It’s that time of year again!  Time to go back to the gym after 11 months of not going, time to get your work out on, determined to finally get into the shape you desire.  Time again to hurt yourself at the gym by doing less than perfect technique.  Time again to try the new fad in the diet world that will leave you starving, eating suspect food, and eventually giving up and gorging yourself leading to even more weight gain than when you started.  Time again to try that new diet pill that promises to incinerate belly fat without any change to your diet or lifestyle, only to leave you lighter due to the money lost on pills that do nothing, or worse, leaving you in the hospital with serious health issues.  Yup, it’s that time again to spend a month attempting to fix a year’s worth of bad decisions only to be knocked back down by what seems to be a daunting, impossible task.

Following the theme of asking for help and understanding we can’t succeed without a little help from our friends (or professionals), I propose this year you seek out help.  I see it every year at the gym, a huge influx in members, only to see that influx vanish within a month.  While there are multiple reasons as to why people drop off, one common thread I see among most all, is the lack of seeking out help and guidance from professionals.  Going at it alone when you lack the knowledge, or worse yet, have misinformation, is disastrous.

A professional can teach you proper technique, give you a proper and realistic diet, provide motivation and set you up for the long term.  Plus, if you don’t show up to the gym for an appointment, guess who is the first one to know and call you?  Yes, professionals cost money, but they are well worth it.  They are the difference between suffering for a month and giving up, and easing into a lifetime of fitness and better health.  If finances are truly a problem, know that you don’t have to hire a professional for every workout.  Most people hire them just to get started, or only on occasion when it’s needed.  Can only afford one session?  No worries, just make sure you come prepared with both questions and a way to take notes on what they teach you.

Beyond professionals, find a friend to workout with!  The clients I’ve had the most success with have had friends to go to the gym with when they weren’t with me.  Time goes by quicker, the workout is safer, and you tend to have more energy and motivation when working out with a friend or going through a diet plan together.

Make this year successful, ask for help.