DALLAS, Jan 2, 2003/ --- The fashion season is just around the corner, and fashionistas are back in the gym! They are not alone.

Every year 100 million Americans resolve to get fit, but by February, approximately 40% of the 100 million break their New Year's resolution. While reasons for failing vary, many Americans simply lack awareness in how to efficiently reach their fitness goals.

According to Bally Total Fitness, before planning tactics to reach any fitness goal, whether it is to lose weight or build strength and endurance, it's important to understand that even the smallest mistake can make a major difference in successfully attaining one's fitness goals.

Here are some tips for stayin fit and in shape from Bally Total Fitness:

• Do set realistic goals for yourself. If your goal is weight loss, then the healthy rate at which one should expect to lose excess weight is approximately 1-2 pounds per week. If you start with unrealistic expectations, you are more likely to give up after a couple weeks of trying and failing.
• Do understand your body's unique weight loss factors before you undertake a fitness plan. There isn't a proven weight loss plan that can fit every person. Do you ever wonder why your best friend can eat all he or she wants without gaining a pound, but you seem to gain weight just looking at a chocolate bar? It all boils down to metabolism. When beginning a weight loss plan, start out by determining your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). This important number can be determined quickly and accurately with a new test that can be administered by a personal trainer. Knowing your RMR is vitally important when you are putting together your fitness and diet routine. It will help you make the most of your time in the gym, improving the rate at which calories are burned and overall results.
• Do plan your days in the gym ahead of time. Try to schedule your workout routines for the early part of the week. This will ensure that you have at least some of your weekly goals accomplished, should a hectic schedule cause the week to escape from you. I also like to make sure that my clients not only track their workout routines, but record their progress. The more monitoring you do and more feedback you get, the better you will do.
• Don't starve yourself. I recommend eating at least five small meals per day. One of the main reasons that people do not stick to their routines is that they starve themselves and eventually become very hungry, ultimately bingeing on foods that are usually high in fat and calories. If you are eating five small meals throughout the day, you actually burn more calories because your body is never put in a "starvation mode."
• Do practice some of your weekly routine even if you can't make it to the gym. You can accomplish an effective workout almost anywhere with just a few simple fitness tools. I recommend resist-a-bands for resistance training, a resist-a-ball for strength and resistance training and free weights for weight training. All can be used right at home or in the office. For cardiovascular, take it to the streets with a strong walking routine. Walking is my top recommendation for the perfect cardiovascular exercise.
• Do concentrate on posture. Positioning your body correctly for every exercise you perform in the gym is crucial. For instance, leaning heavily on the bars of a stairclimber or elliptical machine while pedaling can greatly undermine your results. Proper posture is key to an efficient and effective routine. Keep your back straight, shoulders square and abs tight.