Tis the season!
Yes it is certainly the season for holiday celebrations, overeating, and family gatherings. But it is also the season to plan for the next season - New year's resolutions!
"So...what kind of exercise routine can you see yourself doing next year?"
I find that it helps if I put a seed in the patient's head. So that when the new year comes, they will already have a plan, and only need to execute. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!
I don't expect everyone will do it. But I can attest that my patients that do exercise regularly have lesser pain overall once they get into a regular routine.
I also don't expect that everyone will have access to a gym or health club. But maybe that's not necessary. Some people love the outdoors in winter. Maybe cross country skiing? Winter bicycling? Snow shoeing? If you don't like the cold, there are still indoor malls you can walk. Most folks below the age of 60 should have loftier goals than just walking, but it can be a good part of a combination of exercises. And starting with something small is way better than nothing at all.
Home gyms, treadmills, and spin bikes can all help to reduce the time needed to travel to a gym. But joining a new gym or health club really is the best way to get maximum variety if finances are not restrictive.
There is also no shortage of exercise videos online. Some are by subscription only, but there are plenty of good free ones. I even posted some of my own on our Youtube page.
Lastly, the latest technological gadgets that monitor your steps, heart rate, etc., are really good at tracking progress. But truthfully they are often unnecessary. Don't put off exercise because you don't have one, or tell yourself you can't start because the store ran out of Fitbits. People have been exercising for a long time before these fitness devices became available. Who knows? If you have been good this year, maybe Santa will bring you one.
