Getting Back on Track with Your New Year Health and Wellness Goals

Jennifer Rewkowski, Vice President of Community Health & Wellness at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta

At the start of the new year, nearly three in ten Americans set out to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. According to the Pew Research Center, 79% of these resolutions focus on health and wellness, including goals like improving fitness levels, enhancing mental health or adopting a healthier diet.

However, as the year goes on, it’s not uncommon for people to abandon their New Year’s resolutions. A study by Baylor College of Medicine revealed that 88% of individuals who set resolutions fail to stick to them within the first two weeks of the year. In fact, the second Friday of January, often referred to as “Quitters Day,” is the most common day for people to give up on their goals.

If you feel like you’ve become part of this statistic, don’t worry – it’s never too late to restart your health journey and work towards your goals. Losing momentum is completely normal, and setbacks are a natural part of the behavior change process.

For those wanting to get back on track, embracing supportive fitness programs and solutions can help jumpstart your fitness journey.

Group Exercise

Group exercise is an excellent way to get back on track with your 2025 fitness goals. It offers motivation, fosters a sense of community and provides accountability. According to a clinical trial published by the National Library of Medicine, 95% of individuals who began a weight loss program with friends completed it, and 66% maintained their full weight loss.

For those seeking in person motivation, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta is a leader in group exercise, offering more than 3,000 classes per week, with a wide variety of options ranging from beginner-friendly, low-impact exercise and strength training to indoor cycling, yoga and aquatics.

Personalized Coaching Programs

Personalized coaching programs are a great way to help individuals set realistic fitness goals and develop a clear plan to achieve them. These programs offer support and accountability from professional trainers who work with you to create a customized fitness plan and provide expert nutrition guidance. Tailored to all fitness levels, coaching programs are designed to support both those restarting their journey and beginners.

The Y offers a free six-month program for members called Coach Approach, providing one-on-one coaching with a personalized exercise plan aimed at enhancing well-being, boosting energy, improving mood and preventing disease. Your wellness coach will meet you where you are on your fitness journey and help incorporate exercises into your daily life.

This year, the Y will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Coach Approach, marking a notable milestone of the program’s continued success helping members stay committed to their exercise objectives.

Last but not least, is the YMCA’s Weight Loss for Life program, designed to compliment the Coach Approach and tackle the challenges that come with healthy eating. Weight Loss for Life participants meet in small groups and uses the same skills required to stick with exercise and puts a spin on them to also help with controlled eating.

Virtual Fitness

Virtual fitness classes offer a convenient and flexible way to stay on track with your goals. They make it easy to fit exercise into a busy schedule and provide access to workouts from home or on the go. Online classes also allow for more variety and flexibility to try something new. The Y’s YMCA360 program features hundreds of online workout classes, available both on-demand and through live streaming.

Finding the right fit for you, whether it’s group exercise, personal coaching or virtual fitness programs, can make all the difference. Experiment with different health and fitness strategies and remember that it’s never too late to get back on track when working towards your goals.