Stick with it

What scales are not telling you

I Sticking with a new exercise routine is not easy — and anyone who tries to tell you it's simple is full of it. As I've said before, I'm not one of those people who naturally love working out, so getting up and doing my workout every day is an act of will. If you're having trouble staying motivated, jump-start yourself with these tips and then wait for your endorphins to kick in and work their magic.

Take it easy. It takes 21 days to form a new habit. If you push too hard too early, you'll end up losing steam and wanting to quit. Instead, commit yourself to advancing at a steady pace.

Listen to music. Get yourself a music player and put together some cool tunes to inspire you while you work out. You can check out my monthly playlists on the site. Sometimes music makes all the difference.

Enlist a partner in crime. Invite your spouse or a friend, family member, co-worker, or even one of your online fitness buddies to pair up and work out with you. Exercising together will give you both more incentive to do it.

Get real. Remember that sometimes life will get in the way of your workout. Don't give up just because you had to take time off. There's nothing stopping you from getting right back on track

Reward yourself.Be big on rewards — both for long-term and for short-term goals — so come up with some appropriate (nonfood) rewards and enjoy them each time you achieve a new goal. You deserve it!