Brits abandon fitness goals within 30 days of starting, survey reveals

A POLL of 2,000 Brits found 37 per cent of people abandon their fitness goals within 30 days of starting them. Over a third (36 per cent) struggle to stay motivated once the initial excitement wears off, while one quarter find it difficult to fit exercise around work and family commitments. Around a third of people struggle to stay motivated once the excitement of exercise wears off Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep / SWNS Improving physical health is a top priority for 55 per cent of people Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep / SWNS It also emerged 55 per cent find the recovery process a hindrance, with 89 per cent admitting they have pushed through their tiredness to meet their step count or fitness target. Despite this, 82 per cent said improving their physical health remains one of their top priorities, and 54 per cent hope to exercise more regularly over the next 12 months. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! A poll of 2,000 Brits found 37 per cent of people abandon their fitness goals within 30 days of starting them. Over a third (36 per cent) struggle to stay motivated once the initial excitement wears off, while one quarter find it difficult to fit exercise around work and family commitments. Around a fifth of people said more motivation or encouragement would help them stay on track Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep / SWNS Olympic medallist Max Whitlock has partnered with Samsung for the launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Credit: Unknown It also emerged 55 per cent find the recovery process a hindrance, with 89 per cent admitting they have pushed through their tiredness to meet their step count or fitness target. Despite this, 82 per cent said improving their physical health remains one of their top priorities, and 54 per cent hope to exercise more regularly over the next 12 months. When asked what would help them stay on track, 27 per cent wanted more time in their schedule, as 34 per cent admitted they find it hard to fit exercise around everyday commitments. A fifth cited more motivation or encouragement would make the biggest difference, and 19 per cent wanted a clearer routine or plan to follow. Most read in Health Olympic medallist Max Whitlock, who has partnered with Samsung for the launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, which commissioned the research, said: “Recovery isn’t the reward for training, it’s part of the training. “The sessions everyone sees are only possible because of everything that happens afterwards. “Understanding when your body needs rest is just as important as knowing when to push.” The study, carried out via OnePoll.com, also found 25 per cent actively plan rest and recovery days into their routine. However, 16 per cent only take rest days when they feel sore, tired or run down. Even though 48 per cent agree that rest and recovery are just as important as exercise, 18 per cent find it hard to prioritise them, leading to a growing recovery gap between exercise and rest. In fact, adults were more likely to base their assessment of how their body is responding to rest and recovery on how they feel physically (53 per cent) or their level of tiredness (40 per cent), rather than taking a set approach (15 per cent). And only 23 per cent admitted to resting and recovering properly. When asked what the biggest impact would be if respondents had access to personalised recovery insights, 34 per cent said they would know when they need to rest and recover. And 70 per cent agreed that understanding how their body is responding to training and recovery would help them improve their fitness or performance. Annika Bizon, a spokesperson for the brand, added: “More people are taking their fitness seriously and challenging themselves to achieve more, but our research shows there’s still a gap between how people train and how they recover – in many ways, we’re training like athletes but recovering like amateurs. “People want to be better informed about their health and what their bodies are telling them, and this is where technology can play an important role. “By turning personal health data into tailored, actionable insights, people can understand when they might be ready to push themselves and when they might need more rest.” Comment now