Things are about to get crazy

On December 19, 2001, The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters and nerd culture was changed forever.

If you’re like me, you associate these films with the holidays and rewatch all three films (the extended editions, of course).

I watched this again Community recently, and a funny thought occurred to me.

While they are in the mines of Moria, Gandalf reads the final entry in the Book of Mazarbul, the journal of Balin and his dwarven companions and their expeditions – and their downfall – in the mines:

We can’t get out:

The end is coming soon.

We hear drums in the depths.

They are coming…

Watching this scene made me laugh as I thought of current gym-goers worried about the crowds coming in January:

“They are coming…”

Right now, millions upon millions of people are ready for “New Year, New You.”

Many of these people – perhaps yourself included – have decided that January 1st will be the day you can go back to the gym or start your exercise routine again.

I think that’s it GREAT!

Studies show that a “fresh start” or choosing specific temporal milestones like January 1st can be helpful in creating change.

There’s a problem, though: “Going to the gym regularly” isn’t a choice.

There are dozens of decisions that need to be made:

• Which gym will you go to?
• Will you change at home or in the dressing room?
• How is the parking situation?
• What time of day suits you best?
• What level of gym membership do you get?
• Will you choose classes or train alone?
• What equipment will you use?
• Do you know how to use this equipment?
• Will you shower at the gym or at home?
• How many times a week will you train?
• What if your equipment is used?

If you find gyms intimidating or scary, doing ANYTHING in January is like playing a video game on Legendary difficulty:

The device you want to use may be busy.

The parking situation could be a nightmare.

The course you want to attend may be fully booked.

You will look for an excuse to tell you why you can’t do something. If you’re afraid of a gym or nervous because it’s crowded, your brain will beg you to stay home and never join.

I know your brain is telling you right now, “Wait until January 1st…” before you try again.

That’s fine!

However! If you are willing to take a few steps NOW, you will have a much better chance of success in the future.

So here’s the challenge…

Sign up today, but don’t even exercise yet!

This is the PERFECT opportunity to attend without attending ​additional pressure from ALL HUMANITY​:

This allows you to get any EXTRA decisions out of the way:

What gym, where you park, what time of day you go, etc.

I’m a fan of Terry Crews’ advice on how to make going to the gym a habit:

“Go to the gym, just sit there, read a magazine and then go home. And that every day. Go to the gym and don’t even exercise. Just go.

Because the habit of going to the gym is more important than training. Because it doesn’t matter what you do.

You can have fun – but as long as you’re having fun, you keep doing it.”

Consider the next two weeks a beta test with no expectations!

There is no workout routine to follow.

They make sure you know where the equipment is and how it works

They do a trial run of what it would be like to train in the morning or evening.

You don’t have to blame yourself for not being perfectly consistent.

Instead, now just focus on setting up the hardest part of the routine (getting in the car or going to the gym and opening the door).

This means that you can start January 1st with momentum. And never underestimate how powerful the momentum can be.

I am NOT afraid to bribe you!

Many people will join us ​Coaching program​ in January, which is exciting!

But just as there are benefits to getting to a gym early, taking our coaching before the rush means less waiting, more time to get up to speed with your trainer, and more momentum for the new year!

We see this every year…which brings me to my two prompts for you.

NUDGE #1: If you are undecided about coaching, ​make an appointment​ to speak with a Team NF member this week.

While you’re talking to us right now mention “community” for $50 off your first month or $100 off our longer prepaid plans.

Learn more about Nerd Fitness Coaching

Hopefully this will make your decision a little easier and will also make it easier for us to match you with the right coach before things get a little more crowded in January.

Oh, and if NF Coaching isn’t for you right now, don’t worry!

NUDGE #2: We’re hosting one to kick off the first week of January ​free 5 day kickstart challenge​ here at Nerd Fitness hosted by head coach Matt Myers. Just click on the button below and register!

Take the free 5-day Kickstart Challenge

Matt will look at the biggest reason most people don’t follow through on their fitness and nutrition programs – and what you can do to make 2025 the year things actually stick.

Okay, back to watching Lord of the rings!

-Steve