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This holiday season is different than any other, in so many ways. We have less freedom to be with those we love and celebrate the season as in previous years. But if you want to make the best of it, why not get started now on your 2021 resolutions during the holidays?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, we must change how we get together for the holidays. Our gatherings are different now; we must gather outside or inside with strict guidelines, we must stay within 6 feet of each other, and we must limit our time together. Guests should avoid direct contact, including handshakes and hugs, with others not from their household. Many of us are staying home and not traveling, reducing our exposure to others beyond our immediate family, and maybe having a Zoom event to connect with those far from us. We can still have meaningful get-togethers, but they’ll look different and may include less time together.

Now’s the time to be less excessive with eating and drinking; perhaps we could spend that extra time we have exercising (which is known to keep you healthier) and visualizing new goals we want to reach next year. Just imagine how much easier it will be in 2021 to get back on track, when you never went off!

What better time than now to get into shape and reach your fitness goals?

At Ochsner Fitness Center, you can play to your heart’s content (and health) by trying something new from an abundance of choices. Perhaps you’d like to try an Afterburn, GRIT or Spin class in the Ride Lab? Maybe you’ve never tried a small group fitness class, where you’ll get more individualized coaching and attention than a regular group class? New small group classes such as Tread FITT or Shape FITT or Power FITT may excite you, I’ll bet. Maybe you’ve never tried a yoga class to relax, or a massage to unwind and reenergize yourself. You won’t know it until you try it!

In any case, there are no excuses this holiday season to get in better shape. Why wait until the holidays are over, when you have more time to invest in your health? You know all the reasons why this makes perfect sense:

• boosting your immune system
• feeling stronger, healthier and ready to face the 2021 head-on.

So, get your New Year starting now, and get in better shape before the ball drops on 2021.

Lisa Abramson

Fitness Center, Medical Fitness Liaison and ACE-Certified Personal Trainer

Lisa Abramson has been an ACE-Certified personal trainer for over 20 years. She is also a Mad-Dogg-certified spin instructor since 2017. She has taught a variety of group exercise classes over the past two decades. She is a medical fitness liaison, personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Ochsner Fitness Center.

She has a bachelor’s in theater arts, and a master’s in speech communication.

Lisa has been a triathlete for the past 20 years, returning to competition in 2020.

She believes that motivation begins within, finding the desire to be better today: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain