DEAR HARRIETTE: I started an exercise regimen last year and was doing pretty well, walking almost 10 miles a day. And then the winter came. Despite my best intentions, I slacked off dramatically. I ended up gaining back almost all the weight I had lost, and I'm kind of sad about that. Now that spring is here, I want to start my regimen again, but I'm worried it won't work. How can I get motivated to stay on course? -- Get Fit, Syracuse, New York
DEAR GET FIT: Many people get into a similar rut. Warm weather can make it easier for you to get motivated. Rather than worrying about what happens after summer, get moving now. If walking was once your thing, start walking again. Build up to 10,000 steps per day, which is recommended by the American Heart Association for everyone. If you are up for it, add other aerobic activities. You may want to consider hiring a trainer to help you get started. If you have any friends who may want to walk with you, enlist them. This will help you to keep up your activity, even when you don't feel like it.
Once you have established a rhythm, add an indoor physical activity so that when the weather does change, you already have established an exercise program that will keep you going.