It’s that time of year again – time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions.

Whether you make them, break them or hate them, they make interesting dinner table conversations, at the least. At best, they can be a turning point for people who need to break a bad habit or develop a good one.

According to www.FirstGov.gov, the most popular resolution people make is to lose weight. Others include paying off debt, saving money, quitting smoking and getting a better job.

Gyms and health clubs in Suffolk say they are expecting an increase in memberships and usage of their facilities next week.

&uot;We usually see an increase in January,&uot; said Julie Clark, membership director at the Suffolk Family YMCA. &uot;We have a very high retention rate,&uot; so people usually stick with it after they join, she said.

Contours Express is also preparing for the resolved to come knocking on the doors Jan. 1.

&uot;We’re expecting some possibly to start signing up the first of the year,&uot; said Bernadette Foster, the new owner of the Townpoint Road Contours. &uot;Everyone’s on a mission to sign up and lose weight.&uot;

Some non-membership-based programs are also experiencing increases. F.I.T. Works, which focuses not on membership but on personal training programs, sold more than 100 personal training sessions in the form of gift certificates through the holidays.

&uot;They’ll all be redeemed in the new year,&uot; said Sarah Meinertzhagen, director at F.I.T. Works. &uot;We’re gearing up for it.&uot;

Some Suffolk residents said Friday that their resolutions aren’t unusual.

&uot;I want to lose weight,&uot; said Ethel Toloth. &uot;I say that every year, but this year it’s going to happen.&uot;

William Brolone’s resolution? &uot;Stop smoking,&uot; he said. &uot;Gotta stop smoking.&uot;

Mary Sinclair sheepishly revealed that her resolution is to &uot;go to church more often.&uot;

Whatever your resolution, some tips to stick to it are to make it realistic, tell people you see often, and don’t overload yourself, according to http://www.ehow.com/how_12076_keep-new-years.html.

tracy.agnew@suffolknewsherald.com

Some resources to help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions:

n YMCA-934-9622

n F.I.T. Works-539-6300

n Contours Express-484-8180

n FirstGov.gov–http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml

n How to keep a New Year’s resolution– http://www.ehow.com/how_12076_keep-new-years.html

n www.quitnet.com