Strengthen Your Resolve:

New Years’ resolutions broken in the first week of January have become such a cliché that it might feel like making resolutions is just an exercise in disappointment. That, however, applies to resolutions made before the New Year; no one said anything about resolutions made during the New Year. Here is your chance to buck the trend, indulge your rebellious side and beat the curse by making your fitness resolutions now. With winter cooping you up in the house anyway, now is as good a time as any to map out your exercise strategy for 2008. Here are some ways you can stick to your new routine:

Make Your Goals Simple:

Yes, in America we prize ambition, but there is a difference between ambition and biting off more than you can chew. If you haven’t been to the gym in years, planning to go for an hour five times a week might just be a recipe for disaster. What you are aiming for is a plan that you can stick with the year through, not just a week. Stacking the deck too heavily against your favor is a great way to defeat yourself.

The Buddy System:

Nothing motivates like saving face. Ask a friend if they want to join you in a daily run or sign up with you for Bikram Yoga class. On those days you’re just not felling like it, you’ll find it’s a lot harder to poop out when you have to abandon your friend and admit you’re giving up. The buddy system means automatic support and encouragement.

Reward Yourself:

Following through on a New Year’s resolution is rarely easy, so a little Pavlovian conditioning goes a long way. If your workout plan results in a little weight loss, buy a new outfit. Or you can make your rewards conditional. Tell yourself, “I really want to see that movie, but I can’t until I get on the treadmill for twenty minutes.”

Think Small:

It’s the little things that make a difference. Keep that in mind this year. Instead of grabbing that soda, have a glass of water. Got ten minutes to spare? A little running in place or quick bout of sit-ups couldn’t hurt. Little things like these add up over the course of a year.

Exercise for Fun:

Strange concept. Working out doesn’t have to be laborious or excruciatingly dull to be effective. In fact, having fun is the best way to guarantee you’ll keep with it. Variety is key. Don’t do the same kind of exercise for too long. Find a sport or game that interests you; a pinch of competitiveness can keep your regiment lively

Don’t Kick Yourself:

Shame and guilt are powerful emotions that can sabotage us in the worst ways. In fact, we often treat ourselves worse than we'd ever treat anyone else. If you tend to spiral into guilt after failing, imagine what you would say to a friend in your situation. You wouldn't call her a loser, would you? More likely you'd be encouraging and supportive, helping her come up with some solutions to the problem. Treat yourself with the same love and respect, realizing that failure is always part of success and can even make success that much sweeter.

Make Your Overall Goal to Be A Better You:

What do you want at the end of all this hard work? It’s important to be able to see the finish line, but don’t make your expected results too unreasonable. Maybe you are not going to get from a size 12 to a size 2 this year by working out only twice .