That old couch will remind you of its comforts. What will you say back?

By making exercise part of who you are, you commit to some kind of activity every day, whether it’s hoofing up a flight of steps at work, walking briskly, jogging, or pumping iron.

But a major step in maintaining your current success is anticipating minor slips.

Right now, you probably can’t imagine a time when you won’t want to exercise regularly. So, fitness experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas suggest you repeat this sentence three times – out loud and with feeling:

“Minor slips will happen.”

That old couch will call your name and remind you of its comforts and support for your weary bones. Remembering how hard it was starting to exercise, what will you say back?

Tell-tale signs of danger

Fitness experts warn the greatest threat for relapse is overconfidence or believing it won't happen to you. It will happen and you have to plan for it. Vacation, a bout of flu, pregnancy, and demands of work and family may thwart your daily routine of exercising, either temporarily or permanently.

You’re setting yourself up for dropping out of exercise if you say any of these five things:

•  "I've got nothing to worry about."

•  "I'll never be a couch potato again."

•  "Nothing will stop me from including physical activity into my day."

•  "I'm safe. My friends or family won't let me quit."

•  "I've only missed a few days and will start back soon."

Maintain self-confidence

But don't give up! You now enjoy that sense of confidence regular physical activity brings into your life, bask in the extra energy, delight in the reduced risks of illnesses and death.

Maintaining this sense of well-being is important. When you are confident that you will continue to remain physically active, your success rate goes up.

But how confident are you of exercising regularly when you:

•  are tired?

•  are in a bad mood?

•  feel you don't have time?

•  are on vacation?

•  see it raining or snowing outside?

Plan around them by possibly rescheduling your physical activity to a more convenient time.

Friendly support

And here’s something you may not anticipate: friends and family members may encourage you at first, but often as your activity becomes routine, they won’t shout your praises as often because they believe you no longer need their support.

That’s the time to re-examine what you need from them and ask them to help you again. What’s more, they can be the first ones to see old, sedentary, unhealthy behaviors coming back long before you do.

And getting involved in a "buddy system," only this time helping another person get started exercising, may just keep you going. Remember how you were when you first started out and relied on your "buddy," if you had one? 

You have made progress through the transition of adding regular physical activity into your life. It's been both hard and rewarding, even fun on most days. Having others depend on you will increase your likelihood of continued success.

Check these out!

•  Nubella’s Weight Management Message Board – share your exercise advice and get tips.

•  The Fitness Zone Blog – written by workout enthusiast Jodi Rigotti.

•  10 Ways to Get Moving

•  8 Super Ways to Visualize Getting Fit

•  20 Ways to Squeeze Exercise Into Your Hectic Schedule

•  Take These Eating, Exercise Guidelines to Heart