It's one thing to keep fit and to lead a healthy lifestyle, but it's quite another to train to with the aim of improving fitness in a specific way or to ensure a particular result. Take strength training for example, you may want to increase muscle power building any bulk; you might want to concentrate of bodybuilding as opposed to strengthening up your core muscles; or you may even want to build muscles so that you can burn fat more effectively and slim down.

Even if you absolutely love everything to do with keeping fit and working out, everybody needs a touch of inspiration to fuel their motivation levels. What gets you going and what keeps you going? Or are you still stuck in the stalls planning ahead but never quite starting? Whether you feel you can't, have come to a standstill on a fitness plateau or are lacking the gumption in the first place, you need to feel inspired!

The best fitness motivation you can find is to set goals and follow a clear strategy which is manageable, achievable and enjoyable.

Is stress making some women overweight? According to a recent study it could be. As if the fact that some foods make you put on weight isn't bad enough, now a new study suggests that stress can potentially exacerbate the effect of high-fat foods on women's bodies by slowing down metabolism and, as a result, speeding up weight-gain.

Trotting along like a horse; hitting an imaginary ball on an imaginary court in your own home; moving your hips hula style while sitting down; risking injury with dangerous physical challenges; and walking to the next bar; it seems there is no end to the interesting, strange and downright weird trends some people follow in the name of fitness.

If you don't believe in yourself then you're not going to set and achieve goals, and so you really are setting yourself up to fail and creating a self-perpetuating motion of defeat. Add in some age-old classic exercise excuses and you can easily avoid creating a healthy lifestyle now and also find detours on the road ahead.

Ever noticed that your mood and your perspective changes the way you see and interact with the world? When you are feeling negative, like can attract like. That's why a positive mental attitude to getting fit can create the right support network and fitness opportunities.

Do you want to tone, tighten, and strengthen? Do you want to look and feel good? Women who want to make positive changes to themselves often turn to the transformational power of a great exercise program. However, while a good workout can definitely have a real impact there are other areas such as diet, lifestyle and attitudes that you can focus on too so that you can really get your life in shape.

Whether you're just starting out on a new fitness path, are well and truly set on an exercise regime or are on the final push towards achieving your goals, you need motivation to see you through. With the best will in the world, it is a motivating power that will inspire you to succeed and keep on going when the going gets a little tough.

According to recent research, motivation really is all in the mind, or in the memory that is! If you are lacking that get-up-and-go in exercise sessions then you could try recalling a past workout to give you a boost and get you moving. Of course, you need to keep future goals in mind but it seems you might be able to use your past to make a difference to the here and now.

Effective fitness plan in place? Check! Great people to train with? Check! Perfect location and facilities? Check! Know what your fitness goals are and how to achieve them? Wow! You're all set, right? So why do you feel that your motivation is flagging or that it has taken a dip just when you need to up the ante and face a new fitness challenge head on? Just as you need to maintain your activity levels; you also need to give your motivation a boost at times too!

Let's presume that you have had the motivation to realize that you want to improve your lifestyle and fitness levels with some good quality training.