Falling off the fitness bandwagon is unfortunately pretty common. What’s also pretty common is that people start thinking about fitness again when the weather warms up.

We want to get outside and be active, but for many people, getting back into gear is a pretty daunting proposition.

Some quick tips for getting back into the swing of things this spring:

1. Just do it, but do it small. Set really small, realistic goals that can serve as a solid foundation for moving forward. Going from 0-60 sets you up for burn out, and isn’t the ideal way to make fitness part of your lifestyle.

2. Think of a time-based fitness goal. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll get in an hour of working out in the next 7 days. Or, if you’re already active, add 30 minutes to what you’re currently doing. It’s all about making fitness part of your routine, and for most of us, that means scheduling the time to do so. Plus, setting a goal of 60 minutes means you can parcel out those minutes however works best - 20 minutes here, 15 there, etc.

3. Think about how what you’re doing in your day-to-day now can be improved through fitness. Say you love to garden. Adding a lot of running to your fitness routine won’t make gardening any easier. Adding a lot of functional training, like squats, push-ups and dips, would, though. If you can tie fitness back into the things you love to do, you’re more likely to stay motivated.

4. Don’t ignore your diet. Working out is only 1/2 of the fitness equation. TO be healthy, you need to eat healthy. To achieve this, see tip #1: Start small, like giving up fast food at lunch or cutting your soda habit. Don’t set yourself up to fail!

5. I’ve said it before and will probably say it again: Find a workout buddy. Friend, spouse, co-worker, whoever can commit to working out with you will be your greatest ally and support. Getting fit and healthy isn’t easy! Having a friend to support you along the way can make the difference between success and failure.

Melissa Gerharter MS, RD is co-owner of Joust Strength and Fitness of Ann Arbor, joustfitness.com. She is also a personal trainer and an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. She can be reached at Melissa@joustfitness.com