On December 19, 2001, The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters and nerd culture changed forever.

If you're like me, you associate these movies with the holidays and you're going to watch all three movies again (in extended editions, of course).

I watched it again Community recently and a funny thought occurred to me.

While they are in the Mines of Moria, Gandalf reads the last entry in the Book of Mazarbul, the diary of Balin and his companions and their journeys - and deaths - into the mines:

We can't leave:

The end will come soon.

we hear drums beating in the depths.

They are coming…

While watching this scene, I couldn't help but laugh as I thought about current gym goers worrying about the crowds coming in January:

“They're coming…”

Right now, millions of people are ready for "new year, new me."

Many of these people - perhaps you included - have decided that January 1 will be the day to return to the gym or start exercising daily.

I think this is it GREAT!

Research shows that "fresh starts," or choosing specific, temporary landmarks such as January 1, can be beneficial in making changes.

However, there is one problem: "going to the gym regularly" is not a single decision.

Dozens of decisions need to be made:

• Which gym will you go to?
• Do you change at home or in the locker room?
• What is the parking situation like?
• What time of day suits you best?
• What level of gym membership will you get?
• Will you choose classes or train on your own?
• What pieces of equipment will you use?
• Do you know how to use this equipment?
• Will you shower at the gym or at home?
• How many times a week will you exercise?
• What if your equipment is used?

If you think gyms are intimidating or anxiety-inducing, doing EVERYTHING in January is like playing a video game on legendary difficulty:

The equipment you want to use may be occupied.

The parking situation can be a nightmare.

The class you want to take may be full.

You will look for any excuse to tell you why you can't do something. If you're afraid of the gym or upset that it's overcrowded, your brain will beg you to stay home and never go there.

I know your brain is now telling you, “Wait until January 1st…” before you try again.

All right!

However! If you are willing to take a few steps NOW, you will have a much greater chance of success in the future.

Here's the challenge...

Join today, but don't even practice!

This is a PERFECT opportunity to join without ​additional pressure from ALL OF HUMANITY​: :

This allows you to skip all the ADDITIONAL decisions:

which gym, where to park, what time of day you will go, etc.

I'm a fan of Terry Crews' advice on building a gym habit:

“Go to the gym, just sit there, read a magazine, and then go home. And do it every day. Go to the gym, don't even exercise. Just Go.

Because the habit of going to the gym is more important than the training itself. Because it doesn't matter what you do.

You can have fun, but as long as you're having fun, keep doing it.”

Try to treat these next two weeks as a beta test with no expectations!

There is no training plan to follow.

You make sure you know where the equipment is and how it works

You do a trial run of what it would be like to exercise in the morning or evening.

You don't have to worry about not being perfectly consistent.

Instead, you now focus on the hardest part of your routine (getting into the car or going to the gym and opening the door).

This means you can hit January 1 with a bang. And never underestimate how powerful momentum can be.

I have NO intention of bribing you!

Many people will join us ​Coaching program​ in January, which is exciting!

But just as there are benefits to joining the gym early, joining our coaching before the rush means less waiting, more time to make arrangements with your trainer, and more momentum heading into the new year!

We see this every year… which prompts me to give you two nudges.

POINT #1: If you are hesitant about coaching, ​plan your time​ talk to a member of Team NF this week.

When you talk to us, simply mention "Community" for $50 off your first month or $100 off our longer prepaid plans.

Learn more about Nerd Fitness Coaching

We hope this nudge will make your decision easier and help us choose the right trainer for you before things get a bit crowded in January.

Oh, and if you're not planning on coaching NF right now, don't worry!

POINT #2: To kick off the first week of January, we launch ​free 5-day challenge to start​ here at Nerd Fitness, led by Head Trainer Matt Myers. Just click the button below and sign up!

Join the free 5-day Kickstart challenge

Matt will address the main reason most people fail to follow their fitness and nutrition programs, as well as what you can do to make 2025 the year things actually stick.

OK, back to watching The Lord of the Rings!

-Steve