New year’s fitness resolutions: how to create a plan and stick with your goals

WHEELING, W.Va. — Nearly 95% of new year’s resolutions are fitness related. But do people keep up with their goals?

Whether its hitting the gym a few more times a week or taking on a new exercise class, sometimes it’s difficult for people to stick with their resolutions throughout the year. Exercise Specialist Hannah Kemp at the WVU Medicine Howard Long Wellness Center recommends coming up with a plan.

“Going in with some steps that you need to take, to maybe get to a goal to get to that new year’s resolution,” she said. “So, definitely going in with a plan to attack that and making it something that’s attainable. Sometimes you get a little ambitious, and so chunk it if you need to, take smaller steps to reach that target that you want to hit.”

Kevin Creighton is a gym member that had a resolution last year to lose nearly 50 pounds. He reached that goal in December.

“You just can’t do things spiritually until you get yourself right physically, and that’s what I needed to do and I did it and I feel great,” Creighton said. “And I’m able to go out and meet people and talk to people and I smile more often now.”

Creighton comes to the wellness center five days a week and said the best way to get started is to just go do it.

“My recommendation is just to do it,” Creighton said. “I think that’s the first and the hardest thing you go to do. You’ve got to have the mentality to just go out there and do it. I went to the wellness center a couple of years ago and decided to come back.

“I would just recommend coming here, getting to know the people, let them show you around; they have a lot of safety things they’ll go over with you. They have some programs here.”

If you’re nervous starting your new year’s resolution alone, it’s always good to involve a friend.

“Sometimes doing things together with other people might make it a little easier to stick to it,” Kemp said. “We do have a lot of classes here, so sometimes doing it with another person is a lot easier to get out and do it.”