Blow by Your Fitness Roadblocks :

You have your workouts all planned out for the coming week and... it rains on Monday, Tuesday’s meeting runs late, Wednesday your son is home sick, Thursday you need to catch up because you missed work on Wednesday -- and on and on. By now your willpower and motivation are at an all-time low, and you throw up your hands in defeat.

Does this sound familiar?

Believe me, this scene plays out regularly for a lot of people. The key is finding solutions to common roadblocks to your health and fitness goals.Time. Look at where you can make time for exercise. For example, schedule activity in your appointment book a month in advance and keep that commitment the same way you would any other meeting. Cook on Sunday night for the week -- this way you can head to the gym after work and still come home to a healthy, home-cooked meal . Work out at lunch and then eat at your desk. Inform your employer of your goals and ask for some flexibility in your schedule, i.e., come in later, have a longer lunch or leave earlier. Finally, set your alarm/watch/palm pilot to go off when it’s time to exercise.

Lifestyle changes. Take the stairs -- even if you work on the 17th floor -- it’ll get easier. Park your car in the last spot. Look at all the time you’ll save circling the lot!

Always be ready to move. You never know when the opportunity will arise to go for a walk or hit the gym. Keep your sneakers in your car at all times. Join a group that exercises, dances, walks, bikes or hikes. Play with the kids instead of watching -- jump in and go sledding, rollerblade, bike ride or jump in the leaves.

Ask for help. Tell your significant other and/or friends about your fitness goals, and ask them to help you achieve them . If that means they make breakfast for the kids while you take a 30-minute walk, so be it. Plan a family post-dinner walk -- you burn calories and get to spend some quality time together.

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