Have you ever lacked the motivation you needed to be healthier? This is something I've lived with off and on for many years. This year, I decided to put my lifestyle on display for the world to see. I've held nothing back. In fact, I have even included my weight, even though it's something I'm not proud of. How is this possible? What are the benefits? In this week's blog, we'll discuss how a personal blog can help you live a healthier lifestyle.

It seems as if everyone has a blog these days and some with good reason. At the beginning of this year, I started a blog where I enter my weekly weight loss progress. I discuss how much exercise I got in that week and my weekly weigh in. It's a bit intimidating to discuss such personal information with the world, but it certainly motivates you.

Your blog doesn't have to be about losing weight. If there is a lifestyle change you're struggling with, blog about it. It's similar to having a journal, but you're sharing with so many people. It also helps you be honest with yourself. Sitting down and writing a weekly entry forces you to look at what you may be doing wrong. Comments from readers also help inspire you. You may even get comments that include tips.

Of course, some of the best benefits of a weekly blog are the knowledge that you're not alone and encouraging others. As people read your blog, they'll be encouraged to make healthier choices as well. As you receive their comments, you'll be encouraged to keep writing. It's at this point that you'll understand that your blog isn't just benefiting you; it's helping others working towards the same goals.

Setting up a blog is free. All you need to do is sit down and start tapping away at that keyboard. So, what are you waiting for? Share your success of a healthier lifestyle with the world.

We've said goodbye to holiday revelries and the season of New Year's resolution making, but promises to keep up with the fitness routine may have slipped into the abyss of post-holiday bliss.

Chilly temperatures, icy streets and cold, dark days are less-than-inviting reasons to head to the gym in the wee morning hours. Winter season may have you cooped up indoors, but there are plenty of ways to get buff and fit before it's time to hit the beach. Grab that yoga mat, pick up a new water bottle and jump into any of these fun indoor activities to boost that sluggish winter metabolism:

Spice Up the Day with Zumba
Get a DVD of this fitness craze to practice dance and cardio moves that will get your heart racing. Zumba workouts tap into your Latin-music-lovin' side so you can heat up your workouts with a little salsa, rumba and hip-hop - and do it all from the comforts of home!

The Great Yoga Tone-Up
Yoga moves designed to burn fat can tighten and tone your entire body, reshaping that couch-loving figure within a few weeks. Get this routine done early in the morning before breakfast for the ultimate calorie burn.

Become the Dumbbell Master
Grab a pair of 5- or 8-lb dumbbells and pace around the house or apartment while doing bicep curls, overhead presses and other simple arm lift exercises to tone up the upper body. Adding weights to a basic walk or stroll can burn up extra calories and train new muscle groups.

Do The Jump Rope Jive
A jump rope and a pair of tennis shoes are all you need to blast away over 800 calories per hour. Jump roping at a moderate pace will give your heart a mega-workout and condition your muscles to the max.

Practice Your Trampoline Pose
Mini-trampolines, also known as rebounders, give you a quick and easy way to tone up the lower body. Get your cardio blast any time of day with a quick 15-20 minute routine on the mini-trampoline; just load up the iPod with your favorite tunes and, jump, jump, jump around.

Just remember, spring break season is right around the corner, which means now is the time to step up the fitness routine and start melting away those excess pounds. Try any of these fun exercise routines to get a head start on that spring body.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are everyone's favorite days of the week. You finish work for the week, and the kids are out of school. The weekend schedules are usually less hectic and more flexible, and you can break out all of your most comfortable clothes. What's not to love? But even though it's the weekend, there are still places to go, people to see and things to get done. If you're like me, those people, places and things often get pushed off until the last minute or aren't tended to at all! Fortunately, just the slightest bit of organization and planning can make your weekend even more relaxing.

Say you've promised to have dinner with the in-laws and take your son to play at his best friend's house sometime over the weekend. Not knowing when you'll be doing those things can add stress to your weekend, and it's simple to get around. Call the in-laws during the week and nail down a night and time for dinner. Call the mother of your son's friend and decide when and where the play date will be. Then record your scheduled to-dos for the weekend in a calendar or planner for easy access.

Other weekend tasks may not be so set in stone, but you know they still need to get done - and you'll feel bad on Monday if they haven't. Sit down on Saturday morning and make a list of what you need to do, things like running the laundry, changing the sheets and grocery shopping. Start marking your list first thing on Saturday and get it done as soon as possible. Once your to-do list is all done, you're free to be as lazy as you want. And who doesn't like that?

Making New Year's resolutions to get fit and healthy is easy, but carrying out those plans is the hardest part of fitness conundrum.

Is rolling out of bed at 7 a.m. for the gym trek really worth it? Won't that extra donut get burned off from the stressful day at work? Why isn't chocolate calorie-free? These are all common questions of the once-motivated fitness enthusiast who has unknowingly fallen off the wagon.

However, there are plenty of ways to jump back onto the health train and make some fitness habits that stick; here's what you need to make getting and staying in shape a priority:

Keep a Journal or Log
Researchers say jotting down your fitness conquests is the best way to stay motivated and right on track with your health goals. Pick up a snazzy journal and fill it up with all the healthy activities you've accomplished over the course of the day.

Pack the Gym Bag the Night Before
One of the easiest excuses for skipping the gym is you ran out of time. Plan ahead by packing your gear in a stylish bag so you can hit the road in a flash. Check off shoes, shorts, tees and other gear from your to-do list for the early a.m. trek so you can focus on just getting to the gym right after you wake up.

Do the Right Workouts
If you're dreading the gym because you detest the workouts, find an activity that you truly enjoy. If running isn't your thing, stop! Work with a personal trainer to narrow down your field of choices to pick out some activities that you actually look forward to. You'll be much more motivated to tackle the physical challenge when you're having fun with it.

Pack a Lunch
Avoid the temptation to overeat on unhealthy food or dine out for a mega-calorie lunch by preparing your own food. Grab a lunch bag and stock up on healthy meals and snacks to keep your energy level soaring throughout the day.

Get a Friend Involved
Find someone who can hold you accountable to your commitment to get healthy and fit. Working out with a workout buddy or talking to someone setting similar fitness goals can keep you motivated and on track on even the most challenging days.