Studies show that only 12 percent of those who set a New Year's resolution will actually achieve it. For those who include fitness as part of the 2010 Resolution, Mitch Batkin, senior vice president of fitness at Sport&Health Clubs, offers five easy-to-follow tips to success in setting and achieving fitness goals.
- Set achievable goals – winning the Iron Man Triathlon may not necessarily be realistic, whereas if completing a triathlon is a desired result, perhaps training for a sprint triathlon may serve as a good step in the right direction.
- Develop clear terms for your goals – for example: "I want to work out a minimum of three times per week;" "I want to replace my spare tire with firm abs in the next three months;" or "I want to prepare healthy meals at home five times per week."
- Break down large goals into smaller ones – again, using the triathlon analogy, if you want to complete a triathlon, try first training to jog for 20 minutes or swim nonstop for ten minutes or ride a bike for 30 minutes. Creating smaller steps allows you to calculate your progress while also equipping you to take a bigger step.
- Explore alternatives to behaviors you wish to change – if you find you eat too much, replace junk foods with healthier, leaner foods and eat in moderation. Eating a quarter pound of carrots may satisfy the appetite for something crunchy, but has infinitely greater benefits to eating a small bag of potato chips.
- Find an appropriate reward system for yourself – even former Miss Bikini Universe, Melissa Hall, rewards herself weekly with a juicy burger if she accomplishes her goals first.
"New Year's Resolutions traditionally offer us a chance to start anew," said Batkin. "Many view it as an opportunity to leave the past behind. Likewise, for those who place better fitness on their list, it is a chance to leave their behinds in the past."
The National Institutes of Health cites forty percent of Americans as being overweight. Sport&Health believes strongly that starting out the New Year with a healthy resolution – and maintaining it – is critical to decreasing the number of overweight Americans.
About Sport&Health
Since 1973, Sport&Health Clubs has grown to be Washington's largest family of full-service health clubs and day spas with 23 locations in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Locally owned and operated, Sport&Health Clubs are built around integrating fun and fitness into the busy lifestyles that define our nation's capital and its ever-expanding communities. The Company serves the health and fitness needs of more than 90,000 Washingtonians, with over 2,000 employees, and is one of the top health club companies in the U.S. (based on annual revenues). The clubs feature state-of-the-art fitness equipment, individual and group personal training, group exercise classes for all levels including Pilates, yoga, step, high and low impact, Mixed Martial Arts and more. Many clubs feature tennis, racquetball, squash, basketball, swimming and a Kidz Klub, which features a nursery, climbing mazes, dance classes, camps and a variety of junior programs for all ages. Several clubs feature Serenity Day Spa that provides therapeutic massage, body treatments, nail and skin care and hair styling and design. For more information, visit www.sportandhealth.com.
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