Lori Nelson understands that bad habits are hard to break.

The owner of Exclusive Athletic Club in Glenwood Springs lost 50 pounds by maintaining a regular exercise routine and healthy diet.

“When I first started out here as an owner, I was heavier,” said Nelson, a certified physical trainer. “I started out at five minutes on a treadmill, and I thought was going to die.”

Two days into the new year, Nelson said she hopes to see more of the valley’s women and men follow her example in 2006.

“I would love to see everybody out here get back in the swing of things this year,” said Nelson, an aerobics instructor. “Some people haven’t even considered it yet, but I usually have several people join in January.”

Nelson said developing a healthy lifestyle — especially for a New Year’s resolution — takes time and patience.

“Start off slow, so it’s not so miserable. If your expectations are too high, you set yourself up to fail,” Nelson said. “It has to be a lifestyle change, something you can live with the rest of your life.”

Avoiding diet fads and not focusing on one particular exercise trend should also be important to those establishing healthy lifestyles, Nelson said.

“This year, yoga and pilates are very popular and that’s all good, but people aren’t exercising their cardiovascular health. That’s important in this altitude if you’re a skier or do other outdoor activities,” she said. “Everybody wants to look like Madonna, but she doesn’t do just that. She lifts and she gets a cardiovascular workout from dancing.”

Dave Shepard, who lifts weights at Exclusive and takes spin classes at the Glenwood Springs Community Center, is most interested in exercise that best fits his lifestyle.

“I had my hip replaced, so it’s hard to find a good workout. Spinning is a great workout,” Shepard said. “I used to ski a lot, but now I pretty much train to stay in shape.”

Shepard said he hasn’t made any New Year’s resolutions, but he does have a few goals to achieve in 2006.

“I’ll try not to gain weight,” he said. “And I’m going to try and quit a few bad habits.”

Val Snearly was working out at the Community Center Monday to counteract not exercising during the holidays.

“No, this is not a resolution,” said Snearly, a hairdresser from Glenwood Springs. “I’m just working off all the holiday junk food.”

Snearly said she refrained from using the center’s elliptical machines and lifting weights in November and December, but plans to exercise every month of the new year.

“(My advice to others) is consistency,” Snearly said. “I want to be healthier and stronger.”

The payoff from exercising throughout the new year is worth the commitment, said Nelson, who has successfully kept off the extra pounds she lost.

“It’s a matter of making taking care of yourself a priority,” she said. “I’ve been heavy all my life — I know it can be done.”