New research has highlighted many Canadians’ motivations and plans to achieve fitness and nutrition goals.
A total of 33 per cent of Canadians said in a recent Ipsos survey that improving their personal fitness and nutrition is their top new year's resolution, compared with only 21 per cent who chose to focus on financial goals, according to a release from GoodLife Fitness.
The survey also found that 13 per cent of Canadians resolved to dedicate more time to travel and leisure, 11 per cent plan to quit bad habits like smoking or drinking, and 10 per cent would spend more time with family and friends.
"It's great to see more Canadians choosing fitness and nutrition as their number one resolution for 2017 because it suggests people are making positive choices when it comes to eating well and being active, with the goal of feeling better overall," said David Patchell-Evans, founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness.
A total of 53 per cent of Canadians attribute improving their overall quality of life as motivation for pursuing a health and wellness resolution. Other reasons to exercise and eat healthy included preventing health risks at 45 per cent, losing weight at 42 per cent and increasing energy levels at 41 per cent.
Many Canadians say they're willing to make lifestyle changes to achieve their fitness and nutrition goals, with 45 per cent of respondents saying they would plan to change their eating habits by developing a healthy meal plan and 34 per cent saying they would set a weight loss goal for themselves.
Other Canadians are looking to become more active. Four in 10 Canadians plan to spend more time outdoors, while one in four or 24 per cent plan to find a friend to be active with. One in five Canadians say they will join a gym.
"These are all concrete steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Whether it's joining a fitness club, consulting with a personal trainer, making a meal plan or just getting out for a walk, Canadians are finding ways to eat healthier foods and exercise more in 2017," said Patch. "The important part is to build healthier habits into your daily routine. That way you're more likely to stick with your resolution beyond the first few weeks."
To find out more about what helps Canadians stay motivated to work out, GoodLife Fitness polled over 1,100 longer-term members who have work out at the gym a minimum of 10 times per month, over the past two years or longer.
GoodLife Fitness' research experts conducted a topic-modelling analysis on the responses, and found the top three motivating factors for long-term members. First is the positive feeling or emotional boost that occurs after exercise, which can be more energy, a productivity boost, a better mood or a sense of relaxation. Second is the community and people they meet when they go to the gym, including their personal trainers, the group class instructors, the team trainers, the people in their group classes, and their friends. The members often looked to others for accountability and motivation. Finally, many are motivated by the long-term benefits of exercise, including that chance to feel younger and have a better quality of life as they age.
When asked about the secret to long-term fitness success, the most popular response was to rely on a personal trainer or group fitness instructor to motivate and keep people accountable. Another secret was to make exercise a non-negotiable part of the daily routine. Finding an exercise that the person loves, such as yoga or running, is another secret of success.
"Making a personal connection at the gym, by bringing a friend, taking a group fitness class, working with a personal trainer, or by signing up for a team training camp seems to be an essential step in establishing a fitness routine," explained Tracy Matthews, executive director of member services for GoodLife Fitness. "We heard repeatedly that members feel better after a workout, and would actually push themselves to go to the gym to boost their mood and productivity. These immediate emotional and psychological benefits are major drivers in helping members stick with their routine."
Proudly Canadian since 1979, GoodLife Fitness is the largest fitness company in Canada and the fourth largest in the world. It consists of 375 clubs across Canada including 40 Énergie Cardio and ÉconoFitness Clubs in Quebec and it contains approximately 14,400 employees and more than 1.3 million members. GoodLife’s goal is to help transform the health and wellness of Canadians every day. GoodLife also provides workplace wellness programming and services to more than 3,000 corporate partners across Canada.
