I think it depends on your personality. Some people are disciplined enough to workout on their own schedule at home and hold themselves accountable for getting it done. Other people need the extra push that might come from getting a gym membership and knowing that if you DON'T work out them you're wasting money.It also depends on whether you want to workout alone or in a group.
Either way, it's a great idea to make getting in shape your goal for this year.
I wrote a hub on the topic: hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Keep-a-New-Years-Re.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.