Area residents can get a jump on New Year's resolutions to exercise by signing up for Boothbay Region YMCA's three available programs.

“Weight loss is an individual thing,” Wellness Director Mary Baudo said. “We want people to come in and exercise; it's an important part of getting in shape. We want to help people get more fit and make wise choices about their health.”

Walk Across America

Walk Across America began in November but new participants can sign up at any time until May when the program ends for another year. In Walk Across America, participants choose one of three  color-coded routes across a large map of the United States hanging in the track area. They are given a mileage tracking card, and a pin to mark their progress “walking” cross country on the map.

“It's an opportunity for non-members to use the track and for everyone to have some fun,”  Baudo said. “Eight laps around the track equals one mile and each of those miles equals 100 miles on the map. It's fun to be able to say in conversation, 'I walked from Boothbay to Boston today.'”

The red, blue and green routes represent northerly, southerly and mid-country routes. Participants who complete all three routes receive a prize.

Sign up anytime through May on a per month basis, or for the remaining five months. Walk Across America is free for members and $30 (per person) a month for non-members or $130 for all five. Once signed up participants may use the track as often as they wish.

Biggest Loser

The lifestyle version of Biggest Loser begins Saturday, Jan. 5 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This 12-week program is $35 for members and $50 for non-members and includes a “fitness sampler” on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. During “sampler” hours Biggest Loser participants can visit various beginner level classes, including Zumba, cycling, Pilates, water aerobics, yoga and more.

“The sampler exposes people to different types of exercise,” Baudo said. “Often people don't try something because they don't think they can do it or they are uncomfortable joining a class that is already formed. This gives them an opportunity to try without pressure.”

Participants earn points in the program for each pound lost and for time they exercised for at least 30 minutes. The emphasis in this version of the famed television reality show is not weight loss, but exercising one's way to better health and fitness. It's about lifestyle changes.

Baudo recalled Dorothy Ferrell from last year's 12-week session who lost 10 pounds and worked out 85 times. Ferrell also participated in Walk Across America. “My workouts included water aerobics and classes. Walk Across America is a great way to track your efforts because you see actual progress as you move your marker across the map,” Ferrell said. “The physical benefits were and continue to be enormous. I walk better, faster and with improved posture and balance.”

Trek Across Maine

Trek Across Maine is an annual fundraising event for the American Lung Association (ALA) in which participants bike the 180 miles from Bethel to Belfast. The Y is working to bring the ALA's training program to community members who want to train for the event, or just get in shape.

There will be three 7-week sessions of this program beginning on Monday, Jan. 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The fee, per session, is $45 for members and $90 for non-members. The second session begins on February 25 and the third session on April 22.

The program is completed indoors on the Y's cycle machines. A map of the actual route biked in the event will displayed that includes terrain and elevation data and rest stops. Simulating the hills and flat areas will be accomplished by increasing and decreasing the resistance as directed by instructor Michael Maxim.

A portion of the program fees, amount dependent on number of participants, will be donated to the ALA.  All participants of Trek Across Maine will receive a T-shirt from the ALA.

Sign up for all three of these programs begins December 17. Additional information about all of the Y's health and fitness classes, as well as information on Membership For All the income-based, sliding scale membership program, visit www.brymca.org. To reach Baudo, call the Y at 207-633-2855, or by email: mbaudo@brymca.org.

The Y is at 261 Townsend Avenue (Route 27) in Boothbay Harbor.

Lisa Kristoff can be reached at lkristoff@boothbayregister.com, 207-633-4620 or 207-844-4627.