The results are in. We received a lot of great entries for our exercise contest, and our crack team of editors has selected two winners. We hope their stories inspire you to follow in their footsteps.

Winner #1
Trudy W. from Heber, Utah writes:

“I have been active in all kinds of sports and outdoor activities all my life. When I was growing up we didn't call it exercise, we called it FUN! We would run up hills, chase after livestock, hunt, fish, swim, ride horses and bikes, walk to town, play softball, football, basketball, and kick the can. When I got older, I realized that the reason I never had to worry about my weight and was in good shape, mentally and physically, was because of physical activities, and I knew that I had to continue to do them if I was going to be a well and happy person. I have changed some of the things I do, but I still have FUN doing them -- and I never think of it as exercise. I LIKE going to the gym for Yoga classes; I like to hike and go for runs along the country road where I live. It is who I am, and hopefully who I will always be!”

Other pearls of exercise wisdom from Trudy include:

• When you don’t feel like exercising, just remember how good you feel afterwards. That should put you in the right frame of mind to exercise.
• She also suggests that people who exercise should think of their efforts as having fun. “You have to find things you like to do and you must never think of it as WORK -- you must think of it as FUN.”
  
  

Winner #2
Ursula P. from Tampa, Fla. writes:
“There are several motives that have driven me to exercise. However, my key motivation is wanting to be a healthy person in order to serve as an example to my future patients [Ursula is studying to become a nurse]. I am very passionate about being in the health care field so I want to be as effective as possible as a health care worker. I think that means I should be healthy and fit enough to perform the duties of a nurse, live long enough to make a difference, and set an example. Exercising will help me fill those goals.”

When she wakes up in the morning and hears a nagging inner voice persuading her to hit the snooze button, Ursula remembers some sage advice. “I was once told that exercising when you don't feel up to it actually makes it feel all the more rewarding…and it does. When 5 a.m. rolls around, I tell myself to envision the person I want to be and the body I want to convince myself to get out of bed. I also have a motivational picture of myself at my goal weight that I keep at my bedside. When I turn and look at the picture, I am encouraged to continue my quest for fitness.”

“I sacrifice staying up late and go to bed early, so that I’m able to rise so early in the morning. In addition to my regular workout, I park as far away as possible once I get to work, once I arrive at school, and every time I go shopping. On occasion, if I don't have to purchase a lot of items, I take a walk to the grocery store and carry the groceries back home. It saves on gas and gives you an incentive to buy only as much as you can carry. “

Finally, she recommends you avoid punishing yourself if you skip an exercise session or two. “We are all allowed mistakes, and it is not the end of the road if you fall now and then along the way. It isn't helpful to chastise yourself. Just forgive your weak moment and strive to get right back on that proverbial horse.”

We received many great tidbits from other contestants. Here are a few we’d like to share:

• If you can exercise, you can do just about anything. “I was trying to lose 15 lbs. to fit into my wedding dress to renew my vows and not only did I achieve that goal, but I have started setting a goal to run the Nike's Women's Marathon. Five years ago, I would have thought that I was crazy, but now there is no obstacle that I can't achieve. Looking good and feeling great is my reward.” 

• Start small. “I tell people all the time: start with a small goal and lead up to big ones. Park farther away. Replace candy, chips, and sodas with fruits, vegetables, and water. Try a dance class. Go hiking. Do things that you enjoy doing, and eventually you will see the fruits of your labor, as I do.”

• Just get out the door. “There are days that I don’t feel like doing my normal routine because I’m tired, too sore, or just mentally not there. When those days come up instead of focusing on the normal exercise routine, I focus on just getting up and out the door for a short (somewhat lackadaisical) walk to clear my head. Once I’m up and out the door, I begin to get a clear focus and I start to feel better. It’s amazing what fresh air will do for you.” 

• Celebrate your victories. “Instead of looking at the end goal -- mine is 70 pounds -- I broke it into smaller 10 pound goals. When I have reached those milestones, I have treated myself to something special (a night out with the girls, a new outfit, or a trip to the spa). It’s all about delayed gratification. Whatever the goal, it’s important to celebrate the success.”
  
  
• Think of all the good you’re doing for yourself. “I feel that there are multiple benefits to exercising. You feel better about yourself. You can eat more of the foods you love without having to think about how it is affecting your image. When you are active, it helps your self-esteem. Exercise helps your health. For example, there is a lot of heart disease in my family, and my father recently had a heart attack. Afterwards, his doctor told him that the reason he survived the heart attack is because he does exercise regularly.”