December is the place where fitness goes to die, but it doesn’t have to be. If you can talk yourself out of going AWOL for the entire month and bathing in holiday cookies and latkes, you’ll be good to go when the New Year kicks in.
Last week I offered fitness suggestions for the first 7 days of December. There are plenty more where those came from, so without further ado, here are 7 more ways to salvage December and set yourself up for a great January!
Day 8 – Get a massage. You deserve it. Especially if you do personal training, intense group exercise classes, if you’re a runner. Rigorous exercise is awesome, but it can take it’s toll on your body if you don’t pay proper attention to regenerating it. Massage is good for you and it feels great. Don’t think twice, just strip down and flop onto the table. Not just any table. Make sure there is an actual massage therapist around. If you walk into a random office, disrobe and crawl onto a table you might be sending the wrong message.
Day 9 – Sign up for the New Year’s Day Race in Santa Monica on, you guessed it, January 1st! This is a great way to start the new year off with a challenge and get your 2013 fitness program off on the right foot (literally). This is not a super-competitive event, it’s a more relaxed, fun experience, so it’s a great opportunity for newcomers to do something unusual, enjoyable and healthy. There are 5k, 10k, 15k and half-marathon options that range in cost from $16 to $31, so there are a variety of great, affordable ways to enjoy this event. Don’t overthink it, don’t ask yourself if you’re capable of doing it, just click on the link and sign up. You won’t regret it.
Day 10 – Go meatless for the day. I used to have meat with every single meal up until about 2 years ago, but then I started to read about the negative health and environmental impacts of the animal-based diet and made a decision to work my way toward a fully plant-based diet. I started with Meatless Monday and now I only consume animal products a few times a week (any sort of animal product; meat of any kind, milk, etc.). Reducing or eliminating animal products can literally save your life and make a significant, positive environmental impact. So, try it out! Just ONE DAY a week. The worst thing that can happen is you get healthier.
Day 11 – Go see your doctor for a check up. Make sure your weight, bloodwork, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. are in a healthy range. If they aren’t, come up with a plan with your doctor to improve your health, and make sure that plan includes improved eating (more plant-based foods and less processed foods) and a sound exercise plan. If you need help with your fitness, look into joining a local walking/running club, a MeetUp group that focuses on activity you enjoy, find a local fitness training studio that offers group training and/or personal training, etc.. If you’re not good at managing and overseeing your own health and fitness (I’m not, which is why I don’t train myself), get some help.
Day 12 – Check out SparkPeople, maybe even sign up for their daily emails. A great resource of information about fitness, health, nutrition, etc..
Day 13 – Need a little inspiration? Feeling frustrated? Read this success story and learn how this Arena Fitness client has made a big impact on his life in a short time. Embrace your health the way he has and you’re certain to be successful.
Day 14 – Go outside and run. Don’t question it, don’t think about it, just run. It’s free, it’s primal, it’s in your blood, just do it. If you’re concerned that you’re not in good enough condition to run, start slowly. Don’t worry about the distance, your mile times or any of that rot. Just go outside and move the way you were intended to move for 30 minutes.
I know it can be difficult to stay on course in December, what with holiday parties, cookies everywhere, your kids out of school, but January is just around the corner! If you can stay on track during the toughest month of the year, your 2013 is going to be a winner!
Jonathan Aluzas is the owner of Arena Fitness, a personal training, semi private training and group training facility with gyms in Northridge and Encino.
