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January 1, 2008

Center can help make those New Year’s Resolutions happen

With every new year comes new self-improvement lists and promises. Lose 10 pounds. Get organized. Quit smoking.

The reason most resolutions wind up back on a person’s New Year’s list year after year is because they try to make changes alone, said Scotty Setser, director of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center.

It helps to have support from family, friends and even co-workers, he said.

“As the New Year begins, a lot of people begin the year trying to lose the holiday weight gain and to try to get back on track as far as living a healthier lifestyle. We see on average about 200 new members this time of year,” Setser said. “We see a lot of new faces and we see a lot of people that have been members before that are trying to get back into the routine.”

Health & Fitness Center employees say they look forward to the challenge of helping those people, as well as the faithful members, meet their goals.

“Most of the people we see on the fitness floor want to lose pounds or tone up before the spring and summer time arrive,” said Kristin Aaron, fitness Coordinator for Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center. “Our fitness assessment program gives that member a chance to see where they are currently at and what they would like to achieve.

“We give a member a chance to meet with one of our exercise physiologists or exercise specialists to make sure we get them on the right track for the new year. Some new members want a personal trainer because it gives them that extra push they need to keep their fitness routine going,” Aaron said.

“Trainers love this time of year because the motivation to work out is already there,” said Jodie Wood, a personal trainer for Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center. “One of the hardest parts of training is keeping the client motivated throughout each workout.”

Setser said facility utilization does increase this time of year. In a normal week, the facility will see on average around 850 people per day.

“This number does not include patients in cardiac rehab or physical therapy,” he said. In January, February and March, the facility utilization will increase to around 1,000 people per day.

“Our goal is to get the new members to make fitness a habit,” Setser said. “Once working out becomes a habit, the person is more likely to stick with an exercise program.”

Get prepared to achieve any resolutions you have made for this year with a success-oriented plan. If you just can’t seem to get motivated, the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center is offering a session called “Resolutions to Reality,” 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Feb. 21.

The top 10 resolutions people typically make are:
1. Spend more time with family and friends. You can do that at the fitness center. Car pool and work out or take a class.
2. Exercise more. The fitness center has all the equipment you need in a controlled environment, as well as several classes that focus on specific needs. Try boot camp, yoga, pilates, sweatshop or Zumba (swing your hips to Latin music for a fat burning and total body toning workout).
3. Lose weight. In addition to using the fitness center to become more physically fit, you can drop those extra pounds with a structured exercise program and a healthy diet. A health educator offers weekly meetings, called Real Life Weight Management, at the fitness center which focus on meal planning and support. The first session of the year will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14. There is also a Lose 10 Pounds by Summer class beginning March 12 if you haven’t lost the extra pounds by then.
4. Quit smoking. American Lung Association certified instructors facilitate a seven-week series called Freedom from Smoking. The class begins at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14. The cost is $25.
5. Enjoy life more. Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of most people, it is no wonder that enjoying life more has become a popular resolution. The fitness center offers a six-lane 25-yard indoor heated pool and warm water therapy pool, an indoor track, a gymnasium and climbing wall, two racquetball courts, a steam room and sauna.
6. Quit drinking. More exercise and stress management sessions could even help accomplish that resolution. While stress is unavoidable, there are ways to manage our reaction to it and reduce our anxiety. Join Betsy Wall, trained in techniques developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thich Nhat Hanh, in the “Mindfulness based Stress Reduction” class from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21.
7. Get out of debt. You’re going to have to seek help from a financial advisor on that one. However, attorney Jeff Norris is offering a class on living wills and estate planning from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.
8. Learn something new. The fitness center offers several classes throughout the year that focus on healthy lifestyles. One upcoming class is “Yummy Veggie — You Betcha,” which teaches how to cook with tofu. That class will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
9. Help others. Group sessions at the fitness center allow members and guests to interact and provide support and motivation.
10. Get organized. You’re on your own with that one too. However, after an invigorating workout at the fitness center, you may have so much energy you will clean up your house and do some of those tasks, like organizing your closet or your filing cabinet.

Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center offers a variety of health, mind and body classes to fit into almost everyone’s schedule. The fitness center is open from 5:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The center’s hours on Friday are 5:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Weekend hours are 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about the fitness center, to join the center or to register for any of the classes, call 452-8080.