Kurt Dunn, gym instructor, goes through his paces at Gymkhana in the Hilton Kingston hotel. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Sneakers gathering dust in the closet? Sweatsuit being used as pyjamas? Your membership at the gym has been paid since three months ago and you still haven't gone. So, what's the problem?

Getting yourself ready to start an exercise programme is more than just getting the physical tools. The mind has got to be on-board. For Trevaine, she knew it would be hard work but she psyched herself up by thinking about the benefits.

'I'll start tomorrow'

"I started for a couple of reasons. It's my only form of physical activity, as I don't play sports. Secondly, I wanted the physical results that come with it," she said. Many people use the 'I'll start tomorrow', but seriously, 'tomorrow' sometimes comes three months later. A bit of urgency is also needed.

"To some extent, I felt I had to do it, for the future, to remain healthy and hopefully lead a more physically fit life. Ward off any possible diseases, etc.," Trevaine relates.

Geoffrey* was concerned about his weight. At 24, he was nearly 250 pounds! He knew he had to start exercising and it was when he did a check-up that he found out his blood pressure was a little high.

"I figured, mi too young fi dat!" he remembers. So he found a gym and started out. He admits he was technically 'scared' into starting the gym.

Fitness instructor Lance, who works in a Corporate Area gym, keeps it simple in his advice. "Working out is not easy. It's hard work. No matter what the exercise, it's hard work. You just have to find that zone in your mind and do it."

Next time, we'll look at how to stay mentally focused during an actual workout.

Tips taken from www.weightlossforall.com

Other tips

Have a game plan. Know what kind of exercise you want to do, especially if you are going to exercise at a gym.

Don't overthink it. Don't talk yourself out of exercise by convincing yourself you have other things you should be doing. Exercise is a priority, too, and should be integrated into your daily routine.

Get a workout buddy. Having a partner to exercise with really helps a lot of people keep their heads in the game. Not only do you have someone who can encourage you (and keep you going to the gym), but you have someone who can challenge you as well.