More than 50% of Americans make fitness related New Year's Resolution - only 20% succeed

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- For many Americans, the New Year means a clean slate and a chance to right the wrongs of the previous year. Unfortunately, each year millions of us make some type of fitness related New Year's resolution, but only about 20% of those resolutions are actually kept. Smooth Fitness, the largest online retailer of home fitness equipment, provides some advice to help everyone reach their fitness goals for 2009.

"We see it every year, everyone sticks to their resolution for a few weeks, maybe a month but eventually they slip back into their bad habits," said Chad Tackett, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert, Smooth Fitness. "The key thing for people to understand is that in order to be successful it is really about a lifestyle change, not crash diets or workout fads."

Smooth Fitness offers a few tips for the start of a healthy year and ways to stick to your New Years resolution:

    --  Set a realistic goal - Resolving to look like a supermodel is not
        realistic for the majority of people but eating healthier and increasing
        daily physical activity certainly is possible.

    --  Develop a plan of attack - Determine your goals and specify how you will
        achieve them.  Be specific.  "Exercise" isn't a specific
        plan, but running for 20 minutes each morning is a plan.  It is also
        helpful to set milestones you plan to reach throughout the year rather
        than just one overall goal.  It is much less intimidating to attempt to
        achieve a series of small goals throughout the year than one lofty goal
        that seems far out of reach.

    --  Adjust your diet accordingly - Drink more water. Eat more fruits and
        vegetables.  Take a daily vitamin. 

 Substitute sugar and flour with
        Splenda and whole grains.  A well-balanced diet will be crucial to
        reaching your fitness goals.

    --  Do the little things - Take the stairs instead of using the elevator. 
        Park further away from the office building.  Do a few jumping-jacks
        during television commercial breaks.  You'll be amazed with how
        quickly all the little things begin to add up.

    --  Don't go it alone - Everyone needs a little help from time to time.
        Ask friends and family to participate in your resolution.  You can also
        enlist the help of a professional fitness trainer.

    --  Celebrate your successes - When you reach a milestone, reward yourself
        with something special.  This doesn't mean having a big piece of
        cake because you lost 5 pounds.  Try something non-food related like a
        professional massage or round of golf.

For additional information and advice please visit Smooth Fitness online at SmoothFitness.com.

About Smooth Fitness

Smooth Fitness is the number one online retailer of home fitness equipment and the 255th largest e-commerce site in the United States as ranked by Internet Retailer. The Company currently markets the Smooth line of treadmills and elliptical trainers to consumers over the Internet on its www.smoothfitness.com web site. The Smooth line of products has consistently been seen as one of the most cost-effective equipment lines available. The Smooth brand of fitness equipment is sold directly from the manufacturer and only on the Internet. The customer gets the convenience of shopping online combined with factory direct savings of 40% -- 45%. The fitness equipment is shipped from the Company's warehouses in Indiana, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Smooth Fitness