1. Use it as an excuse to get “me” time. If you lead a life of chaos where it seems like every moment of your time is consumed with obligations, use a consistent exercise routine as an excuse to spend some much needed time all by yourself.

2. Put away your “fat” clothes. It’s a lot easier to put off exercising when you can hide underneath clothes that make us feel like you’re not as out of shape as we really are. Take all of the clothes that allow you to hide your extra pounds and put them in a box.

3. Make yourself an irresistible offer. If you want to crank up your motivation to get in shape, promise yourself an entire weekend of frivolity, a shopping spree, or maybe even a new “toy” like a flat-screen TV, or a new dining room set.

4. Turn it into a social experience. You have a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a family member who also needs to lose weight, so grab a partner and make a solemn pact to force each other to stick to it.

5. Take a good look in the mirror. When all else fails, get naked and stand in front of a full-length mirror. Take a good look from the front, turn to the side, and even turn around and look back over your shoulder at your backside. If you need to lose even 10 pounds, the mirror will be more than happy to show them to you.