LEXINGTON, Ky. — While it's a common New Year's resolution, it's a hard one to keep for some: getting fit and going to the gym.
Kelly Jennings, owner of CrossFit 859 in Lexington, said fitness resolutions are often the toughest to maintain.
"This is the time when so many people make those resolutions, that 'this is going to be the year that I'm going to get in shape, I'm going to lose this amount of pounds, or I'm going to start working out this many times a week.' And everybody seems to do that. The issue is, a lot of people don't hold on to that," Jennings said.
The fitness programs offered at CrossFit 859 go far beyond a traditional resolution. Their state-of-the-art fitness program is an extremely efficient and effective way to get into world-class shape, even during the pandemic.
One fitness participant, Becca Pike, said after the 2020 year, exercise is important for her mentality.
"In a world filled with unknown, this is kind of like my security here," Pike said. "Getting blood flow and just feeling better and really doing this for my mental health more than my physical."
Workouts are socially distanced and conducted in a fun and friendly way, ensuring the safety of those participating in the group setting.
"Our gym is broken up into little squares — so, there's tape on the floor and each person is in their square, the whole workout," said Sidney Berry, another fitness participant. "And so, they have the equipment that they need and are basically confined to their square while they work out, so we're not mixing and mingling."
Jennings said the distancing and sanitary precautions being taken ensure a good workout while maintaining a sense of safety and community for all in the gym.
"We took the precautions and really decided to mark out workout spaces for people. So we have 12 by 12 squares marked out with all the workout equipment in that square that they're going to need for the day," Jennings said.
Taking COVID precautions seriously is key for any gym that hopes to offer service during the pandemic. Dr. Ryan Stanton, an emergency physician, said participants also need to determine if their New Year’s healthy resolution is achievable.
"Make sure that you clear it with your doctor, if you have chronic medical conditions and then get a routine that you enjoy," Stanton said. "But the most important thing with a new year's resolution is setting goals that are achievable because most of them are going to wither away by the end of January, especially if they're a little bit too lofty."
So, if your New Year’s resolution is to get healthy, know that doing so will take a commitment and results won’t happen overnight —- your main focus is to stay healthy.
"During these times, it's actually more important now to stay healthy," Jennings said. "It's more important now to get in and build that immune system up by exercising and by staying active during these times."