How local gyms keep resolution makers motivated

When thinking of New Year’s resolutions, being more active is often at the top of people’s lists.

For Pam Hughson, who attends Fortitude Fitness and Wellness in Lindsay, she’s been consistently going to the gym for more than two years.

“For me, going to the gym clears my head. So, when I go in, I like to go in first thing in the morning. It sort of starts the tone for my day.”

She goes to the gym six days a week and is motivated to go, as Fortitude only consists of instructed classes. “It is a group environment, and I find I work harder for myself because I’m pushing along with everybody else,” Hughson said.

Since it takes two weeks to form a habit, Hughson said you just “have to make it part of your routine, find out where it fits your schedule best, and put the excuses away. You just go and do it.”

Adam Deschenes, owner of Spectrum Fitness Centre in Lindsay, said that January is one of, if not the, busiest month of the year. It’s not just from people setting a new year’s resolution, Deschenes has noticed that the winter weather also motivates people to turn to the gym, and after the holidays people feel guilty for all the Christmas treats they had.

Deschenes says for those starting out, hiring a trainer can go a long way. “Having proper guidance from square one, ensuring you have a proper program that you know how to run each exercise with proper form are important. Doing things correctly will create results much faster than throwing around heavy weights.”

Brian Rump, who goes to Carbon Heights Fitness Academy in Lindsay, has been a regular gym goer for 15 years. He’s found that going to the gym is enjoyable.

“The biggest mindset shift for me is just making it fun and knowing that just being there is kind of the first goal,” Rump said. While he works as a business coach, he’s also recently starting offering hypnotism services where the main goal is to help people get into good habits, like going to the gym.

One thing he’s found is that people, especially in the new year, tend to overestimate what they can do. For those just starting out, they should ease themselves into doing harder exercises.

Setting realistic goals is one way to do that. “If you try to do something that’s against who you are, it’s not going to work. If I try to get up at 5 a.m. and run 10 km every morning it’s just not going to work,” Rump said. For him it’s more attainable to get up a little later and attend workout classes instead.

Deschenes also echoes the sentiment of making sure to keep goals realistic. “Start with four days a week for an hour each session. Start with making simple healthy food choices but leaving some of your regular diet. Maintaining mental stability is the most important part of the process.”

Kristin Quibell, owner of The Market Gym in Lindsay, said she and her staff try to help gym users understand what a reasonable goal is. With enrolment numbers consistently increasing every year in January, staff wants to make sure people hit those goals.

“Helping (clients) understand a timeline that goes along with (realistic) goals is key. If members are unrealistic with that timeline, they usually give up too quickly,” Quibell said. If someone hasn’t been to The Market Gym in a few days, staff will check in with them and see how they’re goals are coming along to help motivate people to stick to them.

“We also hold in-house challenges to keep everyone motivated,” Quibell said.For some that may mean even easing themselves into entering the gym. “Sometimes the goal today is to just go to the parking lot, then the goal is to walk through the door. Then the goal is to enjoy a class,” Rump said.

Not every gym offers the same programs or environment so for some, the first gym they go to might not be the perfect fit.

Hughson also encourages people to not give up if the first gym they go isn’t a perfect match. At Fortitude with the group environment, I feel like everybody is encouraging each other. So, it makes a big difference,” she said. However, not everyone will thrive in a class environment.

Deschenes finds that people enjoy coming to Spectrum because of the environment is provides. “People are friendly, we chat, we help, we care… egos and jealousy are left at the front door as we are all there to be a better version of ourselves.”