I'm sorry, were you saying something?

Okay, the new-calendar smell has finally cleared, and, from the sound of things in our Forums, folks are still rocking it as far as keeping their momentum going.  Whether you’re a resolution maker or not, if you make use of shared workout facilities, you’ve probably noticed the fresh crowds of strangers that have swarmed in, swathed in good intentions (and, in some cases, way too much perfume or cologne).

“Resolutionists” or “Resolutionaries” are apparently the bane of the long-time gym rat (and, boy, there is no shortage of ire directed at the former by the latter).  It’s too bad, really, because running into that kind of attitude when you’re just starting out and trying to do something good for yourself is a hell of a turn-off. Beginning or reinstating a fitness routine, whether it’s strength training, weight loss, or something in between, is something to be encouraged. To listen to some of these folks, though, it’s like the September That Never Ended, every January.

So, what can you do to keep yourself from getting discouraged, other than a healthy dose of operor retineo non forensis liberi attero vos (which most of y’all will probably recognize more readily as illegitemi non carborundum)?

• Keep a log. Yep, this is the same log that you’re using to track your workouts (and maybe your food, if you’re doing so). Why does this work? Because you can see your progress at a glance. Knowing you’re getting somewhere certainly helps us keep on keeping on.
• Have a workout buddy. Not precisely the “strength in numbers” approach, but having a friendly face and kindred spirit, not to mention someone to just partner with, lessens the BS factor quite a bit. Plus, you can snark amongst yourselves.
• Tune in and tune out. Nothing works better for ignoring criticism than not hearing it. MP3 players might be the best thing to happen to gym users since the invention of the sweatshirt.
• Mix it up. Nobody says you need to put up with that kind of attitude, especially if you have alternative ways of getting your move on. Something like replacing treadmill time with walking or running out in the Big Blue Room, for instance.

If you do get a dose of BS from anyone who looks at what you’re doing with a sneer, remember:

Wimpiness has nothing to do with strength. Wimpiness is being afraid to touch the weight, not a modest number in a logbook.

Related posts:

1. Higher levels bring potential character issues
2. Sticking Points
3. It’s April, fools!