We all need a little extra boost sometimes.
You are so happy to have your team around to help you. Of course, you help each other work toward big goals for health and fitness, but you really believe it is the small stuff that means the most. In fact, you have small challenges going on all the time:
- Eat more veggies
- One song daily fitness challenges
- Drink more water
- Book clubs
- Self care
Sometimes you use them, sometimes you do not, but you love that you always have options when you want to reboot or kick start a new habit. Most recently, along with about 20 others, you are focusing on a daily water goal. You do not always need this support, but belonging to a community that values health and wellness definitely helps you create your best self.
Make This Year’s Leap Day an Opportunity to Reset Your Fitness Goals
Whether you are trying to make strength training classes a part of your routine this New Decade or you are simply trying to help your spouse and children visit the gym three to four times a week, it is often in your best interest if you can create an accountability team. This group of supporters likely workout at the same gym as you and have a schedule that fits yours. An accountability team can be a spouse, another family member, a co worker, or a friend from college. No matter how they are related or associated to you, you can likely help your accountability partners at the same time.
Unfortunately, there are too many people who fail to make their health a priority. Never visiting a gym or even going for a daily walk, the lack of exercise of many Americans is compounded by the fact that they do not make wise eating choices. Even in a time when it is evident that there are so many benefits to a diet that is low in fat and focuses on vegetables, too many Americans eat a diet that is just the opposite. Likewise, there are many times when sitting in front of a screen is the only kind of activity that many Americans get.
Bucking this trend, of course, there are many people who at least start the new year with a promise to make more regular visits to the gym. Even if you did not hold onto the habits that you hoped could help you reach your fitness goals, 2020 may be the perfect time to reset your goals and try again. With an extra day in the month of February, this Leap Year may serve as one more motivation to see if they can find their passion, find their support, and find their fitness goals.
Consider these facts and figures about the current trends that have lead to the health problems that many Americans face:
- One of the most frightening statistics is that more than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts generally last about 30 minutes, so there are a number of people who can find this amount of time to workout a day.
- Fewer than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day; this means that only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
- Only 35% to 44% of adults 75 years or older are physically active, and a mere 28% to 34% of adults ages 65 to 74 are physically active.
- In a time when there are so many problems with overweight children, it is pretty discouraging to knowing that only six states require physical education for grades children in grades kindergarten thoug 12th grade.
- People between the ages of 18 and 64 engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendations.
As many as 80% of people don’t keep their New Year’s resolution, but that does not mean that you cannot start over this month by setting a new round of goals for yourself. When was the last time you went to the gym? Make today the day when you start again on your biggest goals.