The beaches may be empty but the gyms are full. It's the time of year better known as "Tourist Season" at fitness clubs and YMCA's. It happens every year on January 2nd and lasts until around February 28th. Fitness clubs across America fill up with people getting a start on their New Year's resolution to lose weight or become more fit.
It is always funny to watch people as they rush to the cardio machines. A few of them will head to the weight machines. That leaves free weights and kettlebells to the year round obsessive compulsive exercisers like me. I always love listening to the excitement in their voices as they talk about the latest diet craze. There has been Atkins, Body for Life, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, and this years latest fad, P90X. Thousands if not millions of dollars are spent on books, food, gym memberships, and excercise equipment. Trust me treadmills and Nordictracks sound good when your in the store. In two months, they will be collecting dust like any other piece of furniture in your house. And all these food systems seem great, but can not replace healthy eating. Besides have you ever tasted some of that garbage?
I love listening to the experts who appear in the gym during tourist season. It's not uncommon to hear, "I'm not interested in bulking up so I am only doing cardio." As if someone is going to lift weights for two months in January and February and suddenly transform into the "Incredible Hulk". Doesn't happen! The other thing you hear is you have to lift heavy weights to get big and build mass. Well, my theory is you have to be big to lift heavy weights.
So if this is your first time to experience tourist season or if this is your annual two month treck to the gym, stick around this year. You just might be glad you did.
