The holidays are officially upon us. Along with the season comes multiple festive gatherings, usually taking our caloric intakes to the stratosphere.  

Not coincidentally, the end of the season leads to a resolution to get fit. This is the year we're totally going to take control of our bodies. Our goals are pretty reasonable…just a "six pack" by February should take care of it!  Maybe some amazing shoulders and a rear end that'll make strangers stop and stare in amazement, too. Shouldn't be too hard to accomplish, right? 

I mean, all these ads I see on TV and in the magazines show some slob that dropped 100 lbs. in a month, I can do that! Right?!

Well, time to pump the brakes there buddy. First of all, let's just think about where you're starting from. If you haven't done so much as a jumping jack since, oh, 6th grade…well, you might want to temper those expectations.

So, obviously the first step is setting some realistic goals. What can I reasonably accomplish at this point of my life? Well, the sky is the limit for most of us, but upon further investigation, how much work do you really want to put in?    

The next and probably most important question is how do I start? Where do I spend my money? There are so many products out there, which one is the real deal? How can I steer clear of the gadgets and find something that will really help me get abs of steel?!

Well, I'm into this stuff…it's what I do. So, I periodically go out and try out some of the newest fads on the market, just to see if they anywhere near what they claim to be.  Every holiday season there is a new batch of "fitness miracles" that hit the market, so this never gets old.

Mind you, this is just one man's humble opinion. Maybe you'll tell me the "ab-lounge" you given last year is the greatest invention since the wheel. Good for you, but I've never found a way to "lounge myself" into better fitness…

So, as I stroll down the exercise aisle in Target on Vauxhall, I see a lot of the newest trends.  I have to try a "Shake Weight" as soon as I see one is out of the box. The concept is interesting—basically a dumbbell with a handle that moves between the bells, making the weight shake back and forth, allowing an interesting sensation. The idea is to put your body in some standard negative positions of weight bearing exercises, then "shake" the weight. This will supposedly recruit muscle fibers in ways that you'd never imagined.

Well, I shook that sucker for a while, and I felt some blood flowing, but it was mostly to my face (I was blushing). I just didn't get it. Maybe I'm just not doing it right, or maybe it's just silly.

One thing I did notice to my liking was a wide variety of kettlebells up and down the aisle, even adjustable resistance versions. That's a pretty cool concept, considering I'd never even thought that an option. If you've never been exposed to this tool, this is the real deal (I even wrote a previous column on kettlebells).  They've been around for a very long time, and "what's old is new" applies here for sure.

There was just one more that I had to try, the AB CIRCLE. Pretty cool device, I've gotta say. If you've not seen this, you go hands and knees down on this disc-like device (looks like the saucer sled) that pivots back and forth from left to right to target your obliques. A great concept, and a well-made piece, but be cautious about this one if you've got any lower back or hip issues. This is a lot of torsion on the spine, and unless you're already pretty pliable and strong in your core, this could be an injury waiting to happen.

How about videos? Well, this is where your money can be well spent. There are some much better versions of these coming out every year, and while not being perfect, they are the real deal. Two that are taking the world by storm are the P90X series and Insanity Workout. 

If I were forced to think of one negative to say about these videos, it's that they are not "tailor made" for the individual. If you've got any injury issues (we all do), they are not going to take that into consideration (it's a video). They also cannot consider your starting point. If you're not ready to do this level, well, tough luck.  It's sink or swim. But it's smart stuff, well thought-out and will definitely get you moving towards your goals.

Me, I never really buy too much into the latest fads. I'm not going to stand on a vibrating machine thinking it's going to greatly improve my balance or strengthen my entire body while doing bicep curls. 

I am, however, a big believer in attaining knowledge. This is the best gift one can receive. Learning the right way to take care of yourself, which isn't as simple as you might think, can never be a waste of your money. 

There are many ways you can go about furthering your knowledge. You can try going to any of the local bookstores, like Words down in Maplewood Village, and find a plethora of methods and ideals to get your self towards better fitness. Better yet, you can try any of the local fitness professional businesses to learn more about your body and their methods.  There are a number of fabulous yoga studios in town, two Pilates studios, karate instructors, fitness gyms and an amazing personal studio (no plug intended) all within budget and walking distance:

Baker Street Yoga, 97a Baker Street

Blue Life Karate & Fitness Centers, 1809 Springfield Avenue

Bodies in Motion Wellness Studio, 509 Valley Street

Clain Pilates Plus, 1861 Springfield Avenue

Colosseum Gym, Irvington Avenue, Newark (not technically Maplewood but they donated all the equipment in the new gym at the Maplewood Police Building on Springfield Avenue)

CORE Mind & Body, 195 Maplewood Avenue

Diamond Gym, 732 Irvington Avenue

East Side Fitness, 1865 Springfield Avenue

The Fitness Loft, 697 Valley Street

Maplewood Boot Camps

Maplewood Karate, 530 Valley Street

Shakti Yoga & Living Arts, Shakti Ma, 1861 Springfield Avenue

The Gym on Springfield, 1861 Springfield Avenue