Happy New Year Everyone!
We had an awesome training session on January 1st…
And then a dip in the ocean immediately following!
It was such an awesome way to start 2017! Thank you to all of you who showed up! (and to all of you who were there in spirit =)
January
I have a love/hate relationship with New Year’s Resolutions…
On the one hand, I love a fresh start. A new beginning. A time to reflect on last year and look to the future to decide what you want to accomplish in the upcoming year.
When I think about the New Year, I think about Pacific Ashtanga Yoga Shala in Capistrano Beach. They celebrate the Indian New Year (Diwali), then our January 1 New Year, as well as the Chinese New Year. Diana, the owner, says she “loves new beginnings” and will celebrate every new year she can. I also like to use my birthday as my very own New Year. I use all of these “New Years” as a time to look back, take a moment to reflect on the things that I did or things that happened last year that brought me to where I’m at today, appreciate my current position, look forward and set intentions. It feels good.
After all…
On the other hand, I hate that as a gym owner, I’m kind of expected to do a weight-loss challenge that starts Jan 1. Blech!
If you know me, you know that I hate weight loss challenges. I’m more interested in setting a different goal – 5k or deadlift or press – something physical. Something you can work on every day. Something you can come to the gym and physically do and see progress. If you have a weight loss goal, we can talk about things that will help (strength training, cardio, healthy eating, & smaller portions), but if you focus on a physical goal, and you have weight to lose, you can lose that weight without focusing on it.
The other reason I’m not a huge fan of the January 1 random day to start something you’ve been wanting to do is because… WHY WAIT? Why not start December 10th or January 27th or any random Wednesday?
If you want to lose weight, don’t start January 1st or the next Monday that rolls around. Start NOW! Eat YOUR NEXT MEAL slower and pay attention to when you’re feeling satisfied with your meal, and stop there. Don’t mindlessly eat until you’re stuffed full.
Want to decrease your alcohol intake? Drink less TONIGHT!
Want to start an exercise program? Go for a walk TODAY!
BUT…. Seeing as how it’s the beginning of January, we’re going to get on the New Years Resolution bandwagon because TODAY is a great day to start feeling better and take steps to being Younger Next Year.
That leads us to our 2017 Challenge: Younger Next Year aka Be Like Marilyn
Marilyn is our favorite septuagenarian who out-trains most of us. We all want to be like Marilyn when we grow up. So when she came in raving about the book Younger Next Year and happily told me, “These guys are as crazy as I am!”, I knew it was going to be great.
The Challenge is to do THESE SEVEN THINGS… for the rest of your life.
- Exercise 6 days/week
- Strength Train 2 days/week
- Cardio 4 days/week
- Eat Less Crap
- Spend Less Than You Make
- Care
- Connect & Commit
Just those 7 things. FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Now, this book is written for people in their 50s & 60s, heading into retirement. But I don’t see one thing on that list I couldn’t improve.
And it’s better to get started early. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it’ll be a much easier transition if you cement these habits early on in life.
Get the book. Join the challenge. We’ll be working on it all year. (…and for the rest of our lives)
–> Info on how to join the challenge coming soon! Get the book now and start reading!
