The Weight is Over

Ahh, the holidays. A time to indulge with family and friends as we close another chapter of our lives with the promise of a new start. The promise that this coming year will be different. This is the year you’re finally going to lose that weight, get fit, and hold onto that slippery New Year’s resolution once and for all. In the meantime, have another slice of pie. What’s it going to hurt?

Step forward with me as we look ahead to the first week of January. Armed with a new towel, matching water bottle and a squeaky pair of athletic shoes, you’re ready to finally see your New Year’s resolutions all the way to the finish line. Good luck! You’re going to need it. Studies show a large number of Americans dump their well-intentioned plans well before Valentine’s Day.

You however, are determined not be in that statistic. You hop in your car, wind through traffic and after several minutes of circling the parking lot, you see the bright lights of your new temple in the distance. Complete with balloons. You navigate your way through the mob and – your weekly bootcamp class is more crowded than a prime rib station at a Vegas buffet.

Next week, you think to yourself. I’ll just come a half hour earlier.

Next week comes and you’re all set. Your clothes are in the trunk and you have a full tank of gas. The adrenaline is already pumping through your veins as you walk toward the elevator. Until your boss asks you to stay an extra hour to finish a task he needs done right away.

And so it begins. Life’s little hurdles getting in the way. From picking the kids up at school to last minute groceries, the only real loss you’re seeing is in your bank balance as that long term contract hangs around your neck like dead weight. Anger turns to frustration leading to doubt, until eventually, you just give up altogether. Oh well. At least you tried.

False Start​

That one small consolation may be exactly why it's so easy to quit. The steps we take to prepare for our goals are too complicated. Our feeling of accomplishment is reached long before we set foot in a gym. By the time we enter the new year, we’ve researched our options, chosen our plans, signed pricey contracts and bought new gear. We haven’t dropped a bead of sweat, but we got stuff done. It’s the fitness equivalent of checking our emails and rearranging our desk to avoid the work that lies ahead.

The result? Another year of guilt and unfulfilled aspirations.

There is Hope

The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. You can accomplish your fitness goals free of charge, at your own convenience with the flexibility of exercising wherever you want. The Nike Training App is a full gym membership that fits in your pocket. Download it to your phone, sign in and go.

You can choose from a set of pre-set workout plans to match your goals, or simply click on any workout and start right away with your virtual coach guiding you and encouraging you from start to finish. The regimens range from five to forty five minutes in length, allowing you to fit in a workout any time of day or night. Many routines require no equipment, so there’s no added expense and no extra room needed.

Like most addictive apps, this one offers virtual rewards, including banners celebrating your milestones and a way to see all your completed workouts month-by-month. In other words, your motivation goes with you wherever you go.

No lines, no inflexible contracts and most importantly, no guilt. Ready to leave your old self in the rear view mirror and join the minority who reach their goals?

Download the app. Other than a few unwanted pounds, what have you got to lose?

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Client Brief: A health and fitness publication in need of a 500-1,000 word article or blog post offering men and women an alternative to the typical weight loss and fitness options people seek to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions.

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