exercise programs report that their diets change naturally, that they crave healthier foods like vegetables, don’t crave so many sweets and snacks, and that their caloric intake at meals goes down – their appetite is suppressed – without hunger pangs. Dieting and a healthy diet are quite different animals.
The problem with most New Year’s Resolutions is that they go too far, that they drastically alter a lifestyle and are therefore unsustainable. On the other hand, many women find that once they start small – to walk every other day or to spin three times a week – that it doesn’t really disrupt their lives, and then, over time, they just naturally increase their efforts. It is difficult to incorporate a huge change in one’s life all at once, but gradually the result is the same with very little cataclysmic alterations.
So there you have it. Resolve to change. Slowly.
And have a Happy New Year!
LadiesOnlySports.com, in its 11th year of operation, is a family-owned business and features functional and flattering athletic apparel for women, such as sports bras, tops, bottoms, plus sizes, socks, headbands, power gloves, and dancewear. In addition the website features products like Kangoo Jumps rebounding boots, sport-themed jewelry, heart rate monitors and pedometers, packs, water bottles, ear buds, and safety gear like pepper spray anti-chafe cream. The website ships orders Monday through Friday with a variety of shipping options through the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx, including international shipping through USPS.
For complete information on LadiesOnlySports.com call toll-free at 877-567-5239 or local in the Denver metro area at 303-805-4448.
