The Resolution Poundage

New Year Resolutions...they are here and that usually brings a massive amount of people to the gym for the first (or second...or third) time.  Want to know what is going through the mind of someone who is at the gym almost everyday when the New Year starts?  This status update from Facebook pretty much sums up a lot of the comments that ran through my head the last few days in anticipation for the flood of people running to the gym to burn off their resolution poundage.  This post was from a woman who has a powerlifting site:

I see a lot of people complaining about their gyms being bombarded by "Resolutioners" this time of the year. Most of the new gym members go immediately to the cardio room and never leave, so that doesn't affect me one bit. A few more will venture into the weight room, some knowing what they are doing and some not, but very few will "risk" stepping foot into the powerlifting room because it is too intimidating. It's not a place for beginners. I understand that, obviously.

I always try to bring more people into the Red Room (our pl room) and introduce them to powerlifting. But I have got to admit, this time of year a big part of me is pretty happy that my monolift and deadlift platform are safe from the Resolutioner-abuse and that I can go about my business throwing weights around without fighting for space. On that note, my clients will probably find themselves in the Red Room a little more often to get away from the crazy crowds.

Point- powerlifting! :)

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• Jane Monfre and 22 others like this.
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  Ann Sinnott People should stop complaining and be happy and proud of the American's deciding to break the stereotype of being lazy and fat and instead heading to the gym. Everyone had to start somewhere.. including those of us that have been in the weight room for years.

  46 minutes ago · Like · 2
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  Anthony DelMonaco We are happy people are trying to get into shape. The problem is they have unrealistic expectations for their weight loss. You're not losing that muffin top as fast or as easy as it went on. If you lose it fast I'll be willing to be it isn't staying off for long either. Us powerlifters take our sport pretty seriously, between training, diet and sleep(ok 2 out of 3 isn't bad). We know how hard it is to gain/lose and a lot of us have been around long enough to know what works and what doesn't work. If this whole process were easy everybody would be 5% body fat, benching 495 and deadlifting a Fiat, the reality is that fitness isn't easy. It takes hard work, dedication and plenty of sacrifices to get results and even more hard work, dedication and sacrifices to maintain those results. We're glad people are trying but after 10-15 years of seeing the New Years Resolution crowds coming and going, we know that after 3 weeks the gym will be back to normal and the resolution crowd will be back to the couch and a bag of Cheetos.

  35 minutes ago · Like · 3
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  A Healthy Obsession- Clean Eating, Personal Training & Powerlifting Unfortunately I've seen too many people go back to the gym every January, trying to "break the stereotype", but then they stop and end up enforcing the stereotype that Resolutioners have in the first place. Some people stick with it and continue to be motivated and determined to reach their goals in a realistic manner, but more only stick around for a month or so. Everyone starts somewhere, and hopefully they only start *once*

  29 minutes ago · Like
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  Stacie Glaze-Mow Idiots at my gym use the power rack for chin ups.....grumble.

  26 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1
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  Keri Garza Going at 2pm = empty 

  22 minutes ago via mobile · Like
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  Ann Sinnott Wellllll, I was one of those new years resolutioners last year, and am now training for the crossfit open and in better shape than I was when I was playing 4A soccer in college. I never powerlifted seriously before and I am now in the gym at least five days a week and lifting more than half the guys around me. So yes, many fail, but I am proof that with the right encouragement and not being surrounded by people who believe you'll be done with the gym in a month (cough cough)... It can be done. So no Anthony, I never ended up back on the couch and I can't remember the last time I ate something such as Cheetos. But yeah, damn those new years resolutioners and their stupid goals! 

  10 minutes ago · Like

If you are one of those who are trying to stick with a gym schedule or have some resolutions in regards to getting healthier...stick with it!  

I am not a professional in any way but I have been one of those that have been at the starting line with the goal in my mind and I have seen success.  I have been one of those who wasn't sure what to do at the gym and who was scared to venture into the weight area (petrified would be a better word to describe it).  I have had others start along with me and have seen their struggles and battles of willpower vs. comfort.  

If you have any questions feel free to send me a message or make a comment.  I'd be happy to help and keep you accountable so you don't go back to sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.  :)

Jessica's Journey...December 31st "Happy New Year!"

Last day of the year.  Two hours lefts!  Anyone else think that this year flew by?  I even didn't realize that Saturday was the last day of the year until about Thursday.  All along I was thinking it was on Sunday.

I have had this past week off and I have really enjoyed it!  Maybe that is why I am not really sure what day it is.  Not sure my body is ready to get back into the groove of getting up at 4:30am.  Those first few days are going to be torture.  I've still been getting up at 6/6:30am ish but two hours before that...oh my!  My alarm may have to be extra loud and put across the room just so I get out of bed.

Everyone seems to be talking about resolutions and what they have planned for this year.  I do have a few things on my mind but instead of resolutions...let's just call them a "Things to do" list.  If I say that they are resolutions am I really just saying that "I want to do these things but I'm really not committed to actually follow through"?  For me, that is what the word resolution seems to bring.  Making my "to do" list for the year is just better for me.  I am a list person and I like to cross things off.

So what is on my "Things to do" list?  Here are a few:  (Ok...my hands are trembling at this list a bit because I know that by writing them down I am committing myself to these)

• Secret.  I can't say this one.  But, this is something that I thought up a few months ago and really wanted to start the first of the year.  Sometimes my family will be involved.  Sometimes it will just be me.  After 2012 has started off and is on a roll I will probably share this on the blog.
• Warrior Dash.  Can't believe I just wrote that.  Ahhhhhhh!  I am not a mud person.  I am not a girl that likes to get dirty.  Never have.  I like to get disgusting at the gym though and don't have a problem dripping with sweat.  When there is dirt involved and a chance for that to turn into mud...I don't get very excited.  Do I think I can run up a hill that is actually used for skiing?  Umm.  No.  But, I know a few people that are crazy enough to take part in another race called the Tough Mudder.  (You know who you are and I still think you are crazy).  If people can do something like the Tough Mudder and people that I know have survived the Warrior Dash, I can do it too.  I will be nervous and really scared but I can do it.  Now, I just need to find someone to do this with.  Anyone?  I do need some motivation by having someone by my side to finish this thing.  The one that I want to do is on June 30th or July 1st in South Hastings, MN.  PLEASE...PLEASE...join me!
• I will be doing more with my blog too.  I am working on some kinks and have to learn some more in order to get my blog to do what I want it to do.  I have a plan though and am not sure when it will all happen but it will be a work in progress for awhile.  I do know a lot of people with kids though and want to have a day where I write about being a parent and all the fun, trials and discussions that go along with the job of the big M-O-M.  I really enjoy being in the gym and learning new things, seeing results based on what I am doing and learning from what others write and tell me...so a day will be dedicated just for all of that.  That is 2 out of 7 days.  Hmm.  See, it is still a work in progress.
• Another item on my to-do list is continuing to help Jeff spread the word about his business so he can help others.  The results say it all.  If I didn't have Jeff telling me what to do (and then actually doing what he says) I would still have a waist that was the same size.  I wouldn't have the flexibility that I have and am continuing to work on in my hips.  I wouldn't have the confidence that I do in the gym.  Let me say that one again...I wouldn't have the confidence that I have when I am in the gym.  Today, I took a 50lb barbell and did push presses with it.  I've been stuck at 40 lbs and just for fun I thought I would try a 50lb one this morning.  Now I usually take this into the area for the women so I don't have to do this in front of everyone.  The 50lb barbell is a bit heavier though and I really didn't want to bring it to the other side of the gym just to lift it above my head a few times.  So I did it in front of everyone.  And...I didn't care at all!  I would never have done this (nor could I have done this) 9 weeks ago when I started.  To sum it up...I have had great results with his plan and I can't help but want to tell everyone.  I will be working with his blog as well and hopefully helping lots of people get healthier.
• 3 5k's.  Last year I did two...the Stay Out Of The Sun Run in Rochester, MN and the Applefest Run in Fort Dodge, IA.  What additional one should I pick for 2012?
• Our family has already made a lot of changes in our food to establish healthier eating.  This will be continued and little by little we will keep eliminating the "bad" stuff and substituting it for healthier options.  The best part is that my kids don't even seem to notice anymore when a change is made.  We aren't an all organic family (hello...I run a day care and that would make me raise my fees a lot) but there are a lot of things that we don't eat or have in the home.  Little by little we will keep eating the things that we are meant to eat rather than what was chemically processed for us to eat.
• My health.  This past year was quite the year for me health wise.  Whooping cough.  Bronchitis more times than I can count.  Asthma being diagnosed.  ER visit for severe dehydration as a result of having bronchitis.  Trying to figure out the right medicine for my asthma.  Burst eardrum.  Sinus infections (2 in the last 2 months).  I think that covers the big stuff.  I've had several scary days this past year where I thought I would need to visit the ER just because I couldn't breathe well.  Every single cold that I got turned into bronchitis which was then at least 4 weeks of coughing and just not feeling my best.  The last 2 colds that I have gotten didn't turn into bronchitis and I only had 1 day that was difficult and where I had my inhaler right next to me at all times.  My guess is that I am starting to figure out the asthma stuff and that the medicine that I'm on is working.  My to-do is to keep working on figuring out what I need to do to stay healthy and to listen to what my body is telling me.  

If you are thinking of making a resolution or a "to-do" in regards to getting healthy, here is a great quote that I saw today on Facebook.  Maybe it will inspire you a bit too.  (just substitute the word "darn" for "damn"...that isn't me talking and if you know me you know that already)

Happy New Year!