Coming up with a fitness plan is a lot like going grocery shopping: If you don't want to waste a lot of time and money, it's better to know exactly what you need before you leave the house.

Getting in shape often means different things to different people, so the trick is to come up with a fitness plan that suits your needs - be they fitting into a size 6 dress or walking up ten flights of stairs that lead to your office without having to catch your breath. Whatever the case, a visit to your local physician is a must if you are over 35 years old, have been inactive for several years or suffer from high blood pressure, heart trouble or frequent dizzy spells. You want to make sure your body can handle the stress exercising will place on it.

Once you've gotten the professional green light, you've got to sit down and write out just what it is you want to achieve with this fitness plan. If your goal is to increase your cardiovascular endurance or bid those annoying love handles farewell, then aerobic activities like brisk walking, cycling or swimming will need to be included in twenty minute intervals at least three times a week. If your goal is to increase your muscle strength and chisel your body, lifting weights twice a week will be a must.

The trick to designing a viable fitness plan is to keep things fresh and interesting. If you have placed three days aside for physical activity, make sure each workout is different. For example, you can warm up with 20 minutes of treadmill and then work out your abdominals one day, focus on toning your arms and legs with weights on another day, and then finish off the week with a relaxing 45 minutes of Yoga to increase your overall flexibility.

Always remember to stick to the plan, making only minor adjustments as you go along. And don't give up. There is no fitness without fighting.