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Amanda Butterfield reporting We are four days into 2008, so how are you doing on your New Year's resolutions? It's no surprise that getting fit and working out tops the list of New Year's resolutions. So why is that one so hard to stick with?
This is the busiest time of the year for gyms. But within about a month, things will change as those with New Year's resolutions fall back into their old habits.
Carl Freeland has no problem getting to the gym. "I'm here five, six days a week. I love to work out," said Freeland.
Jordan Bauerle, a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness, said, "Since the new year, my schedule, personally, is booked up. I can't take anymore clients. Our training staff is getting really booked up. It's a busy time of year."
Bauerle says this time of year a lot of people come to the gym, but within a month or two things change. Freeland agrees. He says, "The biggest problem with most people is they're here for 30 days, and then you never see them again."
John Malouf, a clinical psychologist with Valley Mental Health, says, "When you look at something that's been a habit for a long, long period of time, to think ‘OK, it's New Years, I can change that,' is not a realistic way of looking at it." Bauerle says, "Sometimes people set out totally unrealistic goals, and we do run into that quite a bit."
Malouf says to make a change you need to acknowledge that you are going to have to change attitudes and habits, and in some ways your environment.
Some people say it's helpful to make a public declaration, tell your significant other or co-workers. They say let people know your goal, so if you don't do it, you're kind of embarrassed.
Bauerle says, "Pace yourself, it's kind of a marathon, it's not a sprint. There's no quick fixes. There are all those quick fixes out there, but reality is there is no quick fix. It's kind of a life change. Pace yourself and stay focused, keep your eye on the prize."
Good advice that will hopefully help people like Greg Walton. He says, "My fitness goals for this year is to get to the gym four to five times a week. Currently, I'm going one to two times."
This advice can be used for any New Year's resolution, not just working out.
