4 Things To Try if You Want To Become Fitter and Healthier This Year

A lot of people often tell themselves that they’ll start focusing on their health once the New Year starts, and for good reason. It’s always nice to start with a clean slate of sorts, especially when taking on something ambitious; January 1st also feels like a good starting date for anything, what with the entire year before you.

However, most people start to falter before the month is even up. By February, the attendance will be significantly reduced at gyms that were once packed with new faces. The last thing you want–if you’re serious about your fitness goals this year, that is–is to be one of those casualties. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of practical and achievable tips that will help keep you on track and motivated to achieve them.

Do something you’re passionate about

Fitness experts and athletes alike agree that there’s one and only one thing that will help you succeed when it comes to doing anything fitness related. You have to find an activity that you enjoy doing, and then do it. Over and over. That’s it!

Scientists postulate that it takes a little over 2 months for anyone to form a habit. Doing something you’re passionate about will take away much of the repetitiveness, and help make those new behaviors feel more natural when you do them. Don’t worry about having to settle for just one activity when you’re not even sure which ones speak to you. This January, you can try a bunch of different things and try to figure out which ones are the most fun. The important part is that you keep active.

Try something out of the box

If the idea of going to the gym or spending hours on an exercise bike doesn’t fill you with excitement, why not try something a little different? Bouldering or rock climbing is a great activity that will test both your mind and body, and it’ll definitely get your heart pumping. Here at REACH, we offer rock climbing classes for beginners. During these sessions, you’ll be assisted by one of our expert staff members as you learn the ropes, so to speak. If you happen to enjoy the activity, you can then sign up for a rock climbing gym membership with us.

Purchase of a rock climbing gym membership here with us at REACH entitles you to the use of all of our available services, as often as you’d like to avail of them. In addition to unlimited access to our rock climbing facilities during open hours, our rock climbing gym membership allows you to use our state-of-the-art fitness and training rooms as well as attend unlimited yoga, fitness, and self-defense classes that are offered there.

Additionally, becoming a member by availing yourself of our rock climbing gym membership entitles you to 2 guest passes per month, as well as exclusive access to members-only events that we hold periodically. You’ll also get a 10% discount on all retail purchases. It’s an insane value that will allow you to try out all kinds of activities–not just bouldering!  

Bring it into your daily life

Just because you’re not exercising doesn’t mean that you can’t be exercising. You can try to be more mindful about embedding more activity and movement into your daily life, which can also increase your metabolic rate. Doing so will also help you become more flexible, making it easier to do your workouts.

Just standing up can do you a world of good. Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to a wide range of health concerns, from obesity to elevated blood pressure. Standing up every so often when you work at a desk all day can increase your daily caloric expenditure and counter those negative effects.

It’s also a good idea to take the stairs every once in a while, or if the floor you need to get to is the next one up or down. You can also choose to park further away from any establishment you want to go to and go for a casual stroll towards the door. If you commute to work, consider riding a bike instead of your car, which will help you burn a significant amount of calories every day.

Keep an eye on what you put in your body

Treating yourself to foods that will make your body feel good shows that you value yourself. Eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, healthy grains, and good sources of protein also enables you to think more clearly, feel better, and sleep better. It also helps maintain the health of your immune system, which helps you fight infections and avoid getting sick.

Instead of following fad diets, you should focus on listening to your body and making sure that you’re covering what it needs. Steer clear of fast food and processed foods, and try keeping track of your eating habits. You’ll also want to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to stay hydrated.