Resolution Time

The close of a calendar year and the beginning of a new one leaves some of us feeling obligated to make positive changes in our lives. For many, it’s a commitment to increased fitness with an aim to better overall health, and here at Cymax Stores we’ve got the fitness equipment you need to take on the challenge in the comforts of your own home.

In truth, these early days of January are no different than any of the other 360-plus of the year ahead, yet the allure of “a fresh start” to go with a new year creates something of a now-or-next year mystique. One that leads many to believe you’ve got to seize the initiative now in making NEW YEARS resolutions rather than just a plain old resolution that is taken up sometime during the next 11 months.

It’s been suggested that many individuals draw inspiration for their resolutions from the rejuvenative period that is the holidays. Family, friends, celebrations and a general sense of well-being “recharge the batteries,” so to speak, and provide us with a feeling of empowerment that we can and should undertake these challenges come January. Often times, however, once the daily grind resumes itself we may lose that wind in our sails.

I’m reminded of a cartoon I saw once where a decidedly large wealthy socialite announces her resolution is to “get in shape” while making short-work of an entire Yule Log cake. The next frame shows her decked head to toe in work out wear, spandex pants, head and wrist bands etc., but brandishing a platinum Visa as she makes her way into a liposuction clinic.

For those of us with tighter purse strings, a desire for real results and some grasp on reality, it’s understandable when things may not fall into place with your fitness resolution as you’d hoped. Here are 3 tips to stay motivated:

1. Time and schedule permitting, try to exercise first thing in the morning. Your metabolic rate will be at its highest and you will burn calories most efficiently. Also, you are less likely to put off your workout on account of being “too tired” – the most common excuse.
2. Try to leave time in your week as “flex time” where you can make up for workouts lost for whatever reason. Should you stick to your workout plan exactly as planned, use this flex time as a reward of sorts to partake in any activity you love. (Eating entire Yule logs is inadvisable however.) Also keep in mind kinesiologists say you must undertake any regime at least 3 times a week for it to be effective to the extent where you will “see results.”
3. For effective results that can be seen more quickly, combine cardiovascular / aerobic training with resistance training. For example, if you have 30 minutes at your disposal for each session, spend 15 minutes running, cycling or at any other similar exercise and 15 minutes lifting weights in some capacity. Compound resistance training exercises, where more than one muscle group is put to use, are most effective in facilitating calorie burning.

Fortunately, Cymax Stores has all the equipment you’ll need to fashion a workout that best suits your needs. For example, most men wish to lose a little around the midsection and tone up their musculature. Pairing a Phoenix Motorized Treadmill with a Phoenix Power Bench will give you a reasonably priced, top-quality workout station that is not overly space-consumptive and can accordingly be located in a rec. room or similar area.

Women often desire to firm and tighten all over the body, and for that task there is no more effective piece of equipment than an elliptical machine. Pair some time with a MultiSports Fitness Elliptix Dual Action Crosstrainer Elliptical and the aforementioned 3 times-a-week commitment and you’ll be on the fast track to the results you want to see. Stair Stepper units are not as multi-muscle group oriented as the ellipticals, but for pure gluteal conditioning you can’t beat a stepper. A MultiSports Fitness Ultimate 2200 Programmable Stepper can be adjusted to different levels of resistance to keep you pushing yourself towards your goals.

Whatever your New Year’s Resolution may be, stay positive and realize changes don’t happen overnight. In addition, do try to remember you’re not delayed until the dawn 2010 should it come derailed. “New Year’s” Resolutions have taken on something of a limited identity in this regard, but making life changes for the positive are possible all year long.

Should you have one or more, good luck and be resilient!