Before choosing a fitness activity, you must ask yourself the following questions:

Skinny arms on men and women are most unattractive. If your arms are flabby, in addition to being skinny, then there is cause for concern.

After spending most of last year eating junk food and performing little or no exercise, you are now faced with the possibility that you may look like crap in your Carnival costume.

It’s an unfair world and unfortunately it is stacked against women.

What other people think about you is none of your business; what you think about yourself is most definitely your business.

Sometimes, the best exercises are the ones that appear to be very basic.

Even though scents of black fruit cake, ponche de crème and pastelles are still permeating the air, you have got to be disciplined in your eating and exercise habits – or you may end up looking like Santa at Carnival time.

As soon as you start taking care of yourself by looking after your body and mind, you will be accused of liking yourself.

So you have started training hard since early September. Everything is going as planned in terms of your physical preparation for Carnival 2010.

Whether you are a world-class athlete or just the average person trying to keep in shape, the principles that ensure an extended life in fitness remain the same.