Here comes the new year. It’s the perfect time to start a new fitness routine, right?

New Fitness Routine for New Year

This is good in theory, but it’s probably not going to happen.

According to the University of Scranton, approximately 8% of people will achieve their New Year goals.

I’m not a statistician but that percentage is pretty darn low.

So why do people fail so often when it comes to achieving their New Year’s resolution?

Let’s start with some of the typical excuses (and, yes they are excuses) as to why people wait until the new year to start exercising or sign up for a new gym.

  1. The holiday season is just too busy.
  2. With all of the holiday parties, you’ll be eating and drinking poorly so there’s no sense in starting now.
  3. Your schedule is already packed so now’s not the time you’ll find “extra time.”
  4. You need to get in shape before you join a gym.
  5. Money is tight. You can’t afford a gym.

… I can easily name another 5 excuses, but I’m going to cut to the chase.

The real reason you haven’t committed to changing your lifestyle now instead of later (a-hem Jan 1) is because it’s not a priority to you.

If it were a priority, you’d be training today. Right now, perhaps. Instead of harping on what you haven’t done or aren’t doing yet, let’s go over the ”reasons” you cannot train yet, shall we?

1. The Holiday Season is Far too Busy

I agree that the time between Thanksgiving and New Years can be hectic. Guess what, though? Everybody feels exactly the same way you do. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that life is not going to get any less crazy. As my wife always says, life will always be crazy, it will just be different crazy. Change is constant!

So how can you ditch this excuse?

You need to block out our training times in your schedule. These training sessions cannot be used for anything else, but exercise. The only exception is an emergency.

This takes discipline and consistency, but once you get into a groove, you will be happy that you made the decision to just start. Despite the chaos.

Remember this, if you say that your health is more important than you job. (And it should be). You wouldn’t miss an important meeting at work, so why do you let your health take a backseat to other things so often?

2. Eating and Drinking at Holiday parties

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want some eggnog and cookies during the Christmas season? They’re delicious! If you have these things a few nights a week for the next few weeks (and probably last few weeks), you will probably consume and an extra 750 to 1000 cal per day. If you do not exercise, you will probably gain some weight.

The answer is simple for this temporary “issue” you’ve got about eating and drinking more during the holidays. And it’s not skipping the gym. I want you to exercise more this time of year when you’ll be eating more!

It’s basic math.

If you do consume an extra 2000 cal per week over the holidays, you can maintain your weight by burning off 2000 calories via exercise that same week. It’s not a great long term strategy since you already know we love efficient and effective workouts most (last chance to download #FITINFORTY by the way. and these workouts are awesome for travel and busy times).

3. Your Jammed Schedule

We all have the same amount of hours in each day. So why can some people find time to exercise and others cannot?

They plan and prioritize. They’re the ones already training before the holiday craziness even starts and they’re already in a groove. But that’s just something to remember for next year.

For now, just keep reminding yourself that if you say exercise and taking care of your health is a priority to you, you will get it done. If it’s not, you will skip it or procrastinate. And thus, you are believing your own lie. It’s not a priority to you.

How to find time?

You don’t find it. You gotta make it. If you truly are ready to prioritize your health and fitness, it may mean getting up early, skipping your favorite TV show(s), staying up a bit later, getting a babysitter, limiting your social life and saying no to crushing 12 beers during the football game. Stick to 6. 😉

Once again, making time comes down to discipline and priorities.

4. You Need to Get in Shape Before You Join a Gym

Really? I’m not gonna lie, that sounds kind of crazy.

I understand that joining a gym can be intimidating for so many of you. If this is the case, my recommendation is to find a gym or a trainer who can meet you where you are at and guide you on your health and fitness journey. A good coach can help you start where you are and use what you have.

You certainly don’t need to hop into a class and get completely destroyed by an insane work out. If you’re looking to do some crazy advanced class at the gym down the street, you’re right. You might want to get in a little better shape first. But, start somewhere. K?

Here’s what we suggest when it comes to getting healthy and fit.

5. Money is Tight

The bank account is low and it’s hard to keep up financially. I’ve been there too and it sucks.

So here’s the scoop. If money is tight so you train at home or belong to a $20/month gym and it’s working for you, awesome. Keep at it.

However, if you’ve tried the free or low-cost option, like most people, and it hasn’t worked for you, it might be time to invest. The majority of people actually require a higher priced option to see results. This is true well beyond fitness. When you pay, you pay attention. 

Besides the fact that you’ll show up (key component to getting results, right?), you’ll also be a lot more likely to find experienced coaches, a nice facility and a comprehensive training program if you invest a bit more. Sure, it’s gonna be a few hundred bucks a month, but I’m guessing if you really want to make it work you would figure out a way.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to finances and spending money.

These days, a cup of coffee costs between $2.50 and $6.00. If you buy one cup a day, you may be spending over $150 a month.

Going out to dinner isn’t cheap either. If you end up at a decent restaurant, grab a couple drinks, an appetizer and two entrées it’s probably gonna cost you anywhere from $75 to $100+. If you do that every weekend, there’s $400 in a month. That’s not even including takeout.

What about alcohol? A 4 pack of a good IPA (what I highly recommend you drink!) costs between $15-$20 and a decent bottle of wine is similar.

A new iPhone is over a grand these days. Think long and hard… do you really need the latest and greatest version?

I think you catch my drift. I’m not saying you should go into debt for a gym membership but I imagine that if you look at your finances, you could find a way to move some things around and join a quality gym.

So there you have it. Five excuses. Five potential solutions. Are you ready to prioritize your health and fitness? I hope so.

Remember, this all comes down to your priorities. Actions speak louder than words and if you truly want to make a change, you will find a way to make it happen.