‘New year, new me': People from Western Pennsylvania make resolutions for 2024

As we say goodbye to 2023, the time has come to set New Year’s resolutions for 2024. But not everyone chooses to set them — and more importantly, not everyone sticks to them.

Improved fitness came out as the top 2024 resolution at 48%, according to a Forbes Health/OnePoll survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted in October.

As general manager of LA Fitness in Monroe­ville, Kalvin Byrd said he usually sees a “real spike in memberships” around January and heading into the new year.

“Around this time, we do get a lot of people that say, you know … this is a new year, new me,” said Byrd, 37. “I just want to change. … Why not change now?”

The spike usually starts around the end of December, and people usually get memberships for around two months, he said.

Though some are serious about fitness and see their resolutions through, the majority of the new members don’t stay later than March.

“After March, it’s just done,” he said.

Byrd noted that resolutions aren’t the only reason for the spike in memberships, as many come in to lose weight during the holiday season when large meals are frequent. He said this can start around Thanksgiving and last as late as Easter.

A lot of members become involved in the classes offered at LA Fitness, like aerobics, Silver Sneakers and yoga, according to Roman Capalvo, operations manager at the Monroeville location. Many fill up around this time of year, he said.

He said he sees people of all ages taking advantage of the gym, and it’s a good place to go for those looking to meet new people.

“It’s nice that the gym can be part of that,” said Capalvo, 28. “We have a community here, which is very important.”

Both Capalvo and Byrd believe New Year’s resolutions can be effective, but Capalvo said what has to be effective is the resolution itself — by making one that is actually attainable.

“Those goals have to be realistic,” he said.

Byrd said he believes New Year’s resolutions can be viewed as goals.

“If you got some goals that you have been trying to accomplish throughout last year, and you’ve been working on them … maybe this year, you set that as a resolution,” he said.

Carl Sinkula’s resolution for 2024 is fitness-­related, as he had to get two hip replacements. He also wants to golf twice a year and be a nice guy.

Recently, Sinkula, 77, of Monroeville was cleared to lift weights again, and he has already started even though it’s not the new year just yet.

He was working on installing the floor in his basement “man cave” when he said he realized he was too weak to stand back up.

“So I figured I better start lifting again and build up all my lower body,” Sinkula said. “While I’m at it, I might as well do the upper body, too.”

However, he hasn’t always been successful with his New Year’s resolutions. If he knows he will break a resolution, he will refrain from making it at all.

“I’m smart enough that I know if I make a resolution, I’m going to have to do it, so some years I just don’t make one,” Sinkula said. “It’s better not to make it … than to make it and two weeks later to break it — so I only make the ones that I know I’m going to keep for certain.”

New Year’s resolutions are only effective if they’re kept, Sinkula said, even though he acknowledges that the intention is there by attempting to make them.

“You have to start somewhere,” he said.

Capalvo’s resolution is to be a healthier version of himself by adding new habits to his life like reading, yoga or meditation.

Resolutions Byrd has heard people making recently are spending time with family and making money, among others.

According to the Forbes Health/OnePoll survey results, popular resolutions for 2024 besides improved fitness include improved finances at 38%, improved mental health at 36%, weight loss at 34% and improved diet at 32%.

Resolutions that were less popular for this coming year include traveling more at 6%, meditating regularly at 5%, drinking less alcohol at 3% and performing better at work at 3%.

In 2023, the top resolution was improved mental health at 45%.

T.J. Neal’s resolution for 2024 is to be better with his finances.

“Over the years, I’ve been spending too much money,” he said, conceding that he’s been impulsive and immature with purchases.

Neal, 30, of McKeesport is a professional football player for the Memphis Showboats, and in the offseason he works with kids as a behavior specialist.

“I want to be more intentional about where I spend my money, making a budget and being disciplined to stick to that budget,” he said.

In the past, Neal hasn’t really made resolutions because he said he is the type of person who works toward his goals regularly.

“I believe having a goal — having some direction in your life — is always effective,” he said.

Neal said he also wants to maintain his temper and be well-rounded as a man, father and person.

“Goals and New Year’s resolutions give you a direction toward something,” he said.

When Sinkula’s wife died, he was determined to get out of the “funk” he was in and meet someone new. He ended up getting remarried, and they’ve been together almost 20 years.

Nowadays, most of the people he knows don’t bother to make resolutions anymore, he said.

“They’re just happy to see the new year come.”