Why You Should Start Going to the Gym in February Instead of January
3 min
©gradyreese
We’ve just started the New Year and you’re already suffering trying to keep your resolutions Give up smoking. Go for a run. Read more. Answer people’s WhatsApp messages. Get rid of all those clothes you no longer wear. And the classic – starting to go to the gym. Because after having eaten and drunk everything that came your way, your body’s crying out for you to pamper it a little. Take care of yourself and get in shape. The same goes for you as for everyone else. That is why January is one of the months of the year when more people sign up for the gym, with 10.3% of new enrollments.
But as they say: if someone jumps off a cliff, will you also jump? Just because it’s the time when most people do it, doesn’t mean it’s the best time to do it. In fact, we recommend you to be patient and wait until February. Especially if your goal is to recover from the excesses of the holidays. Your body needs to gradually change its habits to get in shape.
The gym doesn’t come first
After the holidays, we’re all tempted to join the gym. There’s a constant bombardment of offers and it seems to be the best time to start our healthy life. However, January is one of the most uncomfortable months to train. Day after day the gyms are absolutely packed full of people. Which makes attending a class or finding a treadmill mission impossible.
This will make it very difficult for you to follow a training routine. There are many more people using the same facilities. Many of these people will gradually disappear, with more or less embarrassment as the weeks go by. Then your time will come. Until then, you can take advantage of January to get ready. Both by taking care of your diet and buying or preparing all the equipment you will need. Cut back on sugar, drink more water, and watch what you eat. Running out of ideas? At foodspring we have the best healthy recipes. Check them out here.
So you don’t give up
Still, even if you are prepared, it can always be an uphill battle to start. Even more so if it’s the first time, or when you haven’t trained in a while. So here are a few tips you can follow to help you win your personal fitness battle.
- Set your goals: You need a real and short-term goal. It’s no use if you want to gain 15 kg of muscle mass by spring or if you want to run a marathon in two months if you’ve never worn running shoes before. Set daily or weekly goals. I will only drink water this week, today I won’t consume any sugar, or out of the next 5 days I will visit the gym on 3 days.
- Make a gradual start: The feeling of guilt after the holiday excesses, the wish to change or the motivation to do something new, can lead you to want to give it your all on the first few days when you go back to the gym. This can make you feel tired, overwhelmed, and can even lead to injuries. That’s why it’s best to take it easy and go little by little.
- Take breaks: Your body is not a machine. Training times are just as important as breaks. Don’t strain yourself and stick to your days off. An injury would take you away from your goals.
- Hire a personal trainer: Accept it. Sometimes you’ll need a little help. There may be days when you don’t have the motivation to train and this is where a personal trainer can help you. Not only to do the exercises well, but also to be consistent.
- Take care of your diet: As we’ve mentioned before. A healthy diet will give you a great push towards achieving your goals. This won’t make your life miserable nor does it mean to not eat anything at all. If you go to a restaurant with friends, make sure to eat and enjoy yourself, but take a bit more care with what you eat when you’re at home.
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