Making a New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy is almost as much of a tradition as ditching those goals shortly after the holiday.

Industry experts know the season of reflection plays a significant part in people running to gyms, clubs and more.

On average, 12.1 percent of gym memberships are purchased in January. That drops to 9.3 percent in February, and those two numbers are the highest of the years. The rate drops to 6.9 percent in July, and rises to 8 percent in December, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, an organization that represents the gym industry.

The association provides plenty of insights into the fitness scene. Barre and Pilates are the top two group exercise activities for women. Tai Chi and kickboxing are the most popular for men. The association has found that Baby Boomers enjoy more traditional aerobics exercises. Barre, yoga and cross training are the forms of exercise most utilized by Generation Y.

There’s a lot to consider when undertaking get-fit goals. Diets, tips, exercises, and more compete for attention in the fitness scene. But Kitsap’s fitness gurus have a few words of advice for those who have started a get-fit journey.

There are many paths to getting healthy, and local experts know a thing or two to stay on your path. Here’s what they advise.

Colby Morse, Agate Pass CrossFit, Poulsbo

“The work you put in creates the results you get out,” Morse said.

n Make realistic and attainable goals. Having big goals isn’t a bad thing and we all have them but smaller goals is a great way to show your self improvement.  If you make too big of goals in too short  of time then it can be discouraging if they are not met.

n Diet is the key to success. It doesn’t matter how much exercise you are doing if you aren’t eating right. You must give your body the proper fuel to perform. Go the extra mile and Consult with a nutritionist.

n Plan your work out days and stick to them/ Go to the gym even when you don’t want to. I always say the hardest part about going to the gym is walking in the door. The rest is easy, especially with classes like CrossFit, yoga, Pilates etc..Because the days are already planned for the clients and all you have to do as the athlete is show up and give 100 percent.

n Find some friends with common fitness goals and get into a routine with them. Having friends with you always makes a workout more enjoyable. CrossFit and other class-oriented workouts are a great way to meet new friends as well who like to do the same thing as you.

n Have a workout log. If you do not keep track of your workouts and weights it makes it very hard to push yourself or remember where you were.

Agate Pass CrossFit, 15769 George Lane NE, Suite H200, Poulsbo. www.agatepasscrossfit.com

Kasey Olson, personal trainer at West Coast Fitness, Port Orchard

“Don’t ever look at it like getting in shape for summer or the new year,” Olson said. “Look at it for your life. Little bits every day, and don’t sweat it if you miss a work out or two, just get back on the horse.”

n Prepare for a lifestyle change, nothing temporary like a short-term diet or a short-term get-fit plan.

n Keep it an accumulative program focused on all aspects of fitness, strength, cardiovascular and flexibility. You’ll want a balanced routine for full mobility of the body. It’s like a tripod, one leg is cardiovascular, the other one is strength, and the other is flexibility. If you knock one of those off it will fall down.

n Making long-term changes in nutrition is a priority. Stop looking at food as recreation and focus on things you should be eating, health wise. Understand the relationship between the food you eat and what it will do to the body. Part of the problem is that there are about 1,000 diets out there on the market place. People keep looking at the “what” versus the “why.”

n Look at it as a constant learning process. Constantly look to add new things to the routine, new moves on the floor, keep looking for foods and supplementation. Don’t look at it like you’ve already got everything in the bag.

n Use your resources, whether it’s the Internet, YouTube, hiring a trainer, or hiring a nutritionist. If you don’t know, be inquisitive and ask, rather than do what most people will do, which is fly blind and when they don’t get results they get discouraged.

West Coast Fitness, 4740 Ramsey Road Southeast, Port Orchard, 360-874-2818

Michael Rosenthal, owner of Island Fitness, Bainbridge Island

“Exercise and fitness is not one-size-fits-all,” Rosenthal said. “The key to success is finding the right plan for you.”

– Set realistic goals. Setting goals is an excellent way to stay on plan. If you want to run a marathon, start with learning proper running form. If you want to climb Mount Rainier, leave yourself plenty of time to train; our Train-to-Climb program is six months long, for example.

– Set yourself up for success. Join a reputable club that is accessible for you. Know what’s included in your membership. Go to classes that are fun and motivate you.

– Get a comprehensive fitness assessment. This is imperative so that you don’t repeat old movement patterns that come from imbalances and compensations. We all have imbalances, which lead to muscular compensations. If you simply work one side of your body exactly like the other side, you will only add to these compensations, possibly leading to injuries.

Make sure your assessment is not just weights and measurements. Movement pattern assessment is critical to a successful plan.

– Work with a trainer, if possible. Make sure you work with a qualified trainer, many certifications can be “earned” online with very little investment of time and education, know your trainers education and certifications. Find a trainer who you have a comfortable rapport with so that you want to show up.

– Understand nutrition. Many people think they do, but nutrition is more than the latest fad or diet. The right nutrition is at least half of what will lead to success or failure in reaching your goal, whether it’s weight loss, weight management or an athletic endeavor.

– Get a work-out buddy. Meeting with a trainer or even a workout buddy adds to your personal accountability. Accountability is key to success. A work out buddy not only gives you the accountability, it also helps to pass the time.

– Make it fun. When done properly, exercising can be enjoyable and motivating. If getting motivated is difficult for you, try a class. Classes range from dance to yoga to cycling, Pilates and more. Classes are 30 minutes to 1.5 hours long. There are lots of options on Bainbridge Island; at Island Fitness we have more than 50 classes per week included in a membership, for example.

Island Fitness, 190 Madison Ave. North, Bainbridge Island. www.island-fitness.com