If you're like most Americans, when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve you vowed to swear off the Frappuccinos, actually run in your running shoes, and push up, lunge and crunch your way to a body that Beyonce or Brad Pitt would envy. And if you're like most Americans, none of this has happened.

If you're slacking off on your resolution to get in shape, you may be stuck in an exercise rut. Not to worry: Even if you're grossed out by the gym and tired of the treadmill, there are plenty of other ways to get fit. No matter what your goal is, there's an activity that's right for you.

Boot camp

Need to do something extreme to kick off your exercise regimen? How about running through an outdoor obstacle course at 5:30 a.m.? If that sounds like the motivation you need, try a fitness boot camp.

"If you're tired of the gym, if you need a jump start, or if you just want something fun and different, this is for you," said Amy Bradley, owner and instructor of Temecula Adventure Boot Camp for Women.

The four-week camp meets for one hour every morning at various parks in Temecula. The activities vary each day, and include circuit training, hiking, calisthenics and relays.

"I focus on getting rid of fat and building muscle," said Bradley. "That's why we combine cardio and weight training."

Although the camp is intense, Bradley insists it's not intimidating.

"It's more of an encouraging environment than a camp where they yell in your face," she said.

Bradley said women of all ages and abilities come to her camps.

"I have people who run half marathons and people who haven't done any kind of activity in a long time," she said. "Everyone goes at their own pace."

By the end of the session, said Bradley, participants will definitely see results.

"Most of them lose a couple of inches," she said.

-- http://www.temeculabootcamp.com; (951) 265-3145

Synergy yoga

Do the daily commute, daily news and daily grind have you stressed out? Are you craving a workout for your mind as well as your body? Give Synergy yoga a try.

"The main word is balance," said Charles DeFay, senior assistant to Master Teacher Peri Ness DeFay, the founder of Synergy yoga and owner of the Synergy Yoga Center in Encinitas. "Health, well-being and longevity are the main benefits, (but) I would honestly say that the benefits are endless."

Synergy yoga is a systematic approach to Hatha yoga suitable for all levels of ability. During each 90-minute class, which takes place in a heated studio, participants are led through a series of postures that safely work every part of the body in a naturally progressive sequence.

"After class, you have an incredible afterglow," said DeFay. "You're fully oxygenating every cell. Your immune system is stimulated, your organs are cleansed, your muscles lengthen, you feel more attuned and your focus mentally and physically will increase."

He said it is not uncommon to see a professional athlete practicing Synergy yoga next to someone in a wheelchair during a class at the center.

"We have every imaginable type of demographic," said DeFay, who said the center also holds Synergy yoga classes for children. "Everyone can benefit. There's so much balance that's obtained."

-- The Synergy Yoga Center, 957 Second St., Encinitas; (760) 753-1828; http://www.synergy-yoga.com

Salsa dancing

Looking for a fun alternative to spinning class? If you've ever watched "Dancing With the Stars" and thought, "I wish I could do that," try a dance-inspired workout, such as the "Salsa Moves" at 24 Hour Fitness.

The weekly class, which is offered at several North County locations, teaches participants how to salsa, meringue and cha-cha.

"It's very basic steps that everyone can follow," said Imad Askar, divisional Group X manager for the Southwest Division of 24 Hour Fitness and a "Salsa Moves" instructor. "It's user-friendly for everybody. Even a beginner can do it."

Askar said participants in his Monday-night class in Rancho Penasquitos range from teenagers to people in their 60s. Unlike a typical dance class, no partner is required, and the emphasis is on exercise.

"It's more fitness-oriented than an average dance class," said Askar. "It's really Latin aerobics with a lot of Latin flair."

Besides learning some new dance moves, you'll also get in some quality cardio.

"It's one of the classes that I sweat the most in," said Askar. "It's a total workout, but you really don't feel it because you're having fun and dancing. It's great exercise."

-- 24 Hour Fitness Member Service Dept., PO Box 2689, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 432-6348; http://www.24hourfitness.com.

BOSU

If you've tried every fitness gadget from the Ab Roller to the Thigh Master, look no further. For a versatile workout with minimal equipment, check out a BOSU balance trainer.

Developed by San Diego resident David Weck in 1999, the dome-shaped device first gained popularity with Olympic athletes before becoming a fixture in gyms and living rooms across the nation. BOSU is an acronym for "both sides up," as it can be used with its flat base on the floor or on top of the ball.

Encinitas resident Ann Heizer is a BOSU master trainer and member of the BOSU Program Development Team. Heizer said using a BOSU balance trainer immediately added a new dimension to her workouts.

"I was much more agile, flexible, strong," and her reaction times were much faster, she said.

Heizer said the BOSU adds an extra element to even the most basic exercises, because they are performed on an unstable surface, thus forcing the body to balance.

"It's all about fine-tuning the small muscles that we use every day," she said. "Your entire body will be affected."

The beauty of BOSU, said Heizer, is that it provides a challenging workout for people at all fitness levels. She has taught BOSU classes to everyone from senior citizens to people who were severely overweight.

"I even stick my dog on it!" Heizer said. "The training effect is incredible. It has such amazing results."

-- Ann Heizer: (760) 612-5557 or http://www.annheizer.com; BOSU: http://www.bosu.com

Pilates

Want to shave some points off your next marathon running time or improve your golf swing? Pilates may be the solution.

"Pilates really changes the way your body not only looks, but performs," said Tammy Lemieux, owner of and instructor at The Pilates Place in Encinitas.

Developed in the 1920s by Joseph H. Pilates, the Pilates Method is an exercise system focused on improving strength and flexibility without building bulk. The exercises can be performed using equipment, which uses resistance to strengthen arms and legs, or on mats, where abs, back and glutes are targeted. Many gyms and fitness centers offer classes throughout the county.

"Pilates basically teaches body awareness and good posture," said Lemieux. "It strengthens and stretches your body."

Lemeiux said Pilates is ideal for athletes of all sports, as the increased flexibility helps improve performance. Golfers, runners, skiers, horseback riders, tennis players and dancers are all regulars at her studio.

Aside from improving dexterity, Lemeiux said many people turn to Pilates because it decreases the incidence of injuries. "A longer, leaner muscle is a healthier muscle," she said.

Athletes are not the only ones who can benefit from Pilates.

"Anybody can do it at every level," said Lemieux. "It definitely should be a major part of your training."

-- The Pilates Place, 317 N. El Camino Real, Ste 109, Encinitas; (760) 632-1426; http://www.sdpilatesplace.com

Capoeira

Looking for a unique, total body workout that combines martial arts, music and more? Check out capoeira.

"Capoeira is a combination of dance and martial arts that also includes acrobatics, music and instruments, culture and history," said Rosalva Silva, a Brazilian native who has practiced the art form for over 16 years and has taught classes throughout North County since 1999. "It's hard to describe. It's not a dance, not a fight."

Capoeira is "played" by two people inside a circle of people called a roda, who clap, sing and play musical instruments. Cartwheels, handstands, and kicks are just a few typical moves that are "played."

"Play depends on the rhythm of the music," said Silva. "You get different results each time. You can do the same movement slowly and controlled, or much faster, depending on what the instruments are playing. Your muscles don't get used to it, so you always get challenged."

Silva varies the intensity of the moves to suit the people she is teaching. For the older class she teaches at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, she focuses on defensive lunges and squats. For her college-age students, the emphasis is on the acrobatic elements. Even children as young as 3 can participate, doing somersaults and crab-walking.

Silva said she believes capoeira has become popular because it as exciting as it is challenging.

"It's not boring," said Silva. "The comment I always get is, "Wow, I was so sore, but it was just so fun.'"

-- Rosalva Silva, (760) 438-0558; http://www.abadacapoeirasd.com

Kettlebells

Seeking a seriously sculpted physique? It's all about kettlebells, comrade.

A kettlebell is a traditional Russian cast-iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. Used for centuries in Russia, former Soviet Special Forces instructor Pavel Tsatsouline brought them to the United States in 2000. Once the exclusive domain of the military, kettlebells have been embraced by the fitness community.

"I've gotten enormous results," said Lauren Brooks, a Solana Beach-based certified Russian Kettlebell instructor. "It's great for fat loss. It sucks the fat and makes you dense, warriorlike, Greek goddesslike. It doesn't get you all bulky, it makes you strong and lean."

Brooks said doing a series of basic kettlebell moves for 45 minutes two or three times a week is enough to see results.

"You burn so many calories in such a short session," said Brooks. "You don't need to spend two hours in the gym because it combines strength and cardio all in one. It conditions you like no other."

Other benefits of kettlebell training, said Brooks, include increased strength, flexibility, mental stamina, focus and sports performance.

"They're actually good for pretty much everybody," she said. "I have a 66-year-old client slinging a 26-pound kettlebell."

-- Lauren Brooks, (858) 336-9426; http://www.socaltrainer.com

Kickball

Want a way to make friends, have fun and get some exercise at the same time? Try an old school playground favorite: kickball.

The third season of the city of Encinitas Parks & Recreation Department's coed kickball league literally kicks off on March 6. During the 12-week season, teams compete in friendly games of kickball each Monday evening at Cardiff Sports Park.

"A lot of people who sign up have shied away from competitive sports leagues," said Manny Quijada, recreation supervisor for the city of Encinitas. "With kickball, there's not a lot of competition. People are more concerned about the level of fun they're having."

Kickball is pretty much the way you remember it from elementary school, right down to the big red rubber ball. It's a great way to get your fresh-air fix, as well as some decent exercise, said Quijada.

"It's like baseball, so there's a lot of running after the ball," he said.

Games last about 60 minutes, or six innings. Six to 10 players can be on the field at any given time, and teams can have up to 20 players.

Quijada said he expects all 10 teams from last season to return, and that he has already received calls from two new teams. Among the previous teams are two teams of Encinitas City Hall employees that have developed somewhat of a rivalry, as well as teams made up of co-workers, friends and family members. However, you don't have to have an entire team to participate: At least one team last season was made up of individuals who became friends after playing on the team together.

"Any individual who calls, we'll match them up with a team," said Quijada. "I encourage everyone to do it."

-- Encinitas Parks & Recreation Department, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., Encinitas; (760) 633-2740; http://www.encinitascity.com

Personal trainer

You want it all: a professional workout tailored to your personal fitness goals in the comfort of your own home -- at your convenience. Impossible? Not with a personal trainer.

Sandi Clexton, owner and developer of Carlsbad-based Women's Core Fitness, comes to her clients' homes, brings all of the necessary equipment and helps them develop a personalized fitness program.

"There's an enormous amount of exercises out there to do," said Clexton. "Not every one of them is for everyone. A good personal trainer will determine what's right for you at your fitness level."

Clexton said her program is ideal for people who feel they don't have the time to work out on a regular basis.

"I show them that it doesn't have to take a lot of time," said Clexton, who helps her clients get the most out of their workout by incorporating elements of cardio as well as strength training. "They realize 'Wow, this is easier than I thought.'"

Clexton said she teaches her clients how to exercise effectively so that it will become a habit rather than a sporadic activity.

"The key is to make it convenient while educating them how to do it on their own," said Clexton. "I'm a trainer who wholeheartedly believes in leaving someone with the tools to do it on their own."

-- Women's Core Fitness, (760) 908-6009; http://www.womenscorefitness.com

Alexandra DeLuca is a freelance writer. Contact her at Alexandra.L.DeLuca@gmail.com.