If you are like millions of Americans, you have put fitness at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions. Heading into 2008, people across the country will be making commitments to get active, lose extra weight or get in their best "beach shape" by summer.

But how many will actually achieve their goals? Unfortunately, some will fall off the wagon by Valentine's Day. The key to success will depend on starting the year off right and setting REALISTIC New Year's fitness goals.

That's why Gold's Gym is opening its doors for free workouts and free advice on January 1. The open invitation is part of the company's holiday weekend efforts to raise awareness with Americans to lead a healthy lifestyle in 2008 and provide an opportunity for them to burn off the high calorie treats often consumed throughout the holiday season.

"The key to making your New Year's fitness resolutions a reality is building momentum and setting realistic goals," said Dave Reiseman, director of communication for Gold's Gym International. "We're opening our doors to help people start the year off right and give them the advice they need to achieve their goals. Our classes and equipment provide a variety of fun ways to get in shape and our personal trainers have the expertise to create a customized game plan for anyone, regardless of your fitness level."

Consumers can simply walk in to any participating Gold's Gym location to take advantage of their free workout. Staff will also be on hand to offer free fitness assessments. Certain restrictions may apply. Contact your local Gold's Gym for more details. There are more than 500 Gold's Gym locations across the United States. To locate your nearest Gold's Gym, visit www.goldsgym.com/locator.

For those who cannot make it down to the gym, Gold's Gym is offering free tips to consumers on "How to Set Realistic New Year's Resolutions" and additional health and fitness advice to help them jumpstart a fitness routine in the New Year on their Web site.

Five Simple Tips for Setting and Achieving New Year's Resolutions in 2008 As Gold's Gym is inviting Washington, DC residents to turn off (or TiVo) the football games and turn on the treadmill, the worldwide leader in fitness understands that breaking free from family and regular holiday routines can be a challenge. Gold's Gym experts have provided the following tips on setting realistic New Year's Resolutions for residents of all fitness levels.

1. Create an Action Plan - Evaluate your weekly schedule and strategically plan four to five days of aerobic activity into your schedule. Do not anticipate on exercising every day, as daily activities and last minute events will make that goal unattainable and leave you feeling discouraged.

2. Set Realistic Goals - Make sure to set incremental rather than long-term goals. Instead of attempting to lose 25 pounds, aim for shedding five pounds at the beginning of the new year. Once you have met that first goal, reward yourself (see tip #3) and move on to achieving a larger goal.

3. Reward Yourself - It is important to reward yourself on a regular basis for sticking with your resolution. After reaching your weekly weight loss goal or losing a dress size, do something that makes you feel good about yourself (i.e. haircut, facial, manicure, etc.)

4. Develop a Buddy System - Share your health and fitness New Year's Resolutions with friends and family and most likely, you will find out that they have committed to similar resolutions...or they will at least take an interest in making sure you keep yours! Find someone with similar goals and encourage one another to share tips and motivating words to help each other stay on track and committed to your resolutions.

5. DO NOT PUNISH YOURSELF - When setting new goals and resolutions, more often than not, you will "fall off the wagon" or break your resolutions fairly early on in the process. Not only is this common, but it is OKAY as long as you DO NOT punish yourself by giving up. For example, let us say you resolved to give up the morning donuts at the office. But two weeks into the new year you find them impossible to avoid. Rather than giving in to the two or three you really want, tell yourself to eat one, but add an extra 10 - 15 minutes of cardio to your next workout to burn off the extra calories. Too often, when we break our goals and resolutions, we throw in the towel and give up all together...but by learning to offset "bad behavior" with a little extra time on the treadmill, you will begin to balance your calorie intake with your physical output.