Variety is the key to losing weight

Jan 2 2008 by Rin Simpson, Western Mail

AFTER a gluttonous Christmas and New Year, thousands of people were waking up across Wales yesterday with a resolution to have a healthy 2008.

But, while many will sign up for a gym membership to kick start their new year healthy living, experts have warned against it as a shortcut to a new lifestyle.

Indeed, forking out anything from £35 to £80 a month on gym membership could be a waste of money, experts say.

In fact, dealing with motivational issues, finding activities you enjoy and keeping your exercise regime varied is more important than being a leisure club member.

Chrissie Webber, a weight management coach from Newport, said, “About 70% of people will drop out of the gym within three months and it takes nine months of sticking at something to change our habitual patterns. Most people don’t like gyms, they go because they think they have to but they’re actually not enjoying themselves.

“After the excesses of Christmas, for most of us it’s the guilt that kicks in and the desire to lose weight. I used to go to gyms because I felt I needed the exercise and where else would I get it?

“And I dropped out because going was a painful exercise, I didn’t enjoy it.

“There are some people that love the gym, a friend of mine goes three or four times a week regularly and wouldn’t miss it. But we don’t have to use the gym, we can do dancing, walking or housework to increase our physical activity.

“It’s changing our mindset and finding something we enjoy. Be what I call a butterfly – try lots of things and have different way of increasing your activity, don’t put it all in one parcel, like the gym.”

Chrissie, who lost five stone over a two-year period, added, “There are some keys to help us stay motivated. First of all support – being with somebody else.

“And finding something that you really enjoy, that motivates you and lifts your spirits. And thirdly, finding something that you have done in your childhood that you go back to and re-engage with.”

Personal trainer Jason Korinek, owner of JJ Fitness and Wellbeing in Penarth, said, “Most of the clients who come on board with us are disillusioned with gyms for a number of reasons.

“The main thing when they go to the gym is that they’re given the same programme whether they’re a 19-year-old female or a 65-year-old male.

“They do it three times a week for the first four weeks and they just get bored.

“From my experience I don’t see enough gym instructors going round offering them a new programme, so there’s just no variety there and there’s nothing that’s results driven. I think more gyms should be offering the health and nutrition side of things because, unless people see a result, unless they see improvement, they lose interest very quickly.”

Going to the gym can be expensive too, he added.

“The ones in Cardiff range from about £35 a month all the way up to £80 a month,” he said.

“I know a couple of people that paid for an annual membership where they paid £600 and have actually gone about a dozen times in the year, so the cost is about £50 a session. You don’t need to go to the gym, there’s no necessity. For example, we’ve designed a home fitness book where it’s got 250 exercises in it that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Why go to the gym when you can do it at home?”