Television infomercials promise you their latest DVDs will get you in shape faster than any machine can. The local fitness center tells you its latest machine will get you to achieve your goals faster. The aerobics instructor believes step aerobics is the only way to work out if you want fast results. And without personal trainers you might as well never start exercising. So how does someone choose, and who is telling the truth when it comes to fitness?

Here’s the truth. Buying the latest DVD isn’t going to get you in shape. Working out on the latest machine isn’t going to help you reach your goals any faster. Step aerobics or a personal trainer isn’t the answer either. If you want results, the only guarantee is hard work.

Over the years the fitness industry has become a billion-dollar business. Every year there are new exercise gadgets and routines claiming to get you results faster. And there are fitness gurus who believe what they’re doing is the best way to get in shape and everyone else is wasting their time. We’ve made it so hard for average Americans to choose when it comes to fitness that they are simply choosing not to exercise. In face, seven out of 10 Americans don’t exercise regularly.

We know it’s good for us. We know it makes us healthier and prolongs our lives. So why do so many Americans choose not to exercise? My theory is it has become too complicated. So, here are four simple rules to help make fitness less complicated and more fun.

1. If you don’t enjoy it, try something else. If you hate the treadmill, try the elliptical. If you didn’t like the step aerobics class you took, try kickboxing. When exercising is no longer a chore, you will stick to it longer and get results faster.

2. Exercise in a group. Working out in a group atmosphere makes people work out harder and for longer periods of time. You rarely see someone on the treadmill smiling and laughing. Look at the faces of people working out in a group and tell me which seems more enjoyable.

3. Keep your workouts short. Who says you have to exercise hours each day? We all have busy lives, so keep your workouts short and fast. Rest less and move more.

4. Change it up. We all know people who have been doing the same workout for the past five years. They probably also haven’t made any significant fitness gains in the past five years. Change your workout routinely. It will keep things interesting and keep the results coming — keeping you motivated.

These suggestions will help you on your fitness journey, but the bottom line is that results come from hard work.