GREENSBORO, N.C. — At least four days a week you can find Marilia Pereira working up a sweat in the gym.
"There is nothing like punching something and feeling the power and feeling good about it,” Pereira said. “It just lets so much stress out."
Pereira didn't always rock a strong one-two punch. A tragic family event in 2021 changed everything.
“My grandmother passed away,” Pereira. “When I was looking into the reasons she passed away, it was all health reasons that could be prevented. I just remember being very upset seeing how much she suffered through that."
That's when she decided to put on the boxing gloves and jump into the ring. She joined 9Round Kickboxing Fitness in Greensboro. It’s a boutique gym that offers a 30-minute full-body kickboxing style workout.
“I remember it was December, and I was like I'll do that in the New Year, it's going to be my New Year's resolution, but I was like why am I doing this,” Pereira said. “If I want to change, I need to change now. Through exercising and eating healthy, I lost 38 pounds in about eight months.”
Studies show 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by Mid-February. Christi Mackey is a fitness trainer and manages 9 Round.
“I think a lot of times people fail at their fitness resolutions because they don't have a clear goal in mind or because they aren't motivated,” Mackey said.
She said finding an accountability partner or investing in a fitness class are simple ways to stay motivated.
“Keep moving, keep coming in to make sure that they don't give up,” Mackey said. “I think some of the most basic things of just moving your body and drinking your water to basic things of fitness people forget that are super important."
For those hoping to start a new fitness routine, Pereira offers this advice…
“I tried running, I tried the more regular gyms and everything, it wasn't for me,” Pereira said. “It was hard to stick to it because I did not enjoy it. Once I found kickboxing and I found something that gave me pleasure, that's what makes me come four times a week.
Mackey said you can also keep your New Year's fitness resolution by moving everyday even if it’s just a short walk.