Holly Williams is going for a “bikini bod.” Her fiancée, Damien St. Pierre, has relinquished the dream of six-pack abs, but is still working hard to shape up. The pair head to Cancun in August for their honeymoon, but in the meanwhile are busy working out at Bristol Total Fitness.

“I’ve been on and off,” said Williams on her attempts to stay on track at the gym. “I could come four days a week then take three weeks off. I’m trying to get back to four day weeks and stick with it.”

Her fiancée, however, admits to pushing himself a bit more.

“After New Year’s I started coming in two times a day,” St. Pierre said. “We’re trying to make sure we keep it up.”

Williams and St. Pierre are among the huge surge of returning members and new members that gyms, fitness centers and YMCA’s see after the holidays.

Bristol Total Fitness President Geoff Morin says his numbers see the biggest increase two weeks after the start of the New Year. 

“Next week is when it’s picking up,” he said. “People have made their resolutions and have already had a one week lapse. So next week is when they decide to get serious.” 

Morin says on average January will be a 50% increase in membership over a typical month. He calls the people coming in this time of year the “resolution group” and says though they usually drop off in February or March, recent years have seen them staying into May and June. 

Mark Lombari, owner of 426 Fitness in Warren, says his membership increase actually begins in November, something he speculates might have to do with the approach of the holidays. Lombari says it’s not so much the new memberships that are notable, it’s the return of lapsed members. He said he sees an increase of about 40-50% among members who have been absent for some time.

Holly Lebeau manages the front desk at 426 and says she was stunned at the amount of people working out on Monday night.

“Overindulgence leads them here,” she said. “I think they feel guilty about it and think ‘Here we go again. We’re gonna start the new year right.’”

Steve Skitek, a trainer at 426, says it takes twenty-one days to break old habits and form new ones. He also recommends keeping a journal of triumphs and failures.

“Those who journal,” he said, “are those who lose [weight, inches, etc].”

Bayside YMCA client Michelle Riggen-Ransom says she’s doing all she can to get fit since she sits in front of a computer all day. She’s already joined a nine week 5K program and is considering taking Bayside’s Y Team Challenge, where participants engage in goal-setting and team training.

“I’m definitely upping my fitness level. My husband did this and lost a lot of weight. It’s kind of annoying,” she joked.

Bayside YMCA Director of Operations Heather Ivil said the “phones have been ringing off the hook.” She says they have seen a big increase in both senior and family memberships. Regina Raffa, Senior Director of Member Engagement, estimates their front desk has seen a 50-60% increase in traffic.

“It’s wonderful to see,” she said. “Everyone’s making a big effort.”