As we are reaching the end of January, I can't help but wonder... of all of the people who made New Year's resolutions to "start working out everyday" or "join a gym"; how many are still going strong?
A quick search on the Internet for statistics about New Year's resolutions confirms what our gut is already telling us. Most people are not able to keep their New Year's resolutions. According to Forbes.com, only 8% of people are able to achieve their resolutions. So, going back to my original question... How many people are still going strong on their resolution to work out? How many of you are still going to the gym that you signed up for at the beginning of the month? My guess is not many of you, maybe only 8%?
For the remaining 92% of us, we have great intentions to exercise more and get in shape but we have selected a bad method of executing it. Let's face it, gyms are kind of boring and the thought of waking up early (or staying up late) and going to one everyday becomes a drag. I understand that it works for some people and if you are one of those people, more power to you! I tip my hat to you. For the rest of us, we need something else. Something that we will actually look forward to each day. What would that be? Let's call it "the original gym".
People have been staying in shape since the beginning of time by just going out and being active. You could make the argument that previous generations actually did a better job of it, despite all of the high-tech options we have available today. So my argument is this... if you want to get in shape or better shape than you are now, don't go to the boring gym, just go outside. Go on a hike. Go for a walk somewhere in the beautiful outdoors. Trust me. You will enjoy it and want to go back and do it again. Spending time in nature is also a lot cheaper than a gym membership. So in the spirit of this suggestion, I offer up the following options. Please note that all of these are going to be in the Carolina's, but you could easily apply this idea to any location.
A Western North Carolina favorite, the DuPont State Forest is a mecca of hiking trails, lakes, rivers, and a total of six beautiful waterfalls. There is so much to see here and the trails are all beautifully maintained. You could literally see something different almost everyday of the year, but the area is so pretty you will have favorites that you want to visit in every season. DuPont State Forest is free to the public and is open daily from 5am to 10pm.
Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area
For those of you in South Carolina, you have the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area in the upstate that includes
Jones Gap State Park and
Caesars Head State Park. Both of these parks have numerous hikes available that will cater to every skill level. If you are feeling energetic, try the hike to
Falls Creek Falls inside Jones Gap State Park. After a few times of making that hike, you will be in great shape!
Located in central North Carolina this is another state park that is just full of great hikes and walks that cover all skill levels. If you want the best workout, hike to the top of
Hanging Rock every morning before work. At 1.3 miles one-way, most of which is uphill, you will be rewarded with an almost 360 degree view at the top that you will look forward to seeing everyday.
For the low price of only $28 per year, much less than you would pay for a gym membership, you could have daily access to the beautiful Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County North Carolina. This is a mountainous area and the opportunities for good exercise are almost endless. They have walks and hikes from moderate all the way up to strenuous. Who wouldn't look forward to walking every morning up to the top of Exclamation Point to see the sunrise? Absolutely beautiful but trust me, you will get a workout on this one. That is a good thing, right?
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