The gym is about to start jamming.

Beginning today, local gyms will see a spike in activities as enthusiastic New Year’s resolution-makers begin making good on vows to lose weight and exercise.

Losing weight was the top resolution in the United States in 2015, according to the Brain Statistic Research Institute. The organization also determined that only 8 percent of people actually followed through with their New Year’s resolutions last year.

The key to success is keeping people excited about exercising beyond January, said Robbie Laughton, senior membership director of the Suffolk Family YMCA. The organization usually adds between 200 and 300 new members in January, when there are no joining fees.

“There is a big push in January,” he said. “People come back from the holidays reinvigorated, with resolutions to get healthy again.”

Oftentimes, participation begins to wane after the first couple of months, Laughton said. It’s important for people to make workouts a part of their daily or weekly routines and for members to become engaged in small groups or classes.

“Sometimes people quit when they find out exercise is not always fun,” Laughton said. “Building connections with other people doing the same thing helps them move beyond that point.

“That connectivity also builds accountability among people in the classes,” he said. “People know when you miss a class and they will let you know you were missed.”

The Y also encourages members to occasionally meet with a fitness coach to work up individualized workout routines, he said.

Anytime Fitness, in Harbour View, usually welcomes 50-70 new clients after the New Year’s holiday, said manager Becky Ferris. Located near the Department of Defense’s J-7, Joint Force Development, the gym is military-friendly. Anytime Fitness offers personal training services, boot camps and traditional workout machines and free weights. Eventually, she hopes to add additional classes.

The hours are that gym’s biggest selling points, Ferris said. Members can access the gyms 24 hours a day; the gym’s busiest times are around 10:30 p.m., 4 to 5 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.

New members get two free sessions with personal trainers, she added. Clients who work with trainers tend to be more motivated and stick with programs longer, she said.

A positive mindset is just as important as a good trainer when it comes to keeping New Year’s resolutions, said Logan Ellington-Harrison, a clinical social worker with Hampton Roads Psychological in Churchland.

People should make their goals specific and detailed, written down in small, attainable steps, Ellington-Harrison said. For example, if someone makes a resolution to lose 10 pounds, they should also have specific ways to target that goal: exercising three times a week, eating more fresh vegetables, walking after dinner every night.

“When you put it on paper, it becomes real,” Ellington-Harrison said. “Resolutions are easy to come and go … but small, attainable steps become lifestyle changes.”

Sheronda Farrow, a psychologist and administrator of counseling at Western Tidewater Community Services Board, agreed. She recommended that people find a workout buddy or work with someone who can motivate them on their weight loss journey.

It’s also important for people to take time to congratulate themselves for their successes.

“It’s not about being perfect, it’s about staying motivated and knowing that if you make a mistake, you get up and get back on the wagon,” Farrow said. “Be forgiving of your mistakes and take time to recognize and reward your successes along the way.”