This year was a write-off for everyone, with Melbourne going into lockdown through the coronavirus periods of Autumn, Winter and Spring. Training halted, gyms closed down and all good intentions of keeping in shape went out the window. At least for most of you.
In November we’re back in the dojo and we see everyone’s fitness returning. The Christmas break is not far away, and then what? Training takes a holiday and you ride the rollercoaster of good intentions without the result you want! How do we prepare for a great 2021?
John Ross Shihan says, “New Year’s resolutions are notoriously prone to failure. Every year, so many of us set goals for ourselves with great intention, only to find them unfulfilled when the end of December rolls around. For whatever reason, the fiery motivation and enthusiasm felt in January wanes and we fall off the wagon.”
“Many resolutions have something to do with fitness, health and physical improvement. This is abundantly clear by the wave of new people flooding the gyms each January and the endless television commercials pushing the latest piece of fitness equipment promising that with their product, your body transformation will be a piece of cake.”
The problem with many New Year’s resolutions, especially those around fitness, is that people set goals that aren’t specific enough, not sustainable or based on unrealistic expectations.
We are going to breakdown some more common fallacies regarding fitness goals that will hopefully set you on the right path to sticking to your fitness resolution for this and next year!
Baby Steps Are Okay
So, you are all geared up to charge headfirst into a year full of quality workouts, clean eating and endless workout selfies on social media. You bought new runners and maybe even picked up some sleek new headphones.
There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but let’s hit pause for a second and talk about your plan for structuring your new workout and diet routine. Often, the enormous amount of motivation felt when starting a fitness routine leads to attempting drastic changes to an individual’s lifestyle.
Lambros Kallianiotis Sensei says, “People try things like being determined to go the gym seven days per week or immediately cut out every bite of junk food from their diet. The problem with this mentality is that it is not sustainable. Any kind of change is hard; therefore, it is important that you ease into the process. Start small with your plan and go from there. For instance, make it a point to workout 2-3 times per week, only give in to that pizza or kebab on the weekends, etc.
Enjoyment Promotes Consistency
“The biggest determining factor of your success in any goal you set for yourself, especially regarding fitness, is consistency. Without it, the workout routine you choose, and diet plan you follow don’t mean a thing. In our day we trained consistently, never missing classes and not making excuses from week to week, ” says Lambros Kallianiotis Sensei.
That being said, your fitness journey needs to be one that you enjoy. Human nature is inherently prone to avoiding unpleasant experiences and seeking enjoyment.
Going to the gym, dojo training and eating healthy can’t be a miserable endeavor, or you won’t be consistent. Having fun while being disciplined and working hard can undoubtedly happen simultaneously! And dojo training is always fun, isn’t it?
Fitness Requires Playing The Long Game
The media makes it seem like physical transformations should be an expedited process, and that noticeable results can be an overnight process. This notion is far from the truth. Buying into these ideas will only leave you discouraged and burnt out in a short amount of time. It is crucial that you understand that transforming your body can be an enjoyable, fulfilling process, but it takes a lot of time and effort!
The people you see on magazine covers and infomercials didn’t get their physique by knocking out a few sets on whatever product they are pushing “15 minutes per day, twice a week, ” says John Ross Shihan.
“Having a sound understanding of the investment required to achieve your fitness goals is a must if you plan on sticking with your resolution and avoiding the disappointment of not seeing the results you are looking for overnight.”
2021 Classes at IGK Victoria
We’ve got some surprises in store in 2021 with expanded daytime hours for training, different fitness classes focusing on more varied needs. Women’s self-defence, body combat type training and fitting in with different lifestyles that can’t always get to the dojo in the evenings. “Karate is a disciplined endeavour, but it’s not for everyone, ” says John Ross Shihan. “Let’s ensure we can still offer something for everyone and help them attain their fitness goals, even if it’s not along traditional lines.”