TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Whether your New Year's resolution is to spend less time on technology or to eat healthier, there's no better time than right now to make those goals that can be so rewarding.
For everyone who has made a resolution to get back into the gym, don't give up on your goals. For one Leon County Sheriff's deputy, it changed his life.
"I weighed myself last year at the beginning of the year and I was nine pounds from 400," said Richard Ash, a deputy with LCSO.
A 28-year veteran of the Leon County Sheriff's Office, Ash went on a life-saving journey one year ago this month.
"I knew that was not going to be good for my health, or my long term viability to live at that weight," Ash said.
After losing 100 pounds, Deputy Ash says his goals for a healthy lifestyle are just getting started.
"I don't want to go and gain 50 of that back, going back to old habits, so you know, you have to continue now the maintenance of things, you know, keep things in balance and perspective," said Ash.
With the pandemic keeping many at home and out of the gym, one Tallahassee gym says they saw an unusually high number of people signing up for memberships before the start of the new year.
"I think people are starting to understand how important health and wellness is," said Cameron Covington, the director of Membership at Momentum Fitness. "Of course, you have COVID, and people want to build up their immune systems and feel stronger and better."
Around 100 people have recently signed up at Momentum Fitness.
Covington says if you have a New Year's resolution to get healthier, you're going to need two things.
"Have a goal in mind and have someone that's going to help you get there," said Covington. "Because again, consistency is key. If you can build that habit, that's what is going to encourage that lifestyle going forward."
For Deputy Ash, his family support system has helped push him through some of the hardest challenges on his journey.
"My wife loves it, my kids," Ash said. "so it's been a blessing."
A lot of these gyms are offering January specials, including Momentum Fitness who is offering a free week of training. Whatever you're goals are for the new year, stick with them, they could change your life.
