The area manager of Worthing's Slimming World, Lyndsay Thompson, said: "We've had lots of people coming back this week after the indulgence of Christmas and new people joining as a new year's resolution."

Lyndsay, 47, who recently met GMTV's Ben Shephard at the Slimming World annual award ceremony, hopes people will stick to their new year's resolution to eat more healthily this year.

She said: "This isn't a fad diet so you can still eat with the rest of your family. It's just about healthy eating.

"Ten years ago, I lost four and a half stone. That's why I became a consultant, I was so inspired, I wanted to help other people."

David Harold, who runs Ocean Health and Fitness, in Dominion Road, said: "We're getting into a really busy couple of months now with people joining as new year's resolutions or to get a bargain.

"The challenge is to get them to actually come to the gym once they've joined."

People are encouraged to keep going with gifts, given after every 12 visits.

"It's not so intimidating that way," said David. "Even an absolute couch potato can take the first step."

Mark Turner, assistant manager at the Aquarena, in Brighton Road, said: "Our membership normally goes up in the second or third week of January.

"We get a crazy five or six weeks after Christmas when everyone's got a guilty conscience."

Karen Cahill is the Worthing franchise owner of Rosemary Conley diet and exercise class.

She said: "We start our exercise classes next week and we're definitely expecting a big rise in members.

"It's always a good time of year for us."

A running club's scheme to get adults involved in exercise is being backed by Worthing Council.

The Worthing Harriers 12-week introduction to fitness, walking and running courses is aimed at people who have never run regularly before or who used to run but have not participated for the last few years.

"This programme offers everybody the chance to be supported over a three-month period, after which time they should be able to keep going on their own or join Harriers or one of the other running clubs in the town," said Kevin Skepper, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport.

Last year, 85 people joined the course, many using it as a starting point to train for Race For Life events later in the year.

There is a registration session at 6.30pm on Monday, January 28, at Worthing Leisure Centre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

For more information, call Maureen Stephens on 01903 531978.