What NOT to do in January if you actually want to improve your health and fitness

Here are 3 common things I see people do every January believing that by doing it they will become fitter and stronger

• Buy expensive home fitness equipment = quicker results – WRONG

 Just by parting with your hard-earned cash does not equal you magically becoming stronger and more flexible. I was recently told of someone who just spent £1700 on a new piece of home fitness equipment. My heart sinks when I hear this, because I know they’ve spent money believing that this is the answer they’ve been looking for. That by having this piece of equipment means they will automatically get fit.

Joseph Pilates said himself that ‘physical fitness can neither be acquired by wishful thinking or outright purchase’.

They could work with me 1 to 1 for 6 months for that amount of money or be a member of CORE, with a more personal approach, live teaching and feedback for over 6 years or even be a VIP member of CORE with 1 to 1 support for over 4 years for that cost. I know that what I offer will get you results that will last you a lifetime, not just for January. Pilates makes a significant difference to your strength and flexibility without the need for any equipment. You can, of course, add in equipment and Pilates himself used larger pieces of equipment. But it is not essential or necessary in order to improve your fitness and it certainly will not get you there quicker.

• More choice of workouts = quicker results – WRONG.

How many adverts have you seen recently for online fitness apps selling you a platform that has a library of 100s of workouts for you to choose from? Don’t be fooled into thinking that an online library with masses of workouts means you will get results quicker because you’ll have more workouts. You can have all the workouts in the world but if you don’t make time to do them consistently then it won’t have any significant impact on your health and fitness. You can waste your precious time and energy deciding which workouts to do and can still be left wondering if it’s the best workout for you, will it get you the results you’re after.

• Sign up to a gym membership or online fitness membership = quicker results – WRONG

January normally brings new year’s resolutions that are unsustainable and by February they have been forgotten about. You start with good intentions, sign up for a fitness membership, promise yourself you are going to stick with your new routine this year but without anyone holding you accountable, helping you establish new habits, keeping you focused and positive, giving you feedback and adapting exercises to your needs, you will easily lose motivation, discipline, become frustrated with the lack of progress you are seeing. It’s harder and slower trying to do it by yourself.

The point is that it doesn’t matter how much you spend on equipment, how much equipment you have, how many online workouts you can access – at some point you will have a question, you will plateau, you will stop, become frustrated at the lack of progress, feel it’s not working.

You WILL ONLY get results and make progress if you actually DO some exercise…consistently.

BUT the exercise must be consistent over the long term, work your body in a balanced and effective way, such as Pilates does, be flexible and easily fit into your busy lifestyle. You must have a positive mindset, powerful habits and have someone who wants to help you, really wants to help you, someone who will answer your questions, give you a nudge when you need one, modify exercises to meet your specific needs, challenge you, focus you, support you and be with you every step of the way along your fitness journey. Isn’t that more valuable to have?

That’s worth at least 3 or 4 times the £1700 for a piece of fitness equipment that will sit in the spare room or garage gathering dust after a few months. That’s worth all the struggles of trying to do it on your own and getting frustrated. Having someone who has got your back, in more ways than one with Pilates!, is worth every penny.

And you can get started with me for FREE… come and join me for my Reset: Recharge: Rediscover your Best Self Pilates and Self Care 7 day Experience.

Click here to join me and prove to yourself how much you value your health and fitness. It’s not just a token gesture, a nod to your health and fitness, but that you are committed and value your health and fitness.

If you are interested in CORE, my online Pilates membership with a difference – that is not a library of workouts and you’re not left to find your own way – then please put your name on the waitlist by clicking here.