It’s the Christmas season and the world’s great cities are abuzz with shoppers, revellers, decorations and illuminations. Most of us are now preoccupied with either enjoying the festivities or at least preparing for them. Surely exercise is the last priority, if at all. But for a few so-called die-hard fitness obsessives, it’s a not a department store that is the main high street destination, but a gym. For me, in London, this could not be more true. I have to admit when I negotiate the daunting succession of shoppers on London’s Oxford Street, I am actually heading, in blinker-vision, to the Mayfair gym where I train. Popping into a shop filled with columns of customers is the last thing on my mind. I may be a minority, but I am certainly not alone.
Whatever time of day or whatever the day, the gym still has members lifting, pulling and puffing. But surely as the big day approaches the numbers of gym goers declines as shoppers critically crescendos? This may be the case, but, for some of us, training is so entrenched into our daily routines, that we don’t even think about going. It’s just not an issue. I am so accustomed to training that to me it’s like brushing my teeth. I just do it, I don’t need to motivate myself, even force myself. I just go! But how many of us just go to the gym? Many do go, but under heavy duress, voicing much protestation. Then there’s many who don’t even go, citing time and family as issues. The only issue here a displaced phobia of exercise. Exercise is not your enemy! Its a powerful ally. But I am not here to write the virtues of fitness. No, I am here to tell you not to sit around over Christmas getting fat and disfigured, but to make time, even if its just a few minutes in your day, to focus on yourself and get into shape. And there is no time like the present; do it now, not in the New Year!
So as Christmas day approaches, most of us may relax over the festive season, resolved to begin the new year with a new fitness routine. I say no. I want to be fit and in great shape for the new year, not frantically repairing the damage from the previous year! There is nothing more I hate than disingenuous new year resolutions. When people in January approach me with their non credible intentions for fitness, I want to ask them why they waited so long. Why did they wait until the New Year? Why didn’t they simply seize the moment and just do it? I may sound like a fitness fascist, but I am just passionate about being in good health.
There is a global obesity crisis looming, heralded by diseases such as diabetes. Surely each of us has an obligation to ourselves and our families to be healthy. When you are healthy, you also look great. That is not a bad trade-off! In upcoming articles I will give advice. I will outline the most effective ways of training, and dispel some of the many fallacies of fitness. I will discuss proven anti-ageing methods, since they are integral with health and fitness. Christmas may be approaching, but that is no excuse. With my articles, you can be fighting fit – even over the festive season.
Darren Cheers is a fitness and pilates instructor based in London with over 14 years experience. His articles will cover health, fitness, and anti-ageing.
