New Year’s Fitness Goals? Press RESET First!
Jan 06, 2019
And now, a guest article from OS Coach and famous author of Original Strength for the Tactical Athlete, Chad Faulkner...
As we’re now in a new year and people have made their “new year, new you” resolutions, I’d like to you to consider a more methodical approach if your goal involves fitness. It’s no secret that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past February and gym memberships will go largely unused. Treadmills and other exercise implements will be bought and become clothes hangers by summer.
If your goal involves fitness and you haven’t exercised in some time, I’d like you to consider taking a slower and more methodical approach. Lots of people will buy the latest workout DVD or jump right into workouts that their body really isn’t ready for. If you haven’t moved or exercised in a while then workouts are going to bring some discomfort and possibly pain, which will increase the likelihood that you won’t continue the program.
The more methodical approach I’m speaking of starts by looking at our movement foundation. Of course, the program I recommend above all others is Original Strength “Pressing RESET”. You can learn more about Pressing RESET from searching the articles and videos on this site, or by reading the books offered here. Anyway, the bottom line is that this system, while it is a workout in itself, is really a movement system that will get your reflexive strength woken back up and get your joints oiled up for what’s to come. What is to come? Life and living it!
Yes, you can take the Original Strength System and progress it to more challenging workouts, but the goal, in the beginning, should be to get you moving and get your body readjusted to "exercising." Failing to address foundational movement after a long hiatus from exercise can lead to injuries that could either cost you lots of money or even cost you your health long-term. It's strange how sometimes the things that are supposed to be good for us can actually be not good at times, right?
So how do we engage in something good for us while ensuring that it is indeed good for us? Or, how do we exercise, restore our health, and keep it without falling off the wagon and waiting for the next new year? The key to surviving the resolution slump well into the new year is to start slow while being methodical and deliberate about building habits. Starting slow and showing up every day - that's how you build habits that last. Going too deep too soon and too fast is how you burn out. A little movement can go a long way. A little movement done every day can really add up and allow you to live the life you want to live.
Another thing you can do while seeking to build deliberate habits is to remove your barriers. For example, I overheard someone talking in my local supplement shop about wanting to build their morning workout habits despite having a hard time getting up early. So, I chimed in with the advice of planning on being deliberate. The way I combat the “morning sleepies” is to have my workout clothes laid out and my workout plan in place. That way there’s no thinking about it. I just get up, get dressed and get after it. The point is, be deliberate and set yourself up for success by removing your known obstacles. Something as simple as laying out a pair of socks the night before can start your morning right. I know it seems silly but the little things to add up.
However you decide to tackle fitness in the new year, start it out right so you can set yourself up for success. Don't be the normal New Years statistic, actually reach and realize your goals. And let's be honest, every New Years Resolution ever made points to the same thing: We want more out of life. We want to feel good, do good things, and be happy. The reason we want those things is because we were made for them. The good news is, we can have them. We can be and remain resolute on having them too. Remember this statement I heard from Eric Thomas, “small steps, great distances”.
Remember this statement I heard from Eric Thomas, “small steps, great distances”.Happy New Year and God Bless.
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