When the new year rolls around, many people are jumping from the scale to the treadmill to shed those unwanted pounds gained over the holidays.

Brian Evans, manager of Ames Fitness Center, said January is the busiest month of the year for the center.

Evans said the scarcity of outside activities in Iowa during the winter months makes it difficult for people to stay in shape.

“That’s why fitness centers are so popular this time of year,” Evans said.

Karen Mannes, manager of the Mary Greeley Diet Center, agreed that dieting is popular early in the year.

“Everyone is talking about a diet — the ads on the television and in the newspapers,” she said. “The media plants the seed in people’s heads.”

Mannes said weight gained during the holiday season may contribute to peoples’ convictions to count calories.

“The average person gains five to eight pounds because of changes in their eating habits over the holidays,” she said.

Steve VanDerKemp, assistant director for Lied Recreational Center, said there is an increase in the number of people exercising after the holidays.

“People want to lose weight and get back into shape,” he said.

Evans said most people do not stick with their fitness plans.

“It’s easy to fall off the wagon and not work out,” he said.

VanDerKemp said most students quit working out because they do not receive instant results.

Besides exercise, people are prone to purchasing diet products to shave off the extra weight.

Paulette Stronczek, staff psychologist at the Student Counseling Center, said Americans spend $300 million per year on diet products.

“The multimillion dollar diet industry is capitalizing on resolutions,” Stronczek said.

Stronczek said 80 percent of American women are on diets, and many women feel social pressures to be thin.

Stronczek said in American society, women, in general, focus more on their looks than men. This comes from a variety of sources including fashion magazines and diet ads.

“Today’s models are very thin, and women are told by our culture to try to look this way,” Stronczek said. “Culture tells us to lose weight, no matter what size we are.”

VanDerKemp said women are not the only ones feeling the pressures to be fit.

“Everyone is more health conscious today,” he said.

For the most part, the “fad” diets and diet pills are not healthy and often are not effective, Stronczek said.

“A good portion of eating disorders started with a diet that grew and got out of control,” she said. “In the long run, the weight comes back.”

Mannes said eating a healthy diet is important for toning ones’ physique.

“Most people are looking for a quick fix, but they need to change their old habits into a healthy diet,” she said.

Evans cited many ways to stay motivated.

“Set goals, both short and long term, to motivate yourself,” he said. “Find a program that is easy and convenient.”

Evans said another way to stay with an exercise program is to find an accountability partner.

“Have someone to work with,” he said.

VanDerKemp said deciding to improve one’s health is similar to trying to quit smoking.

“You have to really want to do it and set time aside for it,” he said.

VanDerKemp recommends that students seek professional help when deciding on a fitness plan.