A friend of mine I’ll call Lynn managed to overcome years of couch potato habits to become a regular exerciser. All was well for two years; she kept her waistline down and her energy up with two weight workouts and three short cardio workouts each week. Then IT happened: a knee injury, a nagging pain exacerbated by the smallest things, like picking up a child or wearing the wrong shoes to work.

Goal setting and motivation go hand in hand. Without motivation, you won’t reach your goals, and without goals, it’s impossible to sustain motivation. But when it comes to practical implementation, some goals have a distinct motivation advantage and that’s where learning effective goal setting – and more importantly goal achieving - strategies can help keep you motivated.

There are times in life when things are cruising – the water is calm, things are peaceful, maybe even a little dull. You learn to really appreciate those times when you’re hit with one blow after another: job turmoil, financial trouble, health problems, car or family problems, you know the drill.

Research has shown that we have a limited quantity of willpower, which is why starting a new training regimen and a new diet at the same time is so challenging. However, science has also proven that once you establish willpower and discipline in one area of your life, it is easier to apply in another, and the ability continues to expand.