A common New Year’s resolution is to get into shape, but more often than not people give up on that resolution within just a few weeks. Ann Hager, a local fitness consultant, says fitness is something people should work at every day.

“The New Year comes and the gyms are crowded. People say, ‘OK, I am ready to go to the gym,’ and they go full force. But then after a few weeks or a month … It is unrealistic to think you can just go in too fast without a plan,” Hager said.

According to a Statista survey, some of the top resolutions have to do with fitness. Around 50% of people said they wanted to exercise more, 47% said they wanted to eat healthier and around 35% said they wanted to lose weight.

Hager has seen every part of the fitness world and has been aware of it for 44 years. She is a certified personal trainer and behavior change specialist. She is also a regular marathon runner. She said she has struggled with fitness on her own journey, so helping others with theirs keeps her going. Her recently opened consulting group, ReFocus Fitness Consulting, works with clients to achieve personal goals with one-on-one guidance.

“Since I was 17, I have been through every aspect of fitness,” Hager said.

Her first experience with fitness was through ballet and other community center activities in the South Valley, where her brother was an activities director.

Now, she teaches people how to better their habits.

“I want them to be able to take the information and work on it on their own. Then I just check in on them throughout the week. I send them motivational quotes or verses and help them reach a goal,” she added.

While Hager’s faith as a Christian plays a big role in her motivation to help people, she says anyone is welcome to do her program.

Hager said that most people rush into their fitness goals and burn out or give up before they can reach a goal. This is, according to her, because they take on too many goals at once and expect results quickly.

“But, no, it takes time. So I tell my clients to start with one goal and come up with a plan to reach that goal,” she said.

Most people, Hager added, are unsuccessful with their New Year’s resolutions because they don’t come up with a plan to reach that goal.

“They just jump right in without a plan and assume they can do it right away. They think they can loose the weight fast, but it’s a lifestyle change. I mean, how many years did it take you to gain the weight?” she said.

Hager also said that everyone needs a different plan because everyone’s body is different. What works for some people might not work for others.

“I try to encourage people to find something they enjoy. It’s not like you have to go for a run or go to the gym because you think, ‘Well gosh I can’t keep that up.’ So find something you enjoy,” Hager explained.

She expressed that her program allows people to set their own goals and pace. She just helps with the ‘”how” part of it. She does weekly check-ins, sends daily messages for motivation and helps each person with a plan that works for them.

Hager says most of good fitness is about what people put in their body.

“It doesn’t have to be a diet. It’s just little changes here and there — 80% of weight has to do with food and nutrition,” she said.

She says she does not believe in fad diets because they almost never work. She added that the calorie counts don’t work either because people don’t focus on the nutrients they put into their bodies.

Her program helps with all of that.

The melancholic part for Hager is when her clients reach their goals and don’t need her assistance anymore.

“It is sad when they go, but I want them to fly,” she said.

Hager’s main point to people who want to better their bodies is that they have to focus on the body as a whole.

“It is always about fear, but if people have some motivation from an accountability partner or a consult, they can start to build up that confidence,” she said.

For more information visit her website at refocusbyann.com.