By Brittany Woodby

BWOODBY@CULLMANTIMES.COM

With holiday parties over and swimsuit season looming in the horizon, New Years is a popular launch time for fitness goals. Cullman gyms are preparing the resolution rush with specials and tips to keep members on the right track.

“New Year’s is always a big time for us at our fitness center, when the community is outlining their personal health and wellness goals,” said Maria Stanford, vice president of marketing for Cullman Regional Medical Center.

“Last year we signed up 187 new memberships during January,” SportsFirst assistant club manager Kenneth Chambers said. “We’re hoping we can do a little bit better this year. We’re shooting for 200 memberships.”

Chambers, who is also a certified personal trainer, said the gym is booming during January, February and March but members start dropping off in the spring when outdoor sports pick up and motivation wears off.

“That’s just typical. That’s how it goes,” he said. “We’ll see another small rush for bathing suit weather and then it drops off again during the holidays.”

Of the New Year’s new members, Chambers said he usually only sees a third still working out regularly at the end of the year.

“The members that stick with it are going strong,” he said.

Healthfit fitness instructor NataLee Lopez said she has signed up several new members who said they wanted a healthy start to the new year. Her advice to newcomers was to overcome any self-consciousness or preconceived notions about health clubs and give it a shot.

“The most important thing is getting yourself healthy,” she said. “Get in here and see what it’s like for yourself.”

Healthfit and SportsFirst, as well as several other gyms in the area, offer tours and trial visits to first-time guests. Chambers said he encourages anyone interested in starting a gym membership to go in and take a tour and ask questions.

“Look around, look at all the different people there,” he said. “All our members are different. We have anywhere from 12-year-olds to people in their 90s working out. ... You definitely don’t see a ton of big muscle guys. You see your neighbor when you come in.”

Many area gyms have supervised play areas for children so parents can enjoy a worry-free workout. Sports Fit health club in Vinemont goes a step further and offers a children’s exercise class once a week.

“We want to help kids get involved,” Sports Fit manager Becky Pollard said. The Kids in Motion class is included with adult memberships and is open for children ages five through 10. Pollard said there is generally eight to 10 children in the weekly class.

“It’s a really cute little class,” she said. “They have music and do different exercises, relays and play games.”

The hour-long class takes place at the same time as the Thursday-night aerobics classes. Pollard said children should not keep a member from his or her workout.

“The number one thing to do is stick with it,” Pollard said. “Get a trainer or get someone knowledgeable in fitness to help you reach your goals.”

Chambers said aerobics classes can be a strong support system for members just starting out on their diets. In addition to scheduled classes, he said members build relationships and encourage each other to keep coming back.

“It’s the same people in there every day. If you come in to a gym every day at the same time, you’ll see the same people. You build relationships with these people. If you aren’t there, a member or our staff will notice.”

Pollard and Chambers said they also recommend enlisting the help of a personal trainer. Personal training sessions can last anywhere from half an hour to an hour and cost between $25 and $50.

“I would recommend a personal trainer for people who need that extra push or who need someone to work out with them and can’t get a best friend to work out with them,” Pollard said. “That’s what they are for, helping you attain those goals you set. It’s like budgeting your checking account. If you don’t keep it budgeted, you’ll get in trouble.”

“We can check your percent of body fat, your measurements, and we do some fitness assessment tests to see where you are,” Chambers said. “We can take you through a personalized workout for you to meet your goals.”

Exercise is only half the battle when trying to achieve weight loss or eat healthier. Pollard said she suggests people make a lifestyle change.

“Stay with the exercise program, and find the program that works for you. The same program does not work for everybody. Everybody is different. You have to pay attention to your nutrition by counting calories, and cutting out sugar and starches.”

Pollard said it is important to keep a basic, balanced diet with enough protein and complex carbohydrates from whole wheat, vegetables and fruit. Also, she said it is crucial to maintain realistic goals.

“I wouldn’t advise anyone to try to lose 15 pounds in a week,” she said. “It’s probably not impossible, but it would be very hard to set those goals so high. It breaks their hearts when they try and can’t make it. Set goals each week and each month to something you are going to be able to obtain.”

Pollard said a reasonable goal is to lose one to two pounds a week by cutting back calories and continuing to exercise.

“You’ve got to hit it from both sides,” Chambers said. “You can’t work out and eat bad and expect results, and you can’t eat healthy and not exercise.”