It’s February, which usually means something very different for fitness and exercise related goals than it does for human relationships. The funniest thing is, while New Year’s tends to get all the attention, this month is actually where gains are made and habits cemented. I want to address an issue that I see play out year in and year out that has a drastic impact on a lot of exercisers.
Valentine’s Day is a day when many of us try to do something for significant others. When we let a person know, in a very real way, that our commitment to them is still strong. Valentine’s Day also marks another occasion. The fitness cliff. The fitness cliff marks a time about 6 weeks from New Years where gym attendance starts to drop, personal training sessions are more frequently cancelled, group classes have more spots available, and the line for the good squat rack is much shorter or non-existent.
In short, the fitness cliff marks the point in the year when we see the majority of people give up on their resolutions. There are obviously a ton of individual reasons why this happens, but most of these can be grouped into one of two categories. What happens in a majority of cases is overcommitment. Don’t misunderstand me, I love to see people excited to tackle their whole person wellness goals, especially if it involves exercise.
But resolution season has a very, “go big or go home” energy. And as I’ve written before, it usually results in going home. That resolution motivation is absolutely going to run into something bigger and badder (usually a stomach bug that cripples the whole house). We put too much emphasis on motivation and not enough on consistency and dedication.
The other group is bored. The crew that is able to find that consistency and dedication sweet spot often comes into February frustrated. They’ve just spent five weeks doing the same thing week in and week out. They may see a few changes, but a lot of times I hear comments that it isn’t happening fast enough.
And why is that comment even made? Because 75 and 90 day programs lead us to believe that all the changes can occur quickly. The important thing is understanding that changes made under the duress that these types of programs usually put your body under are not lasting. You might be able to hold on to that progress through the six month mark, but if your habits didn’t fundamentally change (and studies show it takes at least 66 days for that to happen), the changes won’t stick.
To combat this frustration, we often see people program hop. They’ll try one program for two weeks and when they don’t see immediate results, they’re off in search of something else. Two programs later, when they still don’t see results, they throw in the towel claiming that exercise doesn’t work for them.
Chasing that immediate gratification, though, is what doesn’t work. It doesn’t allow your body to adapt. Exercise works when we repeat the stimulus. Walking the same distance, while increasing the pace slightly every 2-3 workouts. Performing the same strength exercise weekly while increasing the weight or repetitions by 10%.
Boredom in the gym is a good thing. Yes, you read that correctly. Knowing that today is lower body day and exactly what exercises are coming allows you to mentally prepare for the workout. Being mentally prepared actually results in a better workout, even one that you may not be excited about. Knowing what is coming allows you to keep better track of progress that may not be visible. I mean, lifting heavier or running faster is always good.
Knowing what is coming also allows you to make adjustments with thought and care. You’ll be able to actually listen to your body tell you it needs a new challenge and can fold in a new exercise or piece of equipment. Or perhaps, you’ll recognize that your body might also need a break and give it the rest it needs.
Regardless, if you are coming into Valentine’s Day and aren’t bored, I’d invite you to re-evaluate what you’ve done for the previous six weeks. If you have hopped around and are feeling that frustration, maybe rededicate yourself to one program and plan to stick with it for at least eight weeks. The people who are bored in the gym in February will be the ones still in the gym come August.
Until next time, be well friends!
