BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY FARRAH MAFFAI Above, Dean Viau, of Interlaken, works out at Freedom Fitness, Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, on Jan. 4. Viau, a gym member for more than 10 years, is unlike many people who join only to drop out when they realize there is no instant gratification in fitness. At left, gym members run off the holiday gain on treadmills. Below, Chris Ganley, West Long Branch, pumps some iron. Right after the new year turns, people who’ve resolved to get fitter, leaner, healthier flock to gyms and fitness and health centers full of resolve and ... well, unrealistic expectations.

“We definitely get a big influx of people in January and February. But some people have visions of grandeur. They think they’re going to change their lives this year,” said Alyssa Bray, co-owner of Freedom Fitness on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch.

The most common goal is weight loss, she said, and those who want fast results aren’t likely to hang in there.

“For some, if it’s not instant gratification, they fade away,” said Bray. “But at least 50 percent of those that join do stay because our club is fun and we have realistic goals. If a person comes in and says, ‘I want to lose 50 pounds in two weeks,’ it’s not going to happen.

“We speak the truth, we don’t lie to people. People think they have to be in the gym every day of the week. We tell them, they need to come three times a week for 30-40 minutes. And we ask them, ‘Is that realistic with your lifestyle?’ That’s why people stay.”

Bray and co-owner, husband Bernie, have 16 years of experience running a full-service club for men and women. Before moving to Long Branch, they operated World Gym in Red Bank.

The Lincroft resident said the fitness center caters to men and women and has extended hours — 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. — to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

“We’re not hardcore,” she said. “We want people to be healthy, just to do better than they’re doing now.

“Everbody’s got their own goals. You try to get them a little closer to them.”

Not all those focused on helping clients live healthier agree that New Year’s resolutions are a good thing.

“What happens is people are all gung ho to better themselves and they fail miserably, most of them,” said Dr. Doug Zimmel a chiropractor and founder of Life Holistic Healthy & Wellness, Shrewsbury. “I’m totally against the New Year’s thing. Either start a week before or after.

“I believe we shouldn’t be sitting around waiting for New Year’s,” he continued. “We shouldn’t have to wait for this one day to have this awakening. Any day you wake up and want to do better, you can.”

Zimmel has been in practice for 17 years, and recently expanded to include nutritional and holistic therapies, exercise counseling and spa services like massage and facials.

“It’s all about bettering ourselves,” he said. “There are some who will be successful. It’s amazing that the calendar dictates their health. The whole idea is to get them involved in their health, educate them on how they can live better.”

According to Zimmel, the only way to get fit is through diet and exercise, and added that there’s a psychological component.

“It’s just a matter of getting the information to make a life change. That’s why a lot of stuff for New Year’s doesn’t work because it’s superficial stuff,” Zimmel said. “People need to understand they need to address their whole life.”

One detail that doesn’t escape Joe Kapp is that the surge of people rushing to take up exercise regimens aren’t as young as they used to be.

“The buying population is baby boomers, and they’re aging,” said Kapp, manager of Omni Fitness Equipment on Route 36 in Eatontown.

According to Kapp, elliptical cross-trainers are popular for home fitness, are very low-impact, making them well suited for use by aging baby boomers.

“It’s very low impact, gives a great cardiovascular workout but is very easy on the joints.

“The buying population is baby boomers and they’re aging; the knees don’t run like they used to. Most people can use the elliptical trainer even with bad knees or hips, they can still get upper-body movement.”

Awareness that change is in order, for some, comes even earlier than Jan. 1.

According to Bill Vigna, owner of Bulls & Bears Fitness for Men in Shrewsbury, the realization hits right around the time most of us are stuffing the turkey and ourselves.

“Oddly enough, it starts right after Thanksgiving,” said Vigna.

The men-only facility provides a comprehensive cardio and strength resistance training program that takes only 30 minutes.

“People come in with their minds made up to join,” he said. “This time of the year, people look to make up for the ills of the year and hopefully begin a regimen that will work.”

Like Bray, Vigna said the 30-minute workout done three to four times per week is key to the success.

“We’re finding our retention levels are very high,” said the Tinton Falls resident, “because, as opposed to going to a typical gym and spending 1 1/2 to 2 hours, we tried to create a 30-minute program.”

Vigna said the results clients get are impressive.

“The medical results for men that go for cholesterol testing is absolutely amazing,” he said.

“We have men 40, 50 and 60 years old, who come into the program who can’t afford to spend 1 1/2 hours at the gym, three, four days a week,” Vigna said.

“Here, they’re spending 30 minutes and an occasional weekend. I think that will keep the retention levels up there.”

The men who workout at Bull & Bear, Vigna said, aren’t looking to develop “six packs” but are in pursuit of good health.

“What men come in for is they are looking for a sense of well-being. They’re not looking to say, ‘I want a 34-inch waist, 54-inch chest,’ ” he said. “They just want, at end of the day, to have a little more energy and feel better about themselves.”