Publicise your plans - Tell friends and family that you are going to exercise regularly. Then put the plan in writing, specifying how often you are going to exercise. Make it a long-term plan in order for the routine to become habit.

Reward yourself - Set goals along the way and reward yourself as they are accomplished. If you lose 5kg, buy yourself a new shirt. And if you jog 10km, schedule a pampering massage. If you don't meet a goal, determine a consequence for failing - such as no desserts for a week.

Do it with a mate - Get a mate to exercise with you. Exercising with someone else is much more fun than doing it by yourself.

Skip the excuses - Don't say you haven't time to exercise. Once you see how many hours you spend sitting at your desk, working out how to fit in time for fitness, even if it is just a 15-minute walk, becomes easy.

Be realistic - Don't set insurmountable goals like having a model's figure or winning a marathon, you are only setting yourself up for failure. Create realistic goals and be satisfied with the knowledge that the benefits come with time.