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DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. Getting back in shape or losing a few pounds are always popular New Years resolutions and this year is likely to be no different.
Weve definitely had bigger classes than weve expected, said Susanna Morse, studio manager at Pilates and More in Dobbs Ferry. Its still pretty packed. We try to limit the number of people in classes because when its over a certain size youre just not getting as much out of it.
Morse said the rush always comes right after the New Year, but the wrinkle this year is that many people are picking up gift certificates rather than memberships.
Its a lot of hint, hint kind of stuff, she said.
Anthony Tarricone, one of the owners of Equalize Fitness between Hastings and Yonkers, said he sees a huge increase in members around this time as well.
Its really crowded during the first week in January, maybe the first two weeks, and then it feathers back, he said. You expect something like 60 percent of your membership to join between November and February, with a large majority coming in January or February.
There are plenty of reasons to make working out a New Years resolution, just take a look at the numbers. According to statistics taken in 2008 to 2009 by the New York State Department of Health, 58.6 percent of adults in Westchester County are overweight or obese compared to 59.3 of the entire state.
It can be difficult to stick with any New Years resolution, let alone a brand new work out schedule so many wonder how to stay on track.
You increase the ability to reach your goal by 65 percent just by writing it down, Tarricone said. That was a Harvard study.
Tarricone also said sometimes people feel themselves getting out of shape for several years before returning to the gym so its important to remember that exercising is a process.
Youre not going to do it overnight, he said. You have to stick with a program.
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