I would really get it handed to me if I didn't write a New Year's Resolution entry on my blog centered around the overly-Resolutionized topic of fitness, no?
Let's rewind to just about every other New Year's of my early adulthood. I hated. HATED HATED HATED. The entire month of January for the sole fact that my gym would get instantly overcrowded. My favorite treadmill? Constantly occupied. The free weights? All taken by individals who look like they've never even lifted a bag of groceries, let alone a dumbbell. And the stretching area? I swear it was always covered in a semi-permanent funk by the end of the month due to constant usage by newbs who don't follow wiping-down etiquette.
Now at the cusp of 2014, I am sheepishly cowering my head and (re)signing up for a gym/pool membership. I wish I could walk in there with a sign taped to my head announcing:
"I SPENT ALMOST ALL OF 2013 ON NEAR-BEDREST, SO I LET MY MEMBERSHIP EXPIRE, I SWEAR I AM NORMALLY AN AVID GYM RAT!"
And another sign further explaining:
"IT JUST SO HAPPENS MY MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO WORK OUT LINES UP WITH NEW YEARS!"
Alas, this year I will be grouped into the category of "Resolutioners" by default. I used to see this special group of people as mere obstacles impeding the accomplishment of MY goals that I work on year-round. But I am actually grateful for this opportunity because I am seeing these folks in a new light.
The obese person occupying my favorite treadmill? Maybe he finally got his act together and this is his first step at getting some weight off, and perhaps the start of his journey to cure any obesity-related diseases he may have. The girls stealing all the free weights? Good for them, it's about time we start seeing more muscle on women. And as for the germ-laden gym equipment, that's just nasty, people, so please clean your shit up.
So my official 2014 New Years Resolution is to not only join the Resolutioners and overcrowd the gym with them, but to encourage them in taking a healthy stand in their life, whether it is just for a few weeks or if they hang on to their resolution for the year. And maybe give them a tip or two on how to use the saniwipes ;-)
Let's rewind to just about every other New Year's of my early adulthood. I hated. HATED HATED HATED. The entire month of January for the sole fact that my gym would get instantly overcrowded. My favorite treadmill? Constantly occupied. The free weights? All taken by individals who look like they've never even lifted a bag of groceries, let alone a dumbbell. And the stretching area? I swear it was always covered in a semi-permanent funk by the end of the month due to constant usage by newbs who don't follow wiping-down etiquette.
Now at the cusp of 2014, I am sheepishly cowering my head and (re)signing up for a gym/pool membership. I wish I could walk in there with a sign taped to my head announcing:
"I SPENT ALMOST ALL OF 2013 ON NEAR-BEDREST, SO I LET MY MEMBERSHIP EXPIRE, I SWEAR I AM NORMALLY AN AVID GYM RAT!"
And another sign further explaining:
"IT JUST SO HAPPENS MY MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO WORK OUT LINES UP WITH NEW YEARS!"
Alas, this year I will be grouped into the category of "Resolutioners" by default. I used to see this special group of people as mere obstacles impeding the accomplishment of MY goals that I work on year-round. But I am actually grateful for this opportunity because I am seeing these folks in a new light.
The obese person occupying my favorite treadmill? Maybe he finally got his act together and this is his first step at getting some weight off, and perhaps the start of his journey to cure any obesity-related diseases he may have. The girls stealing all the free weights? Good for them, it's about time we start seeing more muscle on women. And as for the germ-laden gym equipment, that's just nasty, people, so please clean your shit up.
So my official 2014 New Years Resolution is to not only join the Resolutioners and overcrowd the gym with them, but to encourage them in taking a healthy stand in their life, whether it is just for a few weeks or if they hang on to their resolution for the year. And maybe give them a tip or two on how to use the saniwipes ;-)