The New Year is no longer new, our resolutions to exercise every day have now become resolutions to exercise at least once this year and our visions of having fabulously toned physiques in four to six weeks disappeared along with that last scrumptious dark chocolate truffle from Valentine’s Day.

So, is there hope for all the resolution defectors? ABSOLUTELY! Let’s face it, we’ve all slacked a little, but all we need really is a little motivation (OK, A LOT of motivation) to get back on track. With a slight tweaking of your plan, you can get into a “workout frame of mind” and then a “workout frame of body.”

March is a perfect month to get active. The word MARCH resonates with movement. So, let’s march into spring with a new strategy to take our fitness plan to a whole new level.

Here are five steps to make your M.A.R.C.H. a success:

“M” - MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF. Start by setting an appointment in your day for your workout. If your boss set an appointment with you, and you knew it would mean a promotion, I guarantee you would show up. Making an appointment to exercise is a definite start to the promotion of the brand new YOU!

“A” – ACCOUNTABILITY. Find a buddy, friend, your spouse or a personal trainer that will work out with you and challenge you to stick to your goals. By having a set appointment with them each day, you will feel more committed to show up.

“R” – REST. Your body needs at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. With the proper amount of rest, your body will operate more efficiently, burning fat more naturally and working with you to achieve your goals.

“C” – CONSUMPTION. Your input will determine your output. What you consume will have a dramatic effect on your desire to exercise. By consuming more quality foods and less processed foods, your body will feel stronger, have more energy and actually WANT to exercise as a way of life. Proper food and the important task of drinking enough water are two keys to your divine health.

“H” – HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD EXERCISE. If you have a negative outlook on exercise and nutrition, chances are you will not stay committed to your plan. But if you choose to see exercise as a valuable asset to unleashing your fullest potential you can begin to experience the joy of being fit. Eliminate negative thoughts toward your exercise plan and choose to see the best, believe the best and soon you will feel your best mentally and physically.

MARCH into spring with these principles in place, and you will begin to see that your resolutions for change are closer to reality than you might have imagined.

Brenna Crowson is a certified personal trainer at O2 Fitness in Raleigh.