by Richard Bickmore

Created on: February 09, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

Another year has come and gone, and you've got fitness on your mind. Fitting exercise into your life can seem daunting at times, but here are a few tips that can help:

Develop a plan. Before starting any kind of exercise regimen, it is important to have a strategy already mapped out. What do you wish to accomplish? Do you want to shed a few pounds? Or get back on the basketball court? Maybe be the next Arnold? Depending on the desired result, you need to formulate a plan accordingly.

Decide what works for you. Are you an early riser? Or do you have a physical job? You may want to start your day with a walk, run or trip to the fitness center. Do you get up about ten minutes before your daily commute? Or is your work more "mental"? Consider an exercise routine that you can do faithfully after work. Take a co-worker!

Keep it real. The number one reason why an exercise regimen fails? Unrealistic goals. You want to get back into weight training, but you haven't hit the gym in five years. Are you going to go in, throw 300 pounds on the bar and start doing bench presses? Of course not. Or maybe you want to drop 50 pounds in a month? Highly unlikely to happen. Attaining realistic goals gives a sense of accomplishment rather than disappointment, and your motivation to achieve more stays alive.

Take a friend. If you know someone else who wants to start an exercise routine, make a plan to do it together. You'll find yourselves motivating each other, and you will both be able to see and comment on the other person's results.

Tell people about your decision. The advantages of this are dual. You may find a partner to take along as mentioned above, and the verbalization itself reinforces your goals in your own mind.

Post your goals. This is the visual reinforcement to keep you focused on your goals. Sticky-notes on the refrigerator or tomorrow's plan on the calendar will help keep you on track.

Focus on the benefits. According to a study performed by the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of regular exercise are several. Weight control, drastic reductions in the risk for heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, more restful sleep and even a better sex life are just a few examples.

Keep your eye on the "big picture". Unfortunately, there will be times when it seems like you're taking two steps forward and one step back. Don't give up! This is natural, and temporary. Accentuate the positive, and remind yourself of the goals you have accomplished in the past and that you will continue to achieve them in the future. In other words, don't be too harsh on yourself.

Keep a record. This has two benefits. The first and most obvious is it helps you keep track of what you did the last time you exercised, helping you to decide what you will do the next time. Also, It is a valuable tool when you're having a "what's the use" day. Looking back over the past days, weeks, or months will show you just how much real progress you have made.

Celebrate your success. People tend to forget the importance of rewarding themselves. For example, a sensible dinner out after a major accomplishment isn't going to hurt anything and will give you a feeling of a job well done.

The importance of regular excercise is well-proven, and with a bit of planning and foresight, you will achieve your goals.

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