Consider this as a checklist to follow when you start working out.

1. Set Goals: One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you decide to start of on a workout plan is to not set any goals. No goals means you have no direction to your workout, nothing to look forward to and finally no motivation which means you will be giving up on your workout in a matter of months.
2. Do some research: Now that you have set some goals for yourself do some research to figure out how to get there. There are tons of online resources (don’t bother buying expensive books online google can help you find tons of articles).
3. Plan: Now that you have put in all that hard work into research let’s try to utilize all that information come up with a workout plan. Try to come up with the different exercise routines you want to try on each day of the week etc. This will help keep you more motivated and organized.
4. Find a partner: This is the one item on the checklist i haven’t had much luck with. But finding a workout partner is a great way to stay motivated. In addition to that competing on workouts is a lot of fun. Leads to benefits for both parties involved. (It’s a good idea to find just one workout partner. Try not to make your trips to the gym an outing with friends. Having more than 2 people distracts you from your workout)
5. Spice it up: Try to introduce some variety into your workouts. The same workout over and over again gets to be pretty boring. For example if you are into lifting weights try to change your workout every couple of months to incorporate new exercises. If you are into cardio try different workouts (swimming, biking, boxercising etc).
6. Eat right: I cannot emphasize what an essential part of a workout this is. I see a lot of people either starving themselves in an effort to lose weight or eat random junk because they already worked out for the day. You need to eat according to your goals. Once again a there are a ton of resources available online which can guide you towards the right kind of diet for your goals. I know most of us are busy which affects our eating habits. One thing that has worked for me through college is the use of supplements. I would strongly suggest looking into that if you have a tight schedule.
7. Intensity: Now that you have gone through the effort of planning out your workout and figuring out your diet you are all set to hit the gym. To get the most out of your workout remember to BRING THE INTENSITY. Just showing up at the gym and half-assing your workout will not help. Even if all you do is workout for 20 minutes a day make sure its an intense workout. Remember quality over quantity
8. Be regular: This is a tough thing to do for all of us with our busy schedules. Do not worry about missing the odd workout or so every now and then just try not to make a habit of it. If you can stay regular for even a couple of months you are well on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Its only the first month or so that is difficult.
9. Stick with it: Don’t quit early. Remember it takes a while for you to see some serious changes. Just stick with it and trust me you will start noticing a lot of positive changes. Here’s a quote i heard from Tony Horton (fitness guru) “Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was your body”. I am not saying its a great quote or anything but its definitely true. Quitting early just flushes all your hard work down the drain.
10. Have fun: Last but not the least try to have fun. A workout can be a great stress buster and can get your mind off of your daily worries. Try to make the most of it and have fun.

I hope this helps some of you out there.