Resolve for Results: 10 Tips From Equinox Fitness Club to Help You Keep Your Resolutions in ’06

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ — For over a decade, Equinox Fitness Clubs have been known for getting people into ultimate shape. National Director of Group Fitness and Exercise Physiologist Carol Espel offers tips and advice to get even a couch potato started on a fitness routine in 2006.

“The most successful results occur when our goals are gently incorporated into our existing lives,” says Espel. “The challenging piece should come in later, once new behavior patterns have been established. In other words, just get off the couch and do something, at least 2-3 times a week initially for whatever length and intensity you can reasonably manage. Most people do too much too soon and wind up too sore, injured, or discouraged, and are back at square one before they’ve left the starting block.”

   10 TIPS FROM CAROL ESPEL    1.  Create your own contract. Write a contract to yourself with your       resolutions and all the reasons why you want to keep them, and then       sign it!  By signing the contract your have committed to yourself that       you are going to stick to your Resolutions.    2.  Make small, attainable goals.  If weight loss is your goal then       consider starting out with 20 minutes of cardiovascular activity 2-3       times a week, then slowly increase your time to 30 minutes each       session. You will begin to see and feel a difference in a few short       weeks!    3.  Hire a certified personal trainer. Having a trainer will keep you on       track and give you the motivation and direction you need to obtain       your goals.    4.  Clear your shelves and fridge! Throw out all of the junk food in your       house, if it isn’t in the house you won’t be able to eat it when you       feel the urge. Replace old snack foods with new ones like cut veggies       and fresh fruit.    5.  Stay off the scale. Use the way your clothes fit to judge your       progress, not the bathroom scale.  Muscle is denser than fat. You may       be losing inches without significant weight loss.    6.  Chose an activity that you really enjoy doing.  Participating in       activities that you enjoy such as walking, riding a bike or going to       group exercise classes will not only keep you motivated, but, by       mixing them up, will keep boredom from setting in.    7.  Make it part of your day.  Schedule exercise as if it were lunch.  No       one likes skipping meals right? Then don’t skip your exercise       appointment.    8.  Motivate yourself by listening to music while you exercise. Putting on       your favorite music while you exercise will lift your spirits and put       some pep in your step.    9.  Exercise with a friend.  Having someone that needs you to motivate       them as you much as you need motivation helps you both stay on track.    10. Reward yourself.  Once you achieve a short-term goal, do something       nice for yourself … perhaps buy a new piece of clothing that makes       you feel great.   

Enjoy the process and arrive at your goals in a timely manner. As your lifestyle changes, your activity and strength will naturally increase and results will come in an easeful and enjoyable progression.

Equinox Fitness Club

CONTACT: Judy Taylor, or Jason Frye, both for Equinox Fitness Club,+1-212-677-0180

Web site: http://www.equinoxfitness.com/