You can be an exception, and I want you to be one. If you follow a few simple tips, you can proudly call yourself an avid home exerciser who puts his/her equipment to good use, because you're walking proof.

In fitness, and in life, attitude is the difference between success and failure. The formula is simple - to change your results, change your attitude. If you want terrible results, have a terrible attitude.

The importance of specific goals - I hear this statement often, "I want to lose weight and get in shape. So, I guess I have to diet and exercise." So what? That's not a real goal. Everybody wants to lose weight and get in shape. The problem with this abstract goal is that it leads to nowhere. What EXACTLY is the goal? What does losing weight and getting shape mean to you? Pretend you have achieved these goals. How do you look? How do you act? What's going on with your life? How do you FEEL? Once you have CONCRETE goals, then it's much easier to put a plan together and implement it successfully. Just be sure your goals are reachable (but make you REACH) and measurable. For example, "I want to lose 2 lbs a week for 8 weeks" is an excellent goals.

Get an exercise chart or some professional assistance with your workouts - If you are unsure you're doing things correctly and safely, consider hiring a personal trainer or coach to help you break through this "comfort zone" obstacle of fear. Maybe you need to be held accountable for a while, to make sure you're doing what needs to be done. Once you "get" that you CAN do this regularly AND on your own, then you can elect to reduce the number of sessions with the trainer.