GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — If you’re looking to lose weight in the New Year, you aren’t alone.
Last year 45% of Americans who made New Years Resolutions resolved to lose weight, or get healthier. Most of those people fail, and they fail quickly.
“People go through these cycles of behavior change…those people who are truly not ready to make a change will probably drop off mid-to-end of February,” Marcia Sengstock from the West Green Bay YMCA told WTAQ. “The people that actually start to make those changes…it takes about three months or longer for a behavior change to become part of a person’s routine.”
But why? Sengstock says part of it is because they set unrealistic goals and expectations.
“People say: I’m going to go to the gym five days a week, and maybe for the first week, they do, but then they’re sore,” Sengstock said. “Start slow. If you’ve never really exercised before, maybe start with two days a week and then add a third day in.”
Another issue is the weather. Sengstock says early spring weather can foil even the most dedicated gym regimens.
“If we have a very nice spring weather wise…people in Wisconsin get excited when winter is over. They want to get outside,” said Sengstock. “That can also be a factor.”
The YMCA has health coaches on hand to help people make those goals and stick with their resolutions.
