It’s mid-January and by now you may be thinking of giving up on that fitness resolution you made back on Jan. 1. Let’s face it, we all have days—weeks, months, years—when our reasons for not working out or eating right sometimes outweigh the reasons to stick with a fitness or exercise routine. You’re too busy to work out; it’s too hard on your body; you lack motivation or willpower—the list goes on and on.
Lucky for you, we have enlisted the help of four experts in the field of fitness to help with those fitness resolutions—Darren and Caitlin Savella, owners of CrossFit Ohana in Lompoc; Susie Duane, co-owner of Custom Workouts in Santa Maria; and Chad Franco, owner and operator of CrossFit Five Cities in Grover Beach and Central Coast CrossFit in Orcutt. Read on and learn how to stay on track in 2015.
SUN: Is it important to have a fitness plan?
DARREN & CAITLIN SAVELLA: Yes, it is important to create a well-rounded, general fitness plan to spearhead your commitment to your health and wellness for the new year. This is where an experienced coach or trainer would come in very handy. Creating your own fitness plan can be a daunting task that requires experience and know-how. The key thing to remember is the word functional—if you focus on functional movements you will see results: squat, run, jump, crawl, move things, pick things up, swim, and get upside down.
SUN: Can you tell me about setting realistic goals?
DARREN & CAITLIN SAVELLA: Break down the year into digestible pieces such as quarterly. If you have access to a coach or a trainer, set those goals with them. Make the goals challenging but—more importantly—attainable. When you reach that goal, celebrate, and then set a new one. Most people set goals that are too broad, such as “I just want to be healthy.” What does that look like to you, specifically? Be specific.
SUN: Is it important to be surrounded by people who support my goals?
DARREN & CAITLIN SAVELLA: Being surrounded by people who support your goals is ideal and important in all aspects of life. However, there is a big difference between important and imperative. You have to start somewhere; not everyone is going to have support surrounding them. To be truly committed to a healthy lifestyle means you must do it for yourself. Sure, there are motivators such as living a more active and healthy lifestyle for your spouse or children, but really, it has to be for you. That is tough for a lot of people. Find your tribe. They are out there. Take a yoga class, go for a swim, try a class; chances are you will find your support.
SUN: Is it important to re-evaluate fitness goals in order to be successful?
CHAD FRANCO: Absolutely. Life is busy and full of roadblocks and lane changes. You have to be ready and willing to adjust your sails with the wind. Having a goal is critical for success, but having a plan to achieve that goal is even more critical.
SUSIE DUANE: Yes it is very important. One of the biggest reasons people stop working out is because of boredom or no real goals to shoot toward. It is great to have a tangible goal to work toward. An example might be getting into a smaller dress or a smaller tux for your sister’s wedding. Or it could be getting in better shape for a 5/10k run or another race coming up. Whatever the goal is, it is good to continue to set new goals.
SUN: Do you recommend having a buddy system for eating right and/or working out?
CHAD FRANCO: This is very individualized in my opinion. Some people work better with a friend to help hold them accountable, some work better with an entire community holding them accountable, and some work better going solo.
SUSIE DUANE: A buddy system for working out is very beneficial. That could be someone you go on walks with or someone that you meet at the gym to work out with. It can also be a trainer that you work out with or an instructor that you enjoy taking their classes. Any person that helps keep you accountable can be a buddy. A buddy for eating right can be a little difficult. It is important to be accountable to you; one way to do this is to log or journal what you eat daily. Those who write down what they are eating have a 90 percent better chance of losing weight than those who don’t. You become very aware of how much and what you are eating when you write EVERYTHING down—it can be quite enlightening.
SUN: If I get off track, what can I do to get motivated again?
CHAD FRANCO: Always remember that each day is a new day. You can hit the restart button and focus on your goal. If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.
SUSIE DUANE: Putting yourself in an environment where you have a chance to succeed is a great way to get back on track. This might be joining a gym so you can take classes, get into a boot camp, or hire a personal trainer. It might be finding a friend that will partner up with you for walks or workouts until you feel motivated to go on your own. Sometimes we lack the motivation to get going on our own, but it is not uncommon and often just takes a little help from someone else to get us back on track.
So there you have it: great tips for sticking with that New Year’s resolution to get fit and stay healthy. Now get on out there and get moving!
Contact contributing writer Meagan Friberg through the managing editor at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 15-22, 2015.