Trends in health and fitness promotions.

By Sean Norris

According to a University of Scranton study, just 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions succeed in their goals. At first, that number is mind-boggling—after all, we’ve never had a problem keeping our perennial resolution (playing lots of video games and subsisting entirely on pizza and soda).

Upon closer inspection, though, it’s easy to see why the success rate is so low: “Losing weight” ranked first on the list of most-made 2012 resolutions; “staying fit and healthy” ranked fifth. Those two goals are hard enough on their own, but when there are enough leftover Christmas cookies to last until June? It’s like scaling a chocolate-y, chip-y Everest.

Still, if the study tells us one thing, it’s that while it may be hard to stay in shape during the post-Holiday season doldrums, people are at least willing to try. And that means plenty of New-Year sales opportunities for health-related print and promotional products. Below are a few ideas to get you started. (We’re going to stick to the video games.)

FEMME FATALE
The worst part about going to the gym—besides all the sweat, and the other people, and the actual working-out—is trying to keep track of your bag. Not so anymore, with the Bag Tags from Gill Studios Inc. With a write-on surface area for contact information, they’re great for identifying gym bags, backpacks, totes, laptops and more. Three shapes and several strap options are available. For more information, visit www.gill-line.com.

THE PERFECT STORM
If the forecast calls for storms, you know where to find us: hiding under the bed. But if the forecast calls for the G-Storm 24 oz. Stainless Steel Bottle from Gordon Sinclair? Well, we’ll probably still be under the bed, because that’d be one weird forecast. The BPA-free bottle has a pull-up spout and straw, two imprint areas, and fingertip grooves for grip. It comes in a variety of colors. For more information, visit www.gordonsinclair.com.

MIGHT AS WELL JUMP
You could use Logomark’s Digital Jump Rope for a little cardio warm-up, or you could use it for intricately choreographed interpretive dancing to “Jump” by Van Halen, like we do. Either way, the jump rope has a large L.E.D. display that counts number of jumps and calories burned. It also includes a one-color, one-location imprint. For more information, visit www.logomark.com.

IT’S IN THE CARDS
Teraco’s Cards, Keytags and Card/Keytag Sets feature barcodes or magnetic stripes, and are great for gym memberships and Mexican-restaurant loyalty programs alike. We’d say that makes for a conflict of interest every time we look at our key ring, but we’d be lying. We always choose burritos. For more information, visit www.teraco.com.