Feeling Fit

As an Olympic Gold Medalist, I'm here to let you in on a little secret; listen carefully. It's not the exclusive gyms, personal trainers, or protein shakes that will help you achieve your fitness goals. And you certainly can't leave it to your iPod Nano, yoga pants or Sigg water bottle to get you as ripped as Ripa. When spin class is all spun and done, in order to obtain the results you want to see in yourself, look no further than to that ten-letter word you love to hate- C-O-M-M-I-T-M-E-N-T. It's simple: Commitment brings action and action yields results. Commitment + Action = Results. While this formula seems simple, I for one know that the answer is often much more complex. Here are some tips to help keep you committed to living a healthy lifestyle.

• Have a Plan - There are many days that you aren't going to feel like working out, but if you set a plan ahead of time it'll be a lot easier to stick to it.

• Work out with friends - If I didn't have training partners to work out with everyday, my training sessions would be a lot harder to get through. The same is true for your workout; not only will a workout partner provide an element of accountability, but it will also be a lot more fun.

• Set and track realistic Goals - Set goals for yourself, but be sure that your goals are realistic and quantitative. Your goals don't need to be measured in pounds or inches; a smart goal may be to say that you're going to exercise three times per week.

• Reward Yourself - Exercise is tough! Give your body a treat every now and then! A fun reward may be to take a trip to a local day spa with your workout friend.

• Be Prepared - There are tons of fitness tools available to you; many of them are even free of charge! You can easily gain insight on what shoes are best for running, to cute fitness tops that will wick sweat away. Take advantage of the resources at your disposal and make sure that you're prepared.

• Have a Contingency Plan - Sometimes things don't go the way you want them to- we all know that, but what are you going to do when it's raining on Saturday morning and you planned to go for a long run? You can't just abandon your workout, have a backup plan like treadmill running or elliptical training.

Working out without commitment is like shopping without the plastic- a lot of activity; but nothing to show for it. So whether your goal is the 2012 Olympic Games or losing that stubborn baby weight, commitment is the piece of the puzzle that makes everything fit just right.