Might as well get started on my New Year’s resolution right away…

In the past, we’ve boycotted New Year’s resolutions. After all, it’s usually the same old song: lose weight, eat right, exercise… Do you really have to wait to Dec, 31^st to realize that exercise is good for you? No! Obviously, a healthy lifestyle lasts throughout the year.

But this year, we seem to have a new appreciation for the New Year’s resolution. There is something refreshing about the renewal that comes with the onset of a new year. It’s a fresh start– a chance to get it right, purge the negative experiences from last year, and hopefully even learn something.

Craig’s Resolutions
I know that resolutions are supposed to be measurable and specific, but I’m breaking the rules this year. Mine are more about recurrent behaviors and attitudes that have dogged me in the past and are in need of an overhaul.

I’m starting with Couch Potato-itis. In our last post, we described the typical undertraining suspects. Most of us can identify with at least one of those stereotypes. I’m most likely to fall into the Couch Potato category. I tend to assume a self-righteous, entitled attitude when I feel like I’ve been spread too thin – either from working and going to school, or from getting up too early and getting home too late.

The last month and a half of grad school was a doozie. I was stressing out over writing two research proposals, while working and being a husband. There was no way I was going to work out too! Six weeks slid by, and I didn’t break a sweat. I showed him!

Oh. Wait a minute. I’m a trainer! I didn’t show anyone anything. I preach the power of exercise to reduce stress. I always remind my clients that everyone is busy and urge them to make exercise a priority. I didn’t follow my own advice. I can only imagine what some of my clients have to deal with when they work in high-powered positions, have a wife or husband, and have two or three kids! It’s time for a New Year’s overhaul. Here are some of my big picture resolutions:

• Make fewer excuses.
• Take more responsibility.
• Procrastinate less.
• Plan ahead.
• Be present.
• Remember that my life is NOW!

What are you going to do to make 2013 better than 2012?

Christa’s Resolution
Well as long as we’re all sharing our innermost thoughts, here are a few of mine.

I was born a bona fide Scaredy Cat. I recognize the importance of consistent exercise, but I have a tendency to shy away from anything at the gym that’s too heavy, awkward, or mildly uncomfortable. (My horrible experiences in PE didn’t help.) I am pretty sure that when I first started working out with Craig, I was one of the most annoying clients he had ever had. My whining took on many forms –vocal complaints, evil looks, pouty attitudes, and overall misery at the gym. I had always enjoyed certain sports, but if I wasn’t surfing or doing karate, I was probably just complaining.

It wasn’t until 2012, when I underwent major surgery, that I realized how much I actually enjoyed being able to move and exercise. The recovery period was long, and I was (and am) grateful that the surgery was effective. An unexpected side effect of surgery was that my attitude changed at the gym. I still have to fight my Scaredy Cat tendencies, but I look forward to my workouts now.

This newfound attitude leads me to my 2013 fitness resolution. I want to learn to do a pull-up. Pull-ups are hard. Women aren’t supposed to be able to do pull-ups –which is all the more reason to master them. I’ve tackled much more daunting challenges than this in the past, and I’ll conquer that pull-up bar eventually. If you’re wondering what’s going on in these pictures, well, I’m jumping up and then holding myself up as long as possible on the way down. Baby steps.

That’s enough Kumbayá for one year. What do you think about New Year’s resolutions? Love ‘em or hate ‘em? Care to share?