Working out can sometimes be, well, not fun. Long days at work, kids going crazy, family emergencies. It all adds up to a mentally drained and exhausted you. What if I told you, as an honest trainer, the gym was the fourth most important thing to take care of in your healthy living? In fact, getting into a gym is the icing on the cake or the cherry on top of a sundae.

Who's ready to start a fitness transformation? The options are endless and everywhere, pick something and go with it. Rome wasn't built in a day. The expression is used far too often, but that's because it applies. Human nature is to want everything right now.

It's a proven fact that most people change their eating habits and lifestyle choices only after a serious health scare such as a heart attack or a dia...

Even with minimal equipment, a home gym is a great way to set yourself up for success. It ensures you can always do something because it decreases the structural obstacles that keep you from working out. And don't worry. You can put together a really decent gym without spending a ton of money!

If you won't give up wine and carb-based snacks, or if you are not willing to be at the gym for an hour or two every single day, then don't expect to get a body like a model. Fitness models work a lot harder than they get credit for. You can't get those results without the effort and commitment.

I know for myself that when I am slightly over my normal weight even if it is just a couple of pounds I start to feel sluggish and not too happy. But in the meantime, if for you it is a daily struggle, then here are some ways to feel better about your weight.

Keep trying different workout adventures until you find something you like. If I had been discouraged by the instructor I hated, I would never have gone back and found the teacher and class I loved. Remember, the more multifaceted your reasons for exercising are, the more successful you will be.

Variety is the spice of life, so it's always strange to me when people get stuck in a workout rut and don't change. Who said you had to do the things you are doing? There are hundreds of ways to exercise. Some need equipment, some need open spaces and some just need you and a little bit of good old hard work.

On January 1 I decided to make some major changes to my family's nutrition and physical activity. I began to think of our five young children, all the proper body weights--but with a frequent propensity to eating desserts and exercising too rarely. They also learned by example, and noticed when I would snack.

I picked up the most recent issue of OK magazine: "100 Celebrity Diet Tips." I flipped through it and for the first time started to see a trend that I agree with. Here's what won't work for long term weight loss, and the list is short.

I wanted toned legs but I also wanted to be strong and be able to climb a set of stairs without experiencing a severe quad burn when I reached the top. So I tested and tried a few different types of workouts and pretty much found out what works the best. Here are my top five tips if you are looking to strengthen and tone your legs.

How many times have you heard this expression: No pain = no gain? This isn't necessarily true. You can still get great results from a decent workout without killing yourself. Don't believe me? Take a look at fit people. They have don't kill themselves in order to be fit. They just workout regularly.

Looking back at all the women that have come to me over the last 10 years for advice on losing weight I can tell you that one of the reasons that most of them fail is lack of consistency. Sounds simple but it is the truth. Try your best not to get fixated on the scale and have high expectations right off the bat. Rather, give yourself time to make exercising a part of your life and the magic will happen.

We know you're tired, bored and don't have time — but we also know those are just the excuses that keep you from hitting the gym. So while New Y...

On January 1 of this year, I made a resolution to get my family more active, and eat healthier foods together. The quintessential resolution, right? But would you believe that I lost 15 pounds in six weeks by sledding? Yes! As in with a toboggan!

I know how crucial it is to support any exercise regime with the right food, and the older you get, the more important it is. Filling your tank well and ensuring that your exercise is actually doing you more good than harm can't be stressed enough.

What is the best way to get fit? Try something new, and get your friends involved. It is built in adherence, and motivation. There is no replacing having someone waiting for you, or asking "what did you eat today?" Get solid information from trusted sources and start working it in to your routine.

The UFC's promotion of MMA has kids very aware of the sport. It's starting to make its way into movies, television and mainstream clothing. Why is it good? Every pro MMA athlete I have trained, and been around does two things with meticulous precision. Eat clean and exercise regularly.

The plan to battle back against overweight and obesity has to start with simplifying the answer. What works for me? That's the question people should be asking. If you don't like to work out, why do you want to look like someone who does?

This year I resolved to get my family more healthy and active, by employing 10 simply strategies. I had taken inventory of my family's daily nutrition, and realized that there was room for improvement in both the quality and quantity of food that my family consumed. So here are the 10 simple strategies.

In the battle to keep our bodies functioning and healthy, calories are not the enemy. "They're not as evil as many perceive them to be. Without suf...

If you haven't heard about Kangoo don't worry, you're in a huge group. Not one person I've told of my escapade knew what I was talking about. They're boots that resemble ski shoes with oval springs attached to the bottom. The trick to Kangoo boots is to keep moving! Once you get to hopping, you'll never want to stop. This class is tough!