Ask any health and fitness expert, motivation and consistency is the key to achieving physical fitness. As you and your partner undertake this new journey of health together, your every day lives will benefit tremendously.

Are you both serious about getting fit? If so, you need to be realistic about creating time in your lives for this new routine. If you are happily hooked up, you may need to start considering your partners standard of physical fitness too.

Habits are hard to break, especially diet. 80% of a healthy lifestyle starts in the kitchen, the physical aspect ( gym routine ) then has a much easier time shaping your body once the bad food is gone. Couples have the golden opportunity to motivate each other to achieve personal goals, which can also strengthen other areas of their relationship.

Here are your first steps to effective weight management and general health and fitness.

* Lead by example

If your partner wants a healthy lifestyle but lacks initial motivation, lead by example. Avoid arguing about his or her bad habits, instead set out to create your own new routine by eating right, going for regular walks and having your new gym programme assessed and implemented. Inspiration is a very powerful motivator, especially when someone starts to notice your results.

* Goals

Set realistic physical goals and time frames. Establish your goals together and make personal targets as well – how much weight do you want to lose? no more take out food? eat dinner no later than 7.00PM? get out of bed at 5.00am every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday then head to the gym? Make it a habit you both embrace, set your first mile stone at 3 months with the assistance of a professional nutrition and gym assessment.

* Cook together – plan healthy adventures

Getting your dietary habits in order is the single most important issue you both need to tackle. Learn to be more diverse in the kitchen and make a weekly meal and snack routine. Encourage each other by preparing the meals together while picking up some handy cooking tips along the way. Make a shopping list to include visits to the farmers markets and organic fruit and vegetable store. Tip: buy some leafy vegetables like spinach, mint and parsley (anything leafy) combined with fruit and water, blend it up, have 1 large glass a day and you will cover all the requirements of your daily vitamin and mineral intake.

It’s so easy to get out of bed on the weekend and turn on the television or play station. Pre plan adventures like bush walking, bike riding or swimming. These are also great alternatives if you are unable to get to the gym. Take a romantic twilight walk together as an excuse for some exercise.

* Motivation and support

We know you’ve heard it all before, but the truth never lies. Encouragement, support and compliments is a recipe for great outcomes. Standing by each other and working together are the only tactics that will see you achieve each and every mile stone. You will need to engage in a hard line attitude with a regimented mental outlook.

Once you see noticeable change, it is quite likely that a health and fitness obsession will become evident and you will start to live your life around your fitness lifestyle, when once upon a time you tried to fit your health kick in around your previous lifestyle.

Celebrating these victories together is a wonderful way to build on your relationship.