Why is it that 80% of people with gym memberships DON'T USE THEM after one month?
It isn't because they are happy with their fitness levels, and it isn't because the gym doesn't offer programs such as aerobics classes, spin classes or even yoga and it isn't because they don't WANT to use them deep down in their abs.
Are they just lazy? No - not at all.
It is a matter of
TIME, BOREDOM or IGNORANCE.
Time. There is just not enough of it to go around. Can you carve out one hour every day to work on yourself? Even if it is before the sun rises...or after the moon rises. You can take a walk or join a hiking club! And there are loads of options at your gym or local recreation center.
Simi Valley has the most beautiful parks in the State of California. I was amazed when I got to ride my bike around Lemon Park 10 years ago. It just keeps getting better and better and more oriented to helping us get our behinds out of the house and enjoying the outdoors.
We often have people stop and WRITE DOWN their schedules...for example...4:45am wake up 5:30am go to boot camp 7:00am eat breakfast 9:00am start work ...all the way until they put their heads down on their pillows. This exercise might help you locate some "extra time" that you can use to exercise somehow.
Boredom. The same old routine for anyone can get booooorrrriiiinnng. We have to keep motivated somehow - whether it is getting a partner that is going to be waiting for you to run a few miles or being on time to an aerobics class.
Most of us need some sort of SPARK to keep us going and excited. Something needs to spice it up! You can bounce around at your gym and try the different classes, you can find the different trails in Simi and hike them with some friends, get your bike out and try riding Chumash Trail or take a yoga class.
Accountability for your actions can get you motivated and out of a boredom rut. Call a friend and set up a Saturday workout early when the sun is just rising...enjoy the birds chirping and the dew on the plants! It is habit-forming and super healthy.
Now let's think about the
ignorance. If you knew that NOT exercising would kill you, would you make it a priority? How about if you didn't exercise you would lose the ability to reach to a top shelf or the ability to navigate up and down 3 steps. Well: that is where you are headed if you don't make it a priority.
If you DON'T exercise then lots of things "go wrong". One day missed turns into one week and after a while you might find yourself realizing the last time you actually RAN anywhere was when you were a kid in high school. 30 years from now you will still need your arms and legs to work! According to the American Council on Exercise, "for most people, regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease by about one-half compared to those who are physically inactive."
Overall, we're all "talking" about getting into shape more than ever. There are enough gyms and programs in Simi Valley to keep all of us moving for at least 30 minutes most days of the week which is what the Surgeon General of the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends.
In the end it is all about your own initiative and drive. You may need to hire someone to get you back on the wagon of a healthier lifestyle or you just need to show up at your gym or a park and get going!
Try to find a good reason - look in the mirror for the first and most important person in your life. People may depend on you but
you depend on
you first, right?
About the author:
Sarita Shoemaker is co-owner of the Simi Valley outdoor fitness program 805BootCamp. She is a certified through the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor as well as a Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant. As a writer, she contributes regularly to the weekly newsletter called "The Challenge" which helps everyday people understand the benefits of exercise and nutrition in a positive way. You can contact her at Sarita@805bootcamp.com.