It’s safe to say that ‘getting fit’ is the most common New Year’s resolution people set themselves on the first of January. But how many people actually follow through with this, and why are people finding it so hard to stick to their goals?
Andy Ball works as a personal trainer at Cheltenham Leisure Centre, and he believes he has found the key to maintaining healthy relationships with the gym, and achieving those new year goals.
“Trust is the most important thing. Building trust with members, showing how they can progress and giving them new skills to develop is a key way to keep people invested.
“If people are invested in their health, they’ve already made the first step of joining the gym. It’s just about keeping them on that journey.”
Ball has been a personal trainer for multiple years and every year encounters the same issue of clients who are unhappy with the New Year support. At such a crucial time, it’s where it matters to them most.
“I’ve had many clients come to me from trainers at other gyms because they’ve signed up for a 12 week program, paid the money, and find that their PT’s just leave them to it after the first 2 weeks.
“You need to keep things fresh. When you know someone’s getting close to their goals, it’s all about encouraging them to set new goals to see what else they can achieve.”
However, whilst practical concerns like busy schedules or work might make exercising challenging for most of us, the biggest barriers are actually mental. Maybe a lack of self confidence or motivation keeps us from taking that first step into the gym.
“Certainly in the last few years, a lot of people have started coming to the gym, not just for their physical health, but their mental health as well.
“Identifying those people that have that desire and being able to encourage and give them that support to keep helping them along that journey.”
Ball feels passionate about helping clients achieve their goals, and believes that no one should have any barriers to accessing the gym.
“People realise it’s really hard. People come straight into the gym and feel the soreness a couple of days after, and that really puts people off.
“One thing I really try to do is encourage people and explain that, ‘yeah you might feel like you’re going to have a heart attack tomorrow, but you’re not’. It’s completely okay and we’re here to keep building their confidence up.”
Personal trainers want everyone to feel like the gym is an inclusive place. Everyone should be able to fulfil their New Years goals, and Ball certainly believes that it’s possible.
“If you think you want to do it, just do it. Nobody’s there to judge you. Trust me, the free weights session can look really scary when you have six foot body builders doing 50 kilo weights, but they want you to succeed just as much as you do.
“I think people need to take the mindset that they’re going to go to the gym, and be better than they were yesterday. That’s probably the best advice I could give.”
