When was the last time you changed your routine at the gym? Most people stick to a tried-and-true formula of 30 minutes to an hour of cardio plus weight training a specific muscle group. The problem with doing that repeatedly is two-fold, however. Mentally, you become less engaged and less motivated to work out, while physically your body adapts to the routine, meaning your fitness levels plateau and results decrease.

You’ve worked out just about every upper body muscle there is this week. Your biceps are bulging, your pecs are popping and your back is cut. It’s time to focus on the lower body, but you don’t really feel like it. Leg day doesn’t have to be a drag.

If you visualize women at the gym or working out what do you see in your mind's eye? Chances are you see a slim, fit, and toned woman who already looks in peak physical condition. Magazines are filled with pictures of celebrities working out with their personal trainers, just to lose a few pounds on their already size 0 frames for an award ceremony.

Sedentary jobs are on the rise, even if remote working is too, with more jobs fixed to technology and computers than ever before. However, what's great for business might not be good for us, as a recent review study suggests, with the amount of time spent sitting down linked to increased risk in serious health issues.

Are you planning to change aspects of your life come January 2015? If so, you are not alone as millions embark on breaking bad habits, beginning new exercise regimes and generally creating a balanced life and healthy lifestyle. So, what's the plan? If you really want to get going in a positive direction after New Year, then you need to get set and get ready now!

What happens in the future is a reflection of what you did in the past.

So, it's nearly the end of the year and the festive season is upon us, so a great opportunity to relax and slack off on the exercise for a while, right? Well, actually, the opposite is true, as this is the perfect time of year to keep on working out to make sure you don't undo all the positive changes you've made during 2014.

Without doubt the holiday season and New Year celebrations do bring changes.

There is nothing in the fitness rulebook that says that getting in shape cannot be both enjoyable and fun. Yes, you might face a physical, emotional and mental challenge in the process and totally transform your whole being, but the pleasure is in seeing great results.

It's one thing to be committing to an exercise regime but are you going through the motions or are you working out hard enough? Putting on your fitness gear and being active is commendable but unless you are working up a sweat you could be spending time on ineffective training.

Love may make the world go round but negative actions and thoughts can make your world spin on its axis, to the point where you lose your footing and any sense of time or space. This may sound extreme, but the fact is that situations, experiences, people and our own minds have a huge influence on our lives.

As we get older and life seems to get more complex, not to mention busy, responsibilities at home and in our working lives can overwhelm, leaving us with what feels like precious little time to ourselves. It's easy to understand how exercise can take a back seat to other seemingly more pressing priorities.