Yes, it’s cold outside and your tired and wondering how you’re going to get up off that couch to do anything, let alone exercise. Does this sound familiar? This is common for many people at this time of year but here are four strategies to help you get up and get into shape:

1. Start Slow.

Don’t train like Arnold on your first set. Start slowly and listen to your body. A 5-10 minute warm-up consisting of stretching or a treadmill walk will get your body prepared for whats to come. If you feel pain, light-headed or short of breath, slow down or take a break. Over exerting yourself will not only leave you in pain, but can also lead to injury, landing you right back on that couch.

As I was getting ready to head for the locker room at my local fitness club, I stopped and looked around to survey the situation if for no other reason but to find a familiar face or better yet, an unfamiliar face who I’d like to get to know…

Through this quick observation period, I noticed something immediately. It seemed like everyone was listening to a personal music device (ie. IPod, MP3 player). A slew of questions raced through my head: What are they listening to? Hip-Hop, Rock, Dance, or maybe Country? Would someone have Celine Dion on there playlist? Am I the only one that left his IPod at home today?

So, for the rest of the week, I decided that I would conduct an informal survey of what people