The key to weight gain: Procrastination.

As most people know, building fat is easy; just continue to put off steps toward exercise and healthy eating. Losing weight, however, can be much more difficult. While we may have goals towards fitness, these goals -- without a specific plan -- are merely dreams. Even with a plan, better fitness for busy moms can seem unreachable when we are plagued by procrastination.

Fortunately, the battle against weight gain need not be lost. In fact, the solution for an active, healthy lifestyle lies in a simple, two-step process.

Step 1: Form a plan.

Step 2: Do it now!

To formulate a plan for better fitness, you need to consider food choices, food quantity, and exercise. Most of us know which foods are healthy. Snack on raw fruits and vegetables. Eat lean meat and drink skim milk. Avoid high-fat foods and excess sugar. Substitute water for other beverages. Listen to your body! Eat when hungry and stop when full! In general, more small meals are better than one huge one. Trying to eat less in the evening when your body is slowing down for sleep is also a good idea.

Help yourself manage your eating by not buying foods that are high in fat and sugar, and remember to plan ahead for meal times and snacks. Have healthy snacks ready to take with you when you go out. When you're away from home and feeling starved, you may succumb to buying a quick, convenient bag of chips or a chocolate bar, whereas, if you have brought a healthful snack along, you will be able to stick to your plan!

As for exercise, you should get active at least three times a week, for a duration of no fewer than 20 minutes. An excellent way to achieve fitness for busy moms is through exercise videos -- you can choose when to workout and you'll save time by exercising at home instead of the gym. You can even download fitness videos online from several different good companies now -- wow, what could be more convenient. The most important thing to remember is to plan ahead. If you don't have a plan as to when and how your exercise will occur, it won't happen.

Life's demands can be tough with jobs, families and other responsibilities. But there is no time like the present to begin eating healthier foods and getting the exercise we need. Let's make a plan and do it now!

Pascale Thomas is the Creative Director of Workouts On Demand. They offer instant access to over 110 exercise videos that can be downloaded to your computer for only pennies a day. From yoga and pilates, to kickboxing and toning, to salsa aerobics and low impact, Workouts On Demand offers something for everyone.

http://www.workoutsondemand.com