Remain on the fitness train

When January 1st arrives, so many of us resolve to lose weight, eat better, decrease stress, save more money, etc. We tell ourselves this year will be different. A month or so passes and you're likely experiencing one of the following scenarios:

1. I've been pretty good at sticking to my resolution(s) but I feel like they may be slipping away.
2. Resolutions? They're long gone. Who sticks to them anyway?

When it comes to starting and sticking with fitness, for many, it's a challenging proposition. When motivation starts to drop -- fear not. An energy injection is as easy as one, two, three. Here's how to get back on track when a motivation slump derails you.

1. Research your roadblocks
Reflect on your "failed" attempts at exercise (read 5 weight-loss mistakes) and see if you notice a pattern. Do you plan to exercise first thing in the morning even though you're not a morning person? Do you plan a "five-minute" couch break before your walk, knowing that the couch will trap you until bedtime? If you do the same things over and over again, you can't expect different results. Many of us go with what we know and when it doesn't work, rather than make a different plan, we berate ourselves and throw in the towel. If you pay attention to the patterns that stop you from staying active, you can strategize ways to get around them. If you ignore them, they will continue to get in the way of your success.