Victoria Ronan
Equinox Staff
A new year, a new beginning. That is the way many people approach a new year, and 2013 isn’t any different.
At Keene State College, many students have been making New Year’s resolutions.
According to Forbes Magazine writer Melanie Haiken, there are five common resolutions Americans forget to complete as quickly as they vowed to make them.
These including dieting, smoking, weight loss, exercise and odd habits like biting nails and twirling hair.
Some of those resolutions include working out and getting in shape. The Disease Control and Prevention site reported in the year 2010, 69 percent American smokers said they wanted to quit, and 52 percent successfully attempted the process. For KSC students, getting in shape has been number one on the resolution agenda.
KSC student and Bodyworks staff member, Ken Sikes, said students have good intentions with their resolutions, but most students do not stick to them.
He said people start giving up around mid-February.
“People expect things to happen quickly but changing your body takes time,” Sikes said. Fellow KSC student and Bodyworks staff member Jamie Fralik said students give up for a lot of different reasons.
“Some people stop coming to the gym because it gets cold and they just don’t want to go,” Fralik explained.
According to Sikes, students tend to set unrealistic goals for themselves and this causes them to give up quickly.
Fralik said students that hire personal trainers or have a workout buddy are more likely to keep their resolution than someone trying to accomplish their goals on their own. Fralik said, “They are expected to be there because they have to meet their trainer.”
Sikes agreed that having a personal trainer gives people the incentive they need to get to the gym. “It’s good to have a support system.”
The Bodyworks staff member advised students to train in small groups if they do not feel confident on their own because friends can hold each other accountable for going to the gym. Even though the gym starts clearing out as the date gets further away from Jan. 1 some students actually do stick to their New Year’s resolutions.
KSC senior Emma McHugh hired a personal trainer this semester to make sure she kept her New Year’s resolution.
“My goal is to run a 5K in the spring and I knew I needed someone other than myself to motivate me to go,” she explained. McHugh said she wouldn’t have stuck to her resolution this long without the help of her trainer.
KSC student Chelsea Bachand goes to the gym regularly and said she believes students need more than a New Year’s resolution to really change.
“It depends on their drive and motivation,” the senior said.
Bachand does believe New Year’s resolutions are a good idea though.
“New Year’s resolutions are always positive and it’s always a good idea for people to get in shape, but people need to put their idea into practice.”
She said everyone wants to feel good about themselves and there is always room for change if you’re willing to put in the work.
According to Sikes, if students just stuck to their goals, their habits would slowly change and going to the gym would become part of their routine.
Fralik said she believes the reasons students make these resolutions are to be healthier and improve themselves.
“People want to improve themselves, but they don’t know how to do it correctly.”
She said hiring a personal trainer is one way to overcome that obstacle.
However, it isn’t the only way to do that.
KSC has many resources students can utilize to achieve their New Year’s resolution.
According to Sikes, if a student is going to make a New Year’s resolution to be healthier they need to have a healthy diet. Any student has the option of hiring a dietitian just like they have the option of hiring a personal trainer.
“They will work with you to build a nutrition plan, and even go grocery shopping with you if you want,” Sikes explained.
Sikes said he wishes more people knew about these resources.
“It’s a great deal compared to other places.”
Sikes said it only costs $40 per semester to hire a trainer.
Victoria Ronan can be contacted at
vronan@keene-equinox.com