I've had a hard time staying motivated. I live out in the middle of nowhere and don't have an easy way to get to a gym or money to buy workout equipment. How can I stay fit?
- Jessie*

For some people, the hardest part of exercising isn't the vigorous physical activity, but finding a way to stay motivated enough to work out regularly. Luckily, you can try a few tricks, even living in the middle of nowhere, to help keep you on track. The first is to put "exercise" on your schedule — literally. Writing it down makes working out like a daily appointment that you make time for.

Although writing it down in your planner or calendar makes it harder to avoid, it doesn't necessarily make you look forward to working out. So it's also important to make exercising fun and something that you enjoy. If you like to dance, come up with a funky dance routine to do a few times a week.

Living in the middle of nowhere doesn't have to be a negative thing. Take advantage of all that open space by biking on back roads or trails or going for a peaceful jog. Nature is also a great place to fully utilize the many benefits of yoga. Jogging, running, biking, yoga, push-ups, and sit-ups are just a few examples of exercises that can be done with little or no money involved.

Other low-cost options include exercise balls, hand weights, exercise bands, and videos and DVDs. Whatever approach you take to working out, you'll love the results — a healthier and fitter you!

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: March 2011

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.