Taking Charge of the Fitness Journey: How to Find Motivation in 2024
Nov 30, 2023 09:30AM ● By Cristina Parker, DPT
AI-Miha Creativey/shutterstock.com
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions involves improving
health, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A great way to stay
motivated and fulfilled in 2024 is to combine a personal goal for better
health with the larger purpose of nourishing our planet and giving back
to the community.
Equipment and Gear
When
planning a fitness routine, consider the sustainability and carbon
footprint of the equipment and gear. “There are several greener
initiatives you can take, such as utilizing power-generating exercise
equipment or reducing paper and packaging waste through purchasing fewer
items,” advises Jamie Temple, a healthcare customer-success executive.
Many companies are utilizing recycled materials for fitness equipment,
such as the 100-percent recycled cork yoga mats by 42 Birds or Iron
Company’s line of green fitness equipment, including barbells, medicine
balls and weight storage systems made of recycled materials.
Purchase
exercise clothes from brands that offer clothing made with fair trade
and collection practices that include natural and recycled fabrics.
Karen Thomas, a doctor of physical therapy and founder of Venture Out Wellness,
in Virginia, observes, “Now more than ever in fashion, comfort is being
merged with sustainable, high-performance fabrics that offer you a
great opportunity to be kind to Planet Earth and your body
simultaneously.”
Winter Workouts
Getting
exercise outdoors may require more thought during the winter months.
According to the American Heart Association, colder weather constricts
the blood vessels, which can decrease blood flow and oxygen. Monitoring
symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness is
important during any exercise, but heightened for those exercising
outdoors in the cold.
Factors such as the weather, the
temperature, lack of daylight and chaotic holiday schedules can
interfere with the goal of creating a realistic, attainable outdoor
workout. Hiking, walking and cycling can still be performed outside in
dry conditions with the appropriate clothing, or indoors using an
elliptical, treadmill or recumbent bike.
Temple cautions the
need for safety when exercising outdoors in the winter, advising, “Avoid
icy roads and sidewalks; stretch or walk in place to warm up first;
protect your eyes and ears; and always wear non-slip shoes.”
Alternatively, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and ice skating can be
a fun way to take advantage of the winter and get moving while trying
something new.
Another consideration when exercising in weather extremes is staying hydrated. Cold weather studies at the University of New Hampshire show
an increased risk for dehydration because people don’t feel as thirsty
when the weather is cold. Thomas recommends going green while hydrating
by eliminating single-use water bottles in favor of a reusable, BPA-free
water bottle.
TheRoundup.org, an organization dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, reports, “Every year, 50 billion single-use water bottles are sold in the U.S., the vast majority of which either end up in landfills or add to the 5.25 trillion items of plastic waste already in our oceans.”
Virtual fitness classes offer a great way to stay
active on a cold, snowy day by combining the cozy convenience of in-home
exertion with the guidance of trained professionals. Online platforms,
such as YouTube, stream affordable and free sessions in a wide variety
of modalities, from low-intensity options like yoga to high-intensity
interval training. Some large health insurance companies collaborate
with fitness providers to facilitate accessibility. One example is
UnitedHealthcare, which offers Apple Fitness+ subscriptions to fully
insured members.
Community Support
Getting
involved in community initiatives is a wonderful way to seek out
support and motivation, connect with likeminded individuals and build a
health-conscious community. Stay active during the winter while giving
back. Many organizations host activities such as volunteering at the
local food bank or home meal delivery programs.
Thomas
suggests establishing a fitness community to motivate each other and to
find ways to reduce the group’s carbon footprint. To cut emissions, walk
together or use walking as a warmup and cool down to and from a
workout, take mass transit or carpool—with bonus points if the group has
access to a hybrid or electric vehicle.
We don’t have to be
among the 80 percent of Americans that fail to achieve their New Year’s
resolution. Feel well and feel good about achieving better health in the
new year.
Cristina Parker, a researcher, health content writer, educator and clinician specializing in neurologic disorders, limb-loss rehabilitation and adaptive sports techniques, holds a doctorate in physical therapy.