The dawning of the year 2002 rings in a bounty of newness — the Euro, for example, not to mention a barrel full of state laws and a Gotham City mayor name Michael Bloomberg.

But with the new come old traditions more aged than Dick Clark — such as champagne toasts, noisy party makers and the earnest and often tone deaf chanting of “Auld Lang Syne.”

But after all the pomp and revelry, some people have one more tradition to face: Resolutions. The resolution is usually framed by the determination to be better, brighter, smarter, richer, happier and healthier.

Here in Lodi, as is the case throughout the United States, people are jumping on the resolution bandwagon.

The most popular pledge of them all is to hit the gym, get in shape and look better in a bikini.

Tom Doucette works out with his son, Reed, at Twin Arbors Athletic Club in Lodi. Getting or staying fit is one of the more popular New Year’s resolutions. (Mary Min Vincent/News-Sentinel)

“They gear us up for the extra business,” said Kelli Johnson, a Twin Arbors Health Club employee.

She said management brings on supplemental staff to handle the business.

Business will probably level out by March as the would-be Arnold Schwarzeneggers lose interest in their carefully crafted fitness resolutions, Johnson said.

Johnson admitted she has slacked off in her gym workouts and is resolved to hit the weights harder in 2002.

She was going regularly to the gym, she said, “and then Thanksgiving hit and we got busy.”

Steve Ryckman, manager at Better Bodys in Galt, echoed Johnson’s sentiments: It gets busy in the early months of the year and then returns to a normal level. It’s a trend he doesn’t like though.

“We actually call members to encourage them to come in regularly,” Ryckman said. “We’re not one of those gyms that just take the membership fees and ignore the customer.”

Ryckman said he understands why people fall out of sync with working out: It’s easier to sit on the couch at home, and people are busy.

“The hardest part is just getting in here,” he said. “Once you’re at the gym, it’s not that hard.”

Ryckman has but one New Year’s resolution: To work out more often. Yes, the fitness club manager said even he gets bogged down in everyday life and skips a sweat session or two.

Besides getting pumped up, folks are resolved to feel better and live longer through improved diet, said Sheri Didreckson, owner of Sheri’s Sonshine Nutrition store in downtown Lodi.

She and her husband, Darrell, were swiftly stocking shelves Tuesday in preparation for the onslaught of born-again dieters and the newfound nutritionally conscious who are expected to swoop upon her store today.

“This is one of the hairiest times of the year for us,” Didreckson said.

In conjunction with the new year resolution, she is throwing a huge sale for supplements, healthy snacks and beverages, and organically grown food items. Losing weight is tops on most of her New Year customers’ minds. Feeling better is a close second.

Didreckson does not take her job lightly. She encourages her customers to stick with their resolutions forever. When she gets a price break from a dealer, she immediately turns around and gives the customer a break. Moreover, she is willing to dispense nutrition advice. As proof, she pointed to Darrell and said, “I helped him lose 120 pounds.”

Lodi City Manager Dixon Flynn wants to give up smoking cigarettes. Kicking the tobacco habit is something Flynn has conquered in the past. He started up two months ago after taking a four-year hiatus.

“Smoking is something you do, but shouldn’t do,” he said.

Professionally, the city leader said he’d like to get the Lodi Park and Recreation project built (the indoor sports facility and DeBenedetti Park) and said he believes the city will get a good start.

Kenny Haywood, of Lodi, said saving more greenbacks is his big goal for 2002. Sipping on a drink at Ollie’s Tavern on Tuesday in downtown Lodi, the middle-aged man said he’ll “be more conservative” to reach his goal, and that, he said, won’t be easy.

Not everyone fancies the resolution tradition. Some have given up on the notion altogether.

“What’s the point?” asked Kelli Nunes, of Rio Vista, as she waited to be entertained at Lodi Stadium 12. She said past resolutions have failed, including one to lose weight.

Robert Nichols and Susan Peters, a married couple from Lockeford, said they don’t have resolutions because for one, they manage to make regular visits to Twin Arbors. Peters said that although the gym becomes vacant in December, she’s still plugging away at the various exercise equipment.

Most of the people at Twin Arbors said Tuesday their workout regimes, which they work so assiduously hard at, are the result of earlier resolutions — made at New Year’s and beyond.

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