It's true what they say: 80 percent of success is just showing up. Once you're there — you're there. This advice can be hard to take when, after a late night of fun, your alarm goes off before the sun is up. Propelling yourself to the gym, pool, mat, or trail can feel like a hurdle in its own right, but it's always one worth jumping. If you've resolved to work out more this year and get fit for 2013, motivate yourself to keep on sweating with these tricks.

1. Channel that glorious post-workout feeling. Whenever you feel the instinct to skip a sweat session, imagine how accomplished and energized you feel after just 30 minutes or an hour of exercise. Just get there already.
2. Make a date with a friend or fitness trainer. If you set a time to meet someone, you'll feel obligated to go, even when your mind and body are telling you otherwise. If you're looking to get your sweat on outside of the gym, here are some of our favorite ideas for fitness dates, from rock climbing to ice skating.
3. Create a healthy post-workout routine and make time for it, too. Reward yourself after a workout by scheduling extra moments to relax in the steam room, blow out your hair to perfection, or get a hot coffee or a protein-rich smoothie.

Keep reading for more tips.

June marks the middle of the year and is a fitting month to reevaluate your fitness routine and aim to work a little harder. (It's bikini season, after all!) Renew your health and fitness goals this week by committing to small, but effective changes. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

1. Undertake an extra long workout — Plan an after-work hike in the fresh Summer air, challenge yourself to run an extra mile, or sign up for 90-minute yoga class instead of the usual hour-long class. You may feel rushed all week, but schedule a long workout like you would a social or work engagement to make it happen.
2. Plan your meals for the week — Keep unhealthy snacking and greasy takeout to a minimum by mapping out your food plan for the week. Try these handy meal-planning tips from Self magazine to make it possible.
3. Aim to get more out of your trip to the gym — Don't waste any time or effort at the gym with these efficient workout tips for working smarter, not harder.

Keep reading for more tips.

When temperatures heat up most of us flock to the movies (or stay indoors where it's air conditioned) for some refreshing down time. Traditional theater and TV snacks like popcorn, candy, ice cream, and chips can wreck your mindful eating habits, so we offered up some simple, nutritious, and satisfying snack ideas recently and asked readers to share their favorites. The suggestions are all scrumptious. If you're headed to see a blockbuster this weekend, pack these reader-tested treats.

• Pick something that takes effort: Gabriela Une Vie Saine says, "I love snacking on cherries or pistachios while watching TV. They're more difficult to eat than most finger foods, so I eat them more mindfully!"
• Get creative with flavors: Reader tea-bag snacks on roasted cauliflower heads dusted with Stevia and cinnamon! She reports the snack is addicting and "strangely reminiscent of kettle corn!"
• Take a sip!: FitSugar Senior Editor Susi May likes to have a big cup of Rooibos tea while watching TV. She says, "It's hot, so I drink it slowly and it's naturally sweet . . . I know tea is not food, but it sure is a good replacement for dessert." If it's hot out, put your tea on ice for an antioxidant-filled treat.
• Trade white for green: Andrennabird recommends kale chips. Even her Doritos-loving friend asked for the recipe. Ready to make your own? Try this kale chip recipe.

Need more snack ideas? Check out our Snack Attack: Healthy Snack group.

Source: Flickr User La Grande Farmers' Market

That lean and toned dancer's body is in thanks to Black Swan, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and the growing popularity of Bar Method, The Dailey Method, and Body Bar. The differences between the systems may seem subtle at first, but each has a unique focus and avid followers. The Dailey Method, which has locations across the US and studios in Canada and France, has released its first DVD: No Excuses With Jill Dailey ($25). Like the classes, the DVD promises to help you get "longer, leaner, stronger, and more fit" and focuses on ballet bar work, core conditioning, light weights, and stretching.

Keep reading for four reasons you should try it and a video preview of the DVD.

There's no reason to be an unhealthy couch potato, but sometimes you just need an hour or two to veg out in front of a screen and be entertained. Next time you sit down for a Game of Thrones marathon or finally clear the house so you can watch The Bachelorette in peace, opt for a light snack that won't ruin your appetite or mindful eating efforts. Here are some simple, nutritious and satisfying suggestions for any craving.

Nuts about nuts?: Mix 14 almonds (that's about 100 calories and 3.6 grams of protein) with one serving of your favorite dry cereal to make your own filling, but lower calorie trail mix.

For the traditional taste buds: Two cups of plain air popped popcorn packs about 62 calories. Dust with nutritional yeast, your favorite spice, or some salt and pepper for added flavor.

Craving the sauce?: Three small meatballs with tomato sauce pack 120 calories, which is celery sticks compared to chowing down a whole pizza. Plus, you'll get about eight grams of protein.

So fresh and filling: Serve yourself four tablespoons of Athenos' Original Hummus for just 100 calories and get two grams of protein. Use fresh veggies like cucumber, celery, and carrots to dip and fill you up with fiber.

Need a sweet treat? You can munch on 50 blueberries and take in just 39 calories. Add one container of Fage's Total 0% Greek Yogurt for an added 100 calories and 18 grams of protein.

Do you have a healthy go-to movie or TV snack? Share it in comments!

Source: Flickr User galant

Whether you're completely single, dating, living with your love or married, any semblance of a social life makes staying fit and maintaining an exercise routine that much harder. Directing your body to the gym or trail when your heart wants to gallivant with lovers or friends (or your children need your time and love) just isn't an easy task. I typically scoff at articles pegging weight gain to relationship status, but the data can't be ignored. One study found women who were dating gained an average of 15 pounds over five years, those living with a romantic partner gained 18 pounds, and the newly married women gained an average of 24 pounds.

No mater what your Facebook relationship status states, fitness and activity dates are a fun and wholesome way to get to know someone and a nice way to reconnect with someone you already adore — while working off that hearty brunch. Here are a few handy guides to inspire you to take time for yourself and to care for your body no matter who you're walking or running with these days.

1. Date Without Breaking Your Healthy Resolutions — Those delightfully decadent appetizers, simmering entrées, cocktails, and desserts add up quick, and it's hard to hit the gym afterward when there's fun to be had out on the town. Stay on track despite tempting invitations and fondue towers with these tips.
2. How to Avoid Gaining Weight While Dating — Being in a relationship is so exciting, but when you spend so much time together, your healthy lifestyle can fly out the window. You may even adopt some of your partner's unhealthy habits. That can add up to some extra pounds on the scale, so here are some guidelines to help prevent weight gain while dating.

Keep reading for more helpful tips.

Barre-based workouts have become increasing popular thanks to Natalie Portman's dancer bod in Black Swan, the Tracy Anderson Method, and barre3; and Bar Method, a ballet-inspired sculpting program with studios across the US, is no exception. The method, which is taught as an hour-long class, focuses on isometric movements, light weight work, stretching, and subtle moves at the barre. It is also one of the workouts Kelly Osborne used to get fit. As someone who practices it weekly, I can attest it's a serious workout, so I was excited (and even a little scared) to challenge myself with the Bar Method Dancer's Body Advanced Workout DVD ($20).

Led by cheery and pretty-to-look-at-while-you-are-sweating Bar Method teacher and actress Marnie Alton, the DVD offers a variety of the method's staple moves. Like the class, it starts off slow with leg lifts, light arm exercises (it's recommended you use two- to four-pound weights), and then jumps into the method's secret sauce: intense leg work at the barre. They recommend you use a chair or portable barre, but I found a ledge in my living room worked just fine for the "water-ski thigh-work" and more balletic "arabesque" exercises, and the floor and my yoga mat worked swell for the abdominal "clam shell" exercises. The routine was tough, and like the last "Accelerated" Bar Method DVD the ab exercises were killer. I wish the DVD included a chapter showcasing a few of the moves that are easier to perform with a makeshift barre, but the chapters with form instruction made up for it.

Is this DVD good for beginners? Keep on reading for the answer and a video clip of the workout.

I try to eat fresh foods whenever possible, but when I need a quick microwavable meal fix, I typically turn to Amy's. The brand offers a range of vegetarian and lactose free options and is my go-to if I want to satisfy my marinara and pizza craving at home without eating pizza. The company recently put out a range of "Light and Lean" products so I decided to nuke up the Light and Lean Pasta and Veggies and try it out.

Was it as flavorful as the regular versions?

What cha got on under there? The choice of loose vs. formfitting workout clothes is a matter of personal style and preference, but even more personal is the question of what to wear under your workout wear.

We asked FitSugar readers to help us solve the debate about the best underwear for every workout by weighing in on their favorite pair or style. The results varied by workout, but, in general, bikini and thong tied for the most popular styles. The remaining 20 percent of readers said they prefer to go commando, and 12 percent said they pick boy shorts.

Here's the breakdown of underwear preference by exercise.

When asked about her greatest accomplishment on Twitter yesterday, Oprah shared, "My whole life. From Mississippi to now. Going to gym when I really prefer wine + chips."

Oprah has always been forthcoming about her battle with her weight and the effort it takes to stay on track. Obviously, the mogul's tweet is a little tongue and cheek and makes light of her accomplishments as a businesswoman, but her quick response serves as just another reminder that no matter who you are, making sacrifices and skipping everything you might want in the name of fitness and long-term happiness and health is hard work.

Do you count your commitment to your health among your greatest achievements? Share your story in our Get Fit For 2011 group for a chance to be featured on FitSugar and win great prizes.