Fitness Tip! Re-access your fitness plan

Despite a promising start in January and possibly even into February, the sad truth is that many of us will have already given up on our New Year’s resolution to get fit. And as if the failure to make it through to summer without crashing and burning isn’t enough, seeing all those toned Olympic bodies on TV this summer will only serve to make us feel even worse.

But don’t give up yet – it could be that the plans you made in January were just never going to suit your exercise needs.

If you joined a gym with a friend, but prefer exercising outside and alone so you can be in touch with the elements and in tune with your own thoughts, then it isn’t surprising that the thought of paying hard-earned cash every month and having to drag yourself to a noisy gym to sweat alongside loads of other people is no longer an appealing one.

Similarly, if you are the sort who doesn’t get out of bed for less than the threat of a written warning at work, any resolution involving jogging before work was never going to be one that you would stick to.

So instead of giving up and admitting defeat, it’s time to reassess your fitness plans.

* Start by thinking about when you are most likely to want to exercise: are you up and raring to go with the larks, or would you be more inclined to want to thrash it out as stress relief after a long day at work?

* Then think about what you really like doing: do you like to be out in the fresh air, or do you prefer to be undercover at the gym?

* Then think about the practicalities: you might love to swim or use the gym, but can you fit in the travel, showering and hair-drying if you’ve identified lunchtime as your optimal exercise slot? And do you need to consider childcare, or cost?

* Decide whether you want to exercise alone, with a friend, or in a group: exercising with others can be a powerful motivator, but some people prefer the quiet solitude of exercising alone rather than trying to make conversation while you are struggling to breathe!

By thinking realistically about your own personal needs and desires, you should find it easier to make exercise fit in with your schedule and your personality.