On New Year's Eve thousands of locals made a promise to get fit in 1999.

Most started out vigorously, going religiously to the gym, walking a couple of miles each evening or even taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Now, almost a month later, most are beginning to lose steam and if action is not taken quickly your resolve will fizzle out altogether.

But according to fitness experts, what you are going through is not unusual and with a little determination you can stick with your New Year's resolution -- at least a little while longer.

Kym Burns, the managing director of the Athletic Club in the Cedar Parkade on Washington Street said the most important thing for people to do was to find something they enjoyed doing.

"First and foremost find something you enjoy doing,'' she said. "It has to be something fun so you'll stick with it., "We offer different programmes like spinning, aerobics, Pilates and more. You have to do a variety to keep it interesting.'' Ms Burns said the US Surgeon General recommends people do 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week if they want to reap health rewards.

And she said that once exercisers get over the "hump'', exercise will become a part of their daily routine.

"If you can hold on for the first six to eight weeks you should be alright,'' she said. "It then becomes part of your daily routine.'' She also recommended that would-be fitness buffs set short-term goals instead of long-term ones in a bid to keep themselves motivated.

"Set short-term goals. If you only set long-term ones you will become discouraged.

"If your goal is to lose 20 pounds and each week you are only losing a pound you will become discouraged because 20 pounds is a long-term goal. Instead try to say that you will aim to increase your exercise time on a machine, for example, by five minutes.'' And she urged those fighting the battle of the bulge to remember that exercise could only do so much -- you must eat right if your goal is to lose weight.

"It's a whole lifestyle thing,'' she added. "What you eat is as important as what you do.'' According to Scott Stallard of the Olympic Club the almighty dollar was probably the best incentive for gym-weary people to stick with their exercise programme.

"Pay for a year's membership,'' he said. "Once you've paid there is plenty of incentive to keep going.

"If you pay for a membership by the month, it is easy to quit at the end of that month.'' And he recommended would-be fitness buffs do their homework before they join a club -- if you pick one that really appeals to you, the better the chances you'll keep going.

"Pick a good club, one that offers a reasonable price and good equipment,'' Mr. Stallard pointed out. "That gives you two good reasons to stay.

"If you try to workout at home you can get distracted and find numerous reasons not to do it. When you are at a gym you are around people who are motivated and you have music -- it's much easier.'' And he pointed out that a fitness trainer might help out-of shape individuals stick with their goals to become a lean-mean exercise machine.

"It's easier if you get a trainer,'' he said. "If you have one, then you can't slack off. When you walk into the gym that person will make sure you get the maximum benefit out of the machines.''