I am usually a consistent exerciser, but yesterday, my boyfriend had to drag me out of bed to work out.

I was tired, pooped, too pooped to pop, as they say in the South. But I knew I needed to hit the treadmill. So I whined and moaned, but somehow made it through my rigorous routine.

When I got on the scale this morning, my weight was down two pounds. Boy, was I psyched. So where did I go immediately afterward? Back to the gym.

The lesson here: even when you don't want to, get moving anyway.

I have found that exercise is the key for me when it comes to weight loss. Sure, it helps to really stick to a diet plan, but nothing moves the weight like moving your booty.

Not only will you lose weight, but you can build muscle, decrease your blood pressure and give yourself a natural high. And increasing your metabolism helps you lose more weight.

If you're at a loss on how to start an exercise program, check out Prevention.com, which offers tips on getting started, a walking calculator, ratings for exercise equipment and much more.

And every week amNY.com features a fitness trainer, who takes you through a full range of exercises. You can review the complete gallery, including lessons on yoga, swimming, ab workouts and more.

So get off that couch and get moving. You'll thank yourself later.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com