HEATHER, athlete and personal trainer: One word - APPOINTMENT - answers this week’s question. Our society is extremely time-oriented. Everything from sealing a multimillion-dollar deal to taking the kids to Little League is scheduled down to the minute. Therefore, your fitness or exercise plan must be placed in your Palm Pilot, along with the other things on the daily agenda. Make an appointment with yourself or, better yet, a training partner to engage in a specific form of exercise, for an allotted period of time. For example, I am a personal trainer, and I schedule a specific time on Tuesdays and Fridays with another one of our staff to do strength training. One would think that since I spend two-thirds of my day in a personal training studio with state-of-the-art equipment, that fitness would be an accessible endeavor. While it is accessible, exercise does not happen without some challenges. Just as any professional, there is always work to be done that can side track me from my personal quest for exercise. By setting this time aside, it forces me to make myself and my body a priority even during a busy day.

Now that you have set aside a specific time for your exercise, you must choose something that you enjoy. Don't be afraid to experiment with different forms of exercise. As I mentioned in my last column, there are three components that one should be striving to address in an exercise program - strength training, cardiovascular training and flexibility. Find something that you like. And if it ceases to be enjoyable, investigate something new!

If you are unsure of what to do or how to get started, find a fitness professional who can assist you. We think nothing of spending $40 to $75 on a dinner out, manicure or haircut. While not everyone can regularly afford a personal trainer or fitness consultant, why not make the investment in your body at least once to insure that you are exercising safely and efficiently?

Next, keep a record of your progress to insure that you are continually pushing your body to its highest level. Take into consideration that you are not always going to have "the best" workout of your life, but to always try to get the best that you and your body have to offer on that specific day. Reward yourself for your accomplishments. Remember, your results do not always have to be numeric. Finally, listen to your body. If it needs a day off, give yourself the rest that you need.

Don't let another opportunity to actively pursue health pass you by. Make an appointment with yourself today. Posted February 26, 2003 05:51 AM