East Hampton - "It's too hot, I'm not in the mood to run, it's boring, I have shin splints, there is not enough time, I can't leave what I am doing because it is way more pressing…" All common barriers to actually getting on your running shoes, bike pants or yoga tights. It is possible to spend more time in your day thinking about your "dreaded" workout than actually doing it! Doctors, the media, and books all tell us the same thing - exercise is not optional anymore, it is mandatory for pursuing a happy and healthy life. It is that simple, but if it is that simple why is it so hard to get motivated and get that heart rate up and the lungs working?

Gina Bradley discovered her love for running over the course of the past year. Keeping a smile on her face is part of how she gets through long tough runs like this 1/2 Marathon in Hither Hills woods.

The most common protest I hear from women is that they just feel like exercise is one more thing they have to do and they just can't seem motivated to exercise on a daily basis. But what I have found both personally and with women I work with is that it is important not to lump exercise into our compulsions but to elevate it to our personal goals. Taking out the mandatory status of exercise and finding a way to make it the reward or a part of the day you look forward will help to pay dividends on getting out the door and on the road to feeling great.

From running to biking to swimming to stand up paddle boarding to yoga to tennis and the list goes on and on, keep these points in mind as you venture into your new personal goals:

 • If you are having trouble getting yourself out the door remember one of my favorite quotes: - "Fifteen minutes of exercise is better than no exercise!" Once you are out, you'll find you can always go a bit further.

 • Find a sport that you love and you have easy access to, if you live on a bay make sure you have a kayak or a stand up paddle board or if you live near the woods, make sure you have a mountain bike and shoes that are good for running in the woods.

 • Get your body ready for whatever form of exercise you are going to take on. If you don't feel like it is, you may need to find a trainer or a friend who can help you slowly build up the muscle and stamina you will need.

Even admist the busiest of schedules Jessica Bellofatto of KamaDeva Yoga always makes time for Stand Up Paddle Boarding whenever she can.

 • Block out time every day for your exercise in your blackberry, Iphone or calendar. Not only will it be a daily reminder, but you can schedule your day appropriately and move it around should you need to.

 • Find a work out partner. Finding someone or a few friends with similar interests can provide you another source of encouragement.

 • Try new sports - don't stick to the same workout every day, mix it up. Run one day, swim the next, plan a long hike on a weekend, stand up paddle board when the moon is full or take a spin class.

 • Always err on the side of being positive about any form of exercise you are going to do. It takes the same amount of energy to be negative as it does to be positive, but the difference lies in the outcome, if you are positive you will find yourself succeeding far beyond your own fitness expectations and having a good time while doing it.

 • Keeping your mind open to try new things and find new ways to exercise can be difficult at first. But if you look in the local listings you will find all sorts of surprises you may not normally participate in.

 • The YMCA has amazing swim clinics once a week, they offer Master swim classes in the mornings and mid-day. They also offer economical classes such as Rumba and strength and toning classes.

 • Spokespeople of the East End sponsor a Monday night ladies Mountain Bike ride, geared for beginners and it's free!

 • A few of the Hampton's yoga studios such as KamaDeva in East Hampton offer one hour long lunch time yoga classes, these classes are a great way to get in much needed yoga if you have a tight schedule!

 • Spinning studios are a great way to get in a quick and effective workout, B-east in Amagansett offers free intro to spinning classes as well as free intro to other new classes like TRX, a new fitness suspension trainer that is very easy to do on your own.

These are just a few things to help you get started and motivated to get out and get it done! Just put a smile on your face, plan your day with some fitness incorporated into to, throw caution to the wind and just have some fun while you burn those calories. And then wake up and do it again the next day!