New Year’s Resolutions
It’s still early enough in the new year for all of us to be optimistic about keeping the resolutions we just made. Survey after survey tells us that the number one resolution each year is to exercise more/get fitter/lose weight. Consequently, every January gym memberships soar, and so does attendance…for a couple of months at least.
Then inevitably, attendance drops off and a few months later so do the memberships. The worst part about this is the period in which you’re paying membership but no longer attending. So, here are three ideas to help you get fitter in 2024 without having to sign up to a gym.
Bring the gym home
The problem I’ve always had with signing up to a gym is self-consciousness about my physical appearance. I’ve always been leaner – okay skinnier – than 99% of the male population and as one woman close to my heart once noted, “the last time I saw legs like yours, they were hanging out of a crow’s nest”. So, I’ve always been in a Catch 22 situation, I felt too puny not to go the gym, but embarrassed to go because I was so slim.
My solution last January was to bring the gym into my home with a Compact Guided Weight Machine – Home Gym 900, from Decathlon. It’s an incredibly compact home gym, with a footprint of just 138 cm by 103 cm, which is less than a typical desk. There were other guided multigyms in Decathlon, but my wife approved this purchase because aesthetically it’s more appealing than most, thanks to the cover which hides the industrial-looking inner workings. The fact that the weights are guided and not “free weights” was also important as it’s completely safe, even for weaklings like myself, and the worst that can happen is a bit of a clunking noise if I drop the weights mid-session. Our eleven-year-old son has even started using it on the lower settings and – while I still supervise him – I know it’s completely safe for him too.
Okay, I still don’t look like Arnold Schwarzenegger and I’m still leaner than 98% of the male population, but at least I’m a lot more toned now and there’s nothing quite like strength training to get the blood flowing. I feel stronger, fitter and healthier than I’ve ever felt in my life – which isn’t bad given that I’m turning 50 in 2024 – because the benefits of lifting weights aren’t just aesthetic. Weight training improves heart health, increases your metabolism, helps improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and also controls blood sugar levels – thus reducing the risk of diabetes. And, unlike going to a gym, I can’t see my enthusiasm tailing off because the Home Gym 900 is right behind my desk in my office, so I only have to walk a metre or so to get there. If you don’t like the idea of weight training there are other great home gym options; an exercise bike, a rowing machine or a treadmill for instance, all of which are also available in Decathlon.
Rehome a dog
When it comes to getting motivated to go outside and have a walk, there really is nothing like having a dog. Rain or shine, they need walking every single day, which means you’ll be walking as well. We had a dog in our family for 12 years before he passed away, and walked as a family every single weekend, with the children just accepting that this was part of our family routine. Since we lost our dog it’s been all too easy for us to stay glued to our sofa watching TV, gaming or watching silly videos on YouTube, even on sunny days. So, trust me, when you have a four-legged family member wagging its tail and nudging you with its wet nose, you won’t be able to resist going outside and getting your limbs moving.
Dogs, and pets in general, are superb for adults and children’s physical and mental health and they’re a particularly good way of teaching responsibility to children, while also fostering a deeper respect for all animals. Not only that, but they’re a great way of meeting new people because walking your dog inevitably leads to chats with neighbours, other dog owners and strangers alike – in much the same way as walking with a new baby in a pram gets you talking to other mums, dads or neighbours.
One great way to fill that empty space on your couch with a furry friend is to adopt one, from a rehoming centre such as the Dogs Trust so that as well as improving your own mental and physical health you can also provide a loving home to a dog that’s desperate to find a new mum and dad. The really good thing about rehoming charities is that, as well as doing some good, you’ll be dealing with people who take time to learn about you and your family and what dog is best for you and your circumstances. You might even talk to them and realise that a dog isn’t actually for you, because they’re interested in the dog’s welfare rather than getting their hands on your money. Much better than buying from an unscrupulous puppy factory or breeder, they’ll also have had all their vaccinations and will have already been neutered.
Cycle with the kids and/or to work
Pretty much everyone knows how to cycle, and cycling with the kids is one of the great pleasures of family life. But as well as being an excellent bonding experience – and getting the kids outdoors – the health benefits of cycling are numerous.
Improved fitness, better heart health, increased happiness, boosted immunity – from fresh air and vitamin D – and better relationships are just a few of the benefits. You don’t have to adorn yourself in brightly-coloured Lycra or buy the latest super-expensive road bike either. Just 30 minutes a day can reap all these dividends with your fitness; one recent study claimed that people who cycle for half an hour a day, five days a week take about half as many sick days as those who do not exercise.
There are a number of different cycle to work schemes and initiatives which mean you can get a fancy new bike and accessories with a discount of 25-39% – depending on your tax code. You pay nothing upfront and pay in 12 monthly instalments, which are taken from your salary before tax, thus the saving. At the end of the 12 months some schemes require you to pay a small token amount, while others don’t. It’s an excellent incentive to save money and get fitter at the same time.
