Nathan Lemon always made resolutions to get healthy, but in 2009 he decided to take it seriously: He lost 100 pounds in six months and now owns F.I.T. Gyms in Lone Tree, Thornton, Littleton and Loveland.
"I had the time to go to the gym two times a day and stopped eating (unhealthy) food," Lemon said. "When I saw the results, it was easy to keep going. That was exciting."
The key is consistency, he said. "Until you really commit yourself to it, a resolution is only as good as the words you say."
Studies show living a healthier life has long been the most popular New Year's resolution.
Whether the resolution is working out more, losing weight, eating better or drinking more water, a research conducted by University of Scranton in October found that 38 percent of Americans want to lose weight and live healthier in 2017.
The difficult part is following through.
Lemon noted that people who participate in early morning fitness tend to stick with it more. His 5 a.m. classes are the most popular and the participants come to the gym more times a week on average.
During the evening, it's easier for someone to skip a workout if he gets out of work late, she wants to spend time with family or anything else gets in the way.
In the morning, "you get in the door, get your workout done and feel so much better throughout the day," Lemon said. "The morning people can't make excuses about a happy hour or a Bronco game --; they just have to get out of bed."
Lemon laughs at the excuses he hears now that he owns his own CrossFit gyms, whose members include individuals who are obese, pregnant or missing limbs.
"I think people can get intimidated, thinking they can't make it through the workout," Lemon said. "The workouts can be scaled or modified for anybody in any CrossFit gym. Anyone can do it --; they just have to want to do it."
According to the University of Scranton study, 75 percent of people maintain their resolutions through the first week of making them. The number of people working to achieve their resolutions continues to decrease as the year goes on.
"I think a big part of backing away from a resolution is that it really is hard to stick to a routine and dedicate the time," said Kelsey Whisler, fitness manager at South Suburban Parks and Recreation. "They may get disappointed that they may not be able to accomplish what they set out to do, so they give up altogether."
Whisler encourages people to set realistic goals. If someone's goal is to run a marathon, he or she should start training for a 5k race first.
Whisler said her resolutions have always been small. For 2016, she vowed to drink more water.
"It is always easier said than done," Whisler said. "Go back to taking the small steps. Don't think too big to start. Small changes will lead to a big difference."
Taking advantage of trainers, being led through group fitness and learning how to use equipment are great starting points for healthy goal achievement, Whisler noted.
The most popular classes at South Suburban recreation centers are Zumba, BodyPump and yoga, Whisler said.
Lemon is a fan of all fitness. Getting out and moving in a way that interests an individual will make a huge difference in how likely he or she is to achieve their goals.
"Any fitness is good fitness," Lemon said. "There are classes like Pilates, yoga and Zumba, but you won't find me there because they don't interest me. Also, I have no rhythm. But people should try new things to get the momentum going."
It is important to remember that improved fitness is a gradual process.
"Most people who come to the gyms aren't looking to be fitness models or John Elway," Lemon said. "They are trying to be the best versions of themselves. We should support those kinds of people."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/New-Year-new-lifestyle,240539
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