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By Kenneth Cheung

2026 resolutions

New year, new gym crowd — sticking with it may be the bigger workout

Jan 1, 2026 | 6:00 AM

On the first week of January, treadmills across the Battlefords hum a little louder and weight racks see a few more hands than usual. It’s the annual rush of New Year’s resolutions – hopeful, determined and, for many, surprisingly fragile.

At Lifetime Fitness in North Battleford, owner Brent Kauth says the change is noticeable almost immediately.

“Get more volume of people for sure,” he said, estimating the early-January jump. “Probably about a 20-per-cent increase, I would say.”

But if January is defined by enthusiasm, February and March are often defined by reality.

“I would say it’s about 50 per cent of people that succeed,” Kauth said.

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He sees many members give up when results don’t come as fast as they hoped. His advice is simple but firm: “The biggest thing is really to stay consistent.”

He encourages newcomers to “create a workout schedule that is sustainable,” start slow, increase gradually and “listen to your body.”

Brent Kauth, owner of Lifetime Fitness in North Battleford, says January usually brings about a 20-per-cent increase in membership due to the New Year’s rush. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Across town at BattleFit Gym in Battleford, owner Jeet Khela said the same thing happens every year.

“Oh, absolutely, absolutely,” he said, describing the New Year rush.

“January is definitely one of the busiest times… we’re busy all year round, but we see a noticeable spike.”

But within weeks, reality begins to thin out those crowds.

“With the big spike, we do see a drop off… after a few weeks, or at least like a few months, we’ll see a drop.”

Khela said it’s not laziness that causes people to stop, it’s human nature.

“People rely too much on motivation,” he explained. “Motivation doesn’t last… real results come from routine.”

Many also try to overhaul their entire life immediately.

“People try to do too much, too fast… that works for a week, then they burn out.”

Others don’t have a plan, don’t have accountability, or “make one mistake… and then they think like, that’s it,” he said.

Across the country, Canadians seem to share similar hopes and struggles heading into 2026.

A national poll by Phoenix, a digital health clinic, found 68 per cent of Canadians prioritize weight loss, making it the most common personal care goal in the new year.

Many plan to seek help online before ever seeing a professional. About 24 per cent say they would turn to a search engine first for weight-loss advice, while 37 per cent say they trust AI to recommend weight loss strategies like calorie planning, fitness programs and routines.

But even with digital tools and endless information, sticking to it is still the hardest part.

Khela tries to help people find realistic ways to keep going. He tells people to expect slow progress, and not to panic when results don’t appear immediately.

Kauth echoes that message of patience.

“You don’t get out of shape in a month or two, and you don’t get into shape in a month or two,” he said.

“It takes time and consistency.”

— With files from battlefordsNOW’s Alyssa Rudolph

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com