Even with the best of intentions, it is easy to get out of step with your health and fitness program and fall into a rut. A missed workout due to an illness or unplanned event can quickly lead to another one, then another, and before you know it, your couch potato status has been confirmed, and the last thing you want to see is a mirror or a scale.

Even so, just as quickly as you got into that rut, you can get yourself right out of it as well and back on the path to a healthy and super fit body!

Here are 5 tips to help you overcome a rut in your health and fitness program and get back on track:

1. Take a baby step first - You don’t have to jump back in all at once, simply take a baby step toward your goals. Maybe it’s cutting out soda from your diet. Maybe you commit to taking a 20 minute walk each day. Make a small change first, and the big ones will come soon enough.
2. Write it down, then DO IT! - It has been proven time and again that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to achieve them. The simple act of committing your goals to paper (or word doc) will help to spark a deeper commitment within yourself to actually DO the things you want to do. Make a list of some very specific goals such as getting up at 7am to workout 3 days per week, or only buying perishable food to eat when you go shopping. Look at these goals daily and commit to making them a reality and you will be well on your way!
3. Try something brand new - One of the main reasons people fall off the fitness wagon is because they simply got BORED. IF your workout no longer excites you, simply change it up! Take a kickboxing class, a yoga class, or learn to swing kettlebells. By trying something new, you can make exercise fun and exciting once again and doing so will help you get out of your rut and get back into shape.
4. Find an ACCOUNTABILIBUDDY! - Besides being incredibly fun to say, finding an accountabilibuddy can be an awesome way to ensure you stick to your health and fitness routine. This is simply a friend or family member who will join you in your journey. They can keep you accountable to completing the workouts you commit to, eating right, and staying motivated week after week. They are there for you and you are there for them!
5. Create your own personal REWARDS PROGRAM - Finally, another great way to bust yourself out of a fitness rut is to create your own personal rewards program to act as incentive to get back to work! For instance, if you lose 10lbs, you can reward yourself with a trip to the mall to grab a few new pairs of jeans. If you complete a week of low carb eating, you can have a bowl of your favorite ice cream on the weekend. These incentives will make the work you are doing well worth it and add some fun into the process (along with the results of your fitness program of course!)

So the next time you find yourself a few weeks (or months) form looking and feeling your best and you realize that you are truly in a health and fitness RUT, take a gander at the list above and try one or more of the tips and you will be back on the road to hitting your goals, feeling AND looking amazing in no time at all!