To Challenge Or Not To Challenge

To round out the year, many fitness facilities (including mine - F45 Airlie Beach) run 6, 8 or 12 Week Challenges. With so many to choose from, how do you decide which one is right?

Firstly, Challenges can actually be fun! Gone are the days where starving yourself for 6 or 8 weeks puts you as a "contender" to win a challenge. Most fitness facilities have grown up a lot of late, so they should generally be very well rounded and include everything you need to set you up for short- and long-term success.

Challenges can also be a fantastic time to join in on a gym or studio where it might feel awkward as to when to actually join or start. Because many fitness facilities see plenty of new faces joining for a Challenge, then it certainly can help those of you nervous to start, break down that initial barrier and take that first step, knowing you`ll be joining with heaps of new people.

As mentioned above, Challenges nowadays should be very well rounded. Customisable fitness routines, customisable meal planning, accurate recording of results, and recovery methods and education to keep you feeling energised, moving well, and heading towards your goals week after week.

Lastly, challenges can be whatever interpretation of a challenge means to you. It can simply be to start exercising and stay on track. It could mean removing or reducing your alcohol consumption. It could be simply making healthy and sustainable decisions to put your health and wellness first. And it could mean to break a "rut" you have found yourself in either mentally or physically.

I love challenges, and highly encourage anyone to try, whether you have done one before or you don't even have a current gym membership. With the best decision that works for you, I am sure you`ll be feeling fantastic come December, and ready to share your results with your new gym buddies, family and friends.

Sonny Ivanovic, owner of F45 Airlie Beach.

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