Most Common New Year's Resolution

[kaylaS91]

My goal for 2016 is to get healthier and be able to do laundry on my washboard abs!

As the new year approaches and people start shooting around ideas as to what one of their resolutions for 2016 will be, a common one shared by most is to ‘exercise more’. To work on their health and/or just start looking better.

I always find it amusing how first week of January, my gym is packed. Every machine is filled basically any hour of the day, a whole new crowd with fellow gym-regulars blending in. The madness generally lasts till no later than January 14th, with a few remaining stragglers sometimes making it to the last week of January. Come February, the gym is generally back to its pre-‘new healthy, happy me’ days.

Why is this phenomenon such a constant thing, on repeat basically year by year? Why is it difficult for so many people to work at least a bit of exercise, nothing too intense, into their schedules on a somewhat regular basis?

Excuses. They come in every form imaginable. Too cold, too rainy. Every day that was decided as the day to head to the gym comes around and ends up being one of those days that were meant to be spent watching Netflix from bed.

It truly boggles my mind how so many people go to such lengths to avoid what I cannot advocate enough. Working out is like a godsend, in my opinion. Aches and pains keeping you from the gym? Take it easy, but nothing will make your aches and pains worse than a sedentary lifestyle camped in front of the television, granted that you’re dealing with relatively minor discomfort, nothing like a serious issue with your hips, back, etc..

If your aim is to get in better shape; you’ll either get results, or excuses. Choose one.

There are several ways you can work exercise into your daily routine without having to dedicate hours per week. Do you drive to work? Try taking transit for some days of the week which will require you to walk to the bus stop, from the bus stop to work, and just in general be moving more than you would if you were to drive. If you don’t work or go to school too far, cycling is a great alternative as well.

Start going for walks or a local pilates/yoga place with a friend on a set day of the week. You guys can motivate each other not to slack, plus combine some social time with working out so it’s like two birds with one stone.

Buy a month-pass at your local gym. They’re usually pretty pricy so you can calculate how many times you’d have to gym it to break even by comparing the month-pass price with the drop-in fee. Excuses will be far fewer when you realize that staying in to watch that movie will cost you at least $5 in losses from your month-pass.

[dartmaul15]

very very true.

The typical mistake is to start out way too hard, with the "woo, i'm going to change myself by going to the gym 4 days a week, for 2 hours each time, and i'll keep doing it 4eva".

Generally that just won't work. You don't start a marathon by spinting. You start out slow and gets your body warm (disregarding the fact you'd do that before start), get yourself in the flow, and just keeps on trucking.

You need to excercise that way. Start out slow, with a pace you can manage! I've heard people say that the first month isn't about the excercise or result, but about getting the habit, get into it, get used to it, break thrugh that hard first month. From there on you can increase the load a little, maybe have 2 days with an hour and a half each instead of 2 days with an hour? And increase the pace. But always make sure it's an intensity you can handle without burning out the pashion and drive.

That way you don't burn out early and give up.

Hell, have just one day at the gym, and one day practicing a form of physcially demanding sport. Football, rugby, triatlon, go sycling, swimming, ANYTHING that puts you in activity helps. Even "morning cardio". Get outtadors, and just DO something.

And come on, deep down we all know going to the gym to jog on a threadmill is boring as hell compared to jogging in the woods.

[tony72722]

Worked for me lol. Went from being lazy after high school for a year to training 5 days a week intensley and haven't stopped since. I say go hard or go home.

[dartmaul15]

@tony72722 yeah, no. It might've worked for you, but among those legit interrested in bettering themselves, going too hard so they burn out is the number one reason for quitting and giving up.

And just like me, you're stull quite young. You don't have 8 hours of work, 3 kids you need to drive o different activities in the evening, you don't have a huge ass house and a wife/husband that needs attention too... you get my point. quite simply it won't work for everyone, because of time limitations.

[BelleGirl21]

You hit some really key points. I think the most important thing I have discovered is that you have to find the thing you love to do. For me it's weight lifting. If you hate running for example, don't force yourself to do it! Try cycling or swimming or tennis etc. Just keep DOING something until you find something that challenges you and makes you happy. Then it becomes easy to fit it in your life.

[meatballs21]

Morning Cardio WOOOOO

Ahem. The stupidity of pushing a New Year as an excuse for change that you for whatever reason didn't want for the last 11 months? That's why. If you are tired of being out of shape or overweight, you don't wait until January 1st. I joined my gym in October (last year) because I knew that with winter approaching I couldn't exercise outdoors for much longer.

There's also the fact that people expect results overnight, or don't know what they're doing, or don't get into the habit.

[golani]

i've been working out hard and dieting pretty much every day for the past 8 years, so staying fit and healthy is just a routine for me by now. not counting calories/carbs/protein/fats is just weird to me..

my new years resolution is actually to get my life together. im 22 and i'm all over the place. i just need to have a productive year overall. in 2013 there was more bad than good, in 2014 there was more bad than good, and 2015 just was a blur and was a total standstill. 2016 is my year!

[martyfellow]

People need to reward themselves for sticking to an exercise regimen. I'd suggest giving yourself some expensive gift, or taking a long delayed trip, if you can maintain X times a week going to the gym for Y months...

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Your bitterness makes me laugh.
I agree though. I've been working out for a long time now and don't prior just don't stick.

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Some people*

[kaylaS91]

... it's a joke? I'm teasing. No need to get your panties in a twist. :)

[Scrambledagain]

Gym is easy. Dieting is the hardest. Even though for me it means shit in attraction. My resolution is to be more bad boy than nice guy. Changing personality is far more difficult than gym.

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Why the hell would you want that haha

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 Because look at my profile: Gym is sorted for me. Im actually doing a plan where I gain 4kg and get ripped. I have more muscles than I need. But, I am a nice, easy going guy, with a very good sense of humour, which means women don't get attracted to me that easily. So this year, I am going to work on being a lot less "nice guy" and be more bad boy. But changing your personality is FAR more harder than gym. One has to go to the very core of their unconscious and disassemble what they have been taught by parents, teachers, preachers etc. And in terms of women, I need to practice, so this year I am consciously looking for only friends with benefits.

[ShepherdOfFire99]

The only thing I find unattractive about anything you said is that you're so insecure you want to change your personality.

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 You wrong again my dear. The number one peace of crap advice women especially give, is "be your self". A nice easy going guy is himself but gets nowhere. He, is by his very self, not attractive to women, so he has to change. Its taking initiative. I am doing what you women say, "stop complaining and go get it". That's all I am doing, and its my personality that inhibits me, not my looks. Women fuck brad pitt, not Jim Carrey.

[ShepherdOfFire99]

I think you're not really a nice guy... Probably just going after airheaded bitches and getting upset when they don't fuck you. That's what seems to be the problem...
Because truly nice men, do not have a dating issue.

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 jusy because I'm honest now, it makes me "not nice"? Just because I lay some truths down, it makes me "not nice"? I don't live in a world of ideals, just hard truths. I am a go getter and want what I want. I just want to add some edges to my polished nice guy demeanour. Just because I want to sleep with multiple women also doesn't make me "not nice". Truly "nice guys" don't have a problem because they are comfy in their mediocre dating worlds. My wants make it that I have to play the game aggressively including attracting women. And nice guys don't attract women as much as bad boys. That's a universal truth.

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Bitterness isn't honesty sweetheart

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 where am I being bitter?

[Scrambledagain]

I'm very happy at preparing for my new journey. This next year is going to be smoking hot on the scrambled front. And it has nothing to do with gym;)

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Just one example: "A nice easy going guy is himself but gets nowhere."
No.. Bitter, festering dudes who value sex more than people go no where-- aka "nice guys"

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Not truly nice men^^

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 that's not bitter, that's the truth? I can prove it if you want?

[ShepherdOfFire99]

Your tone is bitter. And no, I don't. Bc you can just suffer outside of reality, and I'll enjoy the actual men on earth :)👍

[Scrambledagain]

@ShepherdOfFire99 whatever works best for you. I wish you all the best, and I truly hope you find a good guy.

[Dipsy]

@Scrambledagain You can become a bad boy if you want to, it's your own choice, but keep in mind that most women don't want a bad boy, only a few 'bad girls' do (if you know what i mean).
It's your own choice, but I want to give you a bit of advice: don't be a complete nice guy and don't be a complete bad boy either, get in the middle, that's the place to be :)

[Scrambledagain]

@Dipsy a few bad girls is all I need. The nice girls are the ones I want to avoid.

[Dipsy]

Oh ok, just wanted to help out :p

[ichot]

I laugh at people who complain about having too many people at the gyms... I've always exercised outdoors and not a single person to wait behind in a line.

[Nice_Guy_Last]

That "Morning Cardio" picture made me laugh. It's so true. I have honestly lost 20 lbs since I started dating my then girlfriend now fiance, and by no means am I living a healthier lifestyle anywhere outside of the bed lol.

[26ukdude]

I have given up smoking and drinking since November. Saving a load of money, about £300 ($450) a month. I'd like to lose 20lbs so I guess thats my goal for the year

[gapminder]

Totally true, consistency is the key. If you truly want to transform yourself it is a slow and steady process. No short cut short for hard work, the best gift you can give to yourself is a healthy and fit body.

[Octavius]

These next couple of weeks at the gym are gonna suck...

[kingoficeolation]

Exercise feels bad. I've made such a resolution before because I know I should, but I don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Is this about resolutions or about fuming and getting healthy?
It's a really good mytake!!! :) :)

[2228515]

I remember, you you are that slutty weeaboo who post half naked pics then wrote a meme telling guys not to ask for nudes. lmao

[Anonymous]

ugh ur such a cookie cutter bish

[Opinion Owner]

@Wacka16 why's ur face so bloated? u look like an African bullfrog lol