Is the problem knowing how to do something or just making yourself do it?

I was helping someone go through a backlog of papers in her office and more than once we came across articles about "how to exercise". In fact, there were a bunch of articles on sit-ups alone.

We had a good laugh when we figured out that she had saved the articles not because she didn't know how to do a sit-up, but because she felt like if she had the article she would be one step closer to actually doing one.

This whole idea is what keeps the fitness industry alive. A person could buy a new video or DVD or piece of exercise equipment every day of the year and after 365 days not be one ounce lighter or one iota fitter. That's because having the information or equipment is entirely different than using it. Ask anyone who is using an expensive treadmill as a clothes rack.

If you want to see change, you have to figure out why you don't do the things that will get you the results you want. That's the knowledge you need to have.

I'll use myself as an example here. I was one of those people that bought videos and exercise equipment and never used them. I thought I had a discipline/willpower problem. I was disappointed in myself because I knew I'd feel better if I got in better shape. So I thought long and hard about why I continued to avoid exercise. I had gathered a lot of information about fitness and knew exactly what exercises I needed to do, so that wasn't the issue. Turns out I had a lonely problem. I hate working out alone -- which is exactly what videos and home exercise equipment required. 

Now I make sure I don't have to work out alone. I've had a personal trainer, I joined a bootcamp, have a membership at a gym and joined a couple of running clubs. I feel better than I did at 30 (I'm 47).

So if there's something that you want and you just can't seem to get off the dime, take a bit of time to think about what -- in your head -- is standing in your way. You'll be closer to getting the results you want.