The holidays are a wonderful time for family, friends and of course, food. When the days of celebration are behind, it's time to get back into routine. Start your new year off right with keeping your resolution of having a healthy lifestyle in 2016.

Shed off those holiday pounds with the help of the many exercise options here at the beach. Whether you're a first time class seeker or you're looking for a more intense workout that involves some heavy lifting, the choices of getting in shape after the holidays are plentiful in the area.

Searching for the right exercise is important, because rather than dreading your workout, you'll look forward to it. Give your body a challenge and participate in a class you've never tried before. You (and your body) will be thankful you did!

Are you ready to make a change in your life and become a healthier, fitter version of yourself? You may find it intimidating to walk into a gym, crowded with people and machines and no instruction. If that's the case, check out some of these classes and instructional workouts in the area.

“By the New Year, you may feel your pants getting a bit snug and realize that it’s time to make a change,” said Amanda Manjone, owner of CrossFit Orange Beach. “Pants you can no longer button are definitely a reason to put more effort into your diet.”

CrossFit can help you jump start that change. The CrossFit community is a way of life shared by thousands. While CrossFit involves heavier weights, the FitCamp program involves movements using body weight, kettle bells, jump ropes, boxes, and dumbbells. With a coach in attendance at every class to motivate you and instruct you, the workout is a favorite. The CrossFit gyms are located in many cities and are quickly expanding their locations. Visitors are welcome to attend classes while passing through different areas.

So you haven't worked out in awhile? No problem. One of the first steps to any healthy lifestyle is to keep active, and how can you do that if you never give the effort? There are professionals and teachers available that will guide you through a smooth workout.

“A few tips before beginning a new class are to arrive a few minutes early, speak to the instructor and be familiar with the class format,” said Stephanie Christie, co-owner of MOXIE Lifestyle Fitness Studio in Gulf Shores.

MOXIE is a studio dedicated to group exercise and offers workouts for all levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. For each class, an instructor leads the workout for a more safe, effective and complete workout. MOXIE offers spin classes, yoga, barre and more. The exercises are completed to upbeat music that provides the fuel needed for a fun workout.

“Taking things slow in the beginning is necessary, but that should not be used as an excuse not to push yourself,” Manjone said. Our bodies are capable of much more than we often give them credit for. When you begin to use your body in new ways, you will be amazed!”

If you have any medical issues, talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.

Another important factor on maintaining a healthy lifestyle is your diet.

“Eating healthy begins with a healthy relationship with food,” Christie said. “Eating healthy also involves creating healthy habits, you may have to address emotional reasons/beliefs that have been preventing healthy habits.”

Exercise has proven to help many medical issues. Heart disease and blood pressure are a few common health problems helped with frequent exercise

“There are so many diseases that can be prevented and healed through diet and exercise and it is time for us to make our health our responsibility again,” Manjone said. “Alabama has one of the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes. The good news is, we can change that. The best place to start is by taking a really good look at each and every thing you consume: read the labels and question its origins. You only get one body, treat it like a temple!”

The options to live a healthy lifestyle are endless, and just waiting for you to discover them. Participate in local yoga class or find a favorite walking trail on the beach. Challenge yourself at the CrossFit gym or attend a group class with music. With finding the right workout, you can have fun being a healthy, new you.

One of the biggest problems people seem to have with leading a healthy lifestyle is staying on track. Here are a few tips on how to keep motivated throughout the year.

1. Involve your family and friends

“No matter what your motivation is, try to involve your whole family,” Manjone said. “There is no need to make one meal for yourself and another for your spouse or children. Being healthy should and can be a way of life for your family. Do you live alone? Share your plans with friends who are also interested in making a change. Share recipes with each other or have a pot luck once a week.

2. Preplanned meals and snacks

“Failure to plan is a plan to fail,” Manjone said. “It is imperative that you take the time to plan out your meals and prepare food in advance. Try to take a few hours each week to roast veggies, bake chicken for lunch salads, and write out a menu for your week’s meals. Keep healthy snacking options on hand like hardboiled eggs, raw veggies, and nuts. The more you do it, the easier it will become and you will soon realize that this is something you can stick to all year round.”

3. Accountability

“Another great way to stay motivated is to create some sort of accountability,” Manjone said. “For example, this month we have a nutrition challenge going where each day you get points based on your diet and whether or not you worked out. The points are logged on a giant white board hanging on the wall in our facility. You are much less likely to binge eat all day knowing everyone will see how you did!”

Tell your friends and family what you are doing. Use a tracker like MyFitnessPal and connect with friends. If your goal is weight loss, nutrition plays a much larger role in the equation. Do not fool yourself into thinking you can exercise off a bad diet.

5. Set small, achievable goals.

“Don't set yourself up for failure. For example, instead of setting a goal of beginning an exercising routine of 50 minutes a day, begin with 15 minutes per day and gradually work up to 50 minutes,” said Stephanie Christie, co-owner of MOXIE in Gulf Shores. “Remind yourself that extreme measures cannot be sustained and long lasting changes in diet and lifestyle require patience.”

6. Find something you enjoy doing!

“Wellness isn't a bout a one size fits all,” Christie said. “Learn about your body and seek out what works for your amazing body. This is key to successfully meeting your goals.”

“Identify what or who motivates you (plug in your favorite playlist or go to your favorite instructors class to get moving.)”

Do not set yourself up for failure by telling yourself you must be perfect. No one has a perfect diet or works out every day.

“Focus on how your healthy choices make you feel rather than the number on the scale. Most importantly, stick with it. When you wake up in the morning feeling energetic, it will be all the motivation you will need!” Manjone said.

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A recent study found that each January, roughly on in three Americans resolve to better themselves in some way. A much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resolutions. While about 75 percent of people stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half are still on target six months later. February 7 is known as the “fitness cliff” when most people have abandoned their resolutions.