If you're one of those people who join a gym every January – dare you tot up how much you've spent to date? One set of statistics recently revealed that by the time a woman reaches her 40s she has spent on average a whopping £150,000 (yes!) on lapsed gym memberships, equipment, diets and weight loss products. Wow.

It's smelly and stuffy

Need I say more? You've been in there.

It involves extra travel

Lots of studies have shown that if you dare to venture home after work before a scheduled gym workout, then you're much less likely to drum up the motivation to turn up. If you chose an exercise such as jogging, cycling, power walking or Nordic Walking so you can launch out right from your front doorstep it's likely that you could have finished your workout before you've even stepped on to the treadmill. Lack of time is cited as one of the top reasons people fail to exercise – so don't add travel time to each end of your sessions.

It's a circus

Ever feel that some people like to well...show off in the gym? They do! It's their stage for the day to put on a Mr Universe act. Again. For the more self conscious amongst us – and for newcomers to exercise that's just about everybody – the gym environment can prove to be a regular ordeal.

You miss out on a great mood boost

There's nothing to beat the sheer exhiliration of getting out into the fresh air. Faced with a freezing, snowy day in Bournemouth today the temptation to stay behind closed doors was high. I opted for some computer work instead but felt sluggish and weary until I gave up and decided to put the icy temperatures to the test on an hours (slippery) walk. The effects on my general mood and sense of wellbeing were absolutely amazing. In my opinion this is the major area where the gym fails to deliver.

It's less of a workout!

Yes really. I know you can notch up the effort level on the cardio machines or add extra weights but nothing compares to the random nature of the workout offered in the outdoors. You have to deal with obstacles, changing weather, sudden inclines and descents. Far more challenging.

It's boring

You have the option of music or TV to entertain but you can't combine the gym with other interests. Go on a hike and watch out for the wildlife or budding photographers take your camera along. Play badminton or tennis and make exercise a part of your social life rather than leaving your socialising until after your lone workout.

It's antisocial

The sight of all those people locked in their own world not uttering a word to each other is rather sad.

So in 2010, instead of doing what everyone else in the gym is doing, do something different.

This was the first time I'd Nordic Walked in snow and the poles were a boon. I went off at a steady lick with the poles propelling me forwards and, as always when I do this activity, my posture was superb. It has to be – it's impossible to stoop and Nordic Walk. Several hundred yards into my walk a hill loomed. Iced in layers of soft snow it looked beautiful..and decidedly slippery. However by planting my poles slightly farther forward and leaning a little towards the slope the ascent proved to be effortless. And as for descending the other side – a complete doddle with the poles as my extra 'legs'. As always when I'm in the great outdoors I began to think. What is there not to like about this? Granted the snow is an understandable deterrent but what about the spring and summer months? Why is it so hard to get people outdoors? I'm absolutely positive that most people who claim to loathe exercise have never tried this.

It's now 4pm and I still feel invigorated. And because my mood was boosted earlier in the day my productivity has soared this afternoon. I've completed tasks at twice the speed and somehow my normal tendency to procrastinate has evaporated. And of course the more I get done, the more I feel inspired to tackle. Forward thinking companies take note; engage your staff in an hour's exercise before their day's work and it won't be an hour lost but a racing start to the day. Try it for a month and check productivity levels. So what's new about this you say? You've been hearing for years about the benefits of employee fitness initiatives. Maybe. But can you honestly say you've really done anything about it? And I don't mean reduced gym memberships and medical check ups for your staff. An hour of power each morning; power walking, Nordic walking, just...walking...and sharing, socialising and spirit boosting.

Something else got me thinking...Is it cheating to make a resolution that, although it is very good for your health, you just know you're gonna love? There's a high chance of you keeping it up but is it in the spirit of a New Year's resolution? Aren't they supposed to be be based around something you'd rather avoid doing? Maybe. But I'm making it anyway...

So that's me - Snow Nordic walking at every opportunity this winter. It's great for your taste buds too – a hot chocolate has never tasted so good.

1. Accept that you will improve in the area of your goal as much as you possibly can but don't aim for perfection. It doesn't exist. Strive for a faultless route to your goals and you are guaranteed to fail. Let's take weight loss. I've met lots and lots of people who have successfully lost weight but not one of them got there without a few slips and setbacks along the way. You will get there despite falling off the wagon.

2. How many things are you trying to change at once? Habit busting is tough (but far from impossible) so your best course of action is to take a good look at the situation you want to change or bring about and decide what one thing could you start or stop doing that would immediately make the biggest difference. Using our example of weight loss what is the main obstacle hampering your efforts? Is it constant grazing, total lack of exercise, too much alcohol or something else? Whatever it is start with that. Then once you've managed to cut down on the wine or beer, for example, you can then tackle the next habit of failing to exercise (and it is only a habit).

3. Let's say you've decided to cut right down on those alcohol units. What are you going to do instead at the times you would normally reach for the corkscrew or drop into your local? Whatever you do, don't leave a void. You could stock up on juices or alcohol free varieties of your favourite tipple and have these instead or plan to do something completely different at these times. Make sure it's something to look forward to though so you don't begin to see it as some form of punishment!

4. Enjoy the process. Although planning an attempt at weight loss can appear terrifying with the all too common fear of failure you can still make it as painless as you possibly can. If you have decided to embark on a brand new jogging programme and you know from past experience that you hate running then why do you imagine it will be any different this time around? It won't. Choose something else. If it's being outdoors that appeals how about cycling, power walking or the fabulous Nordic Walking (more about that in my next blogpost).

5. Finally it's so important to keep going long enough and often enough to make the new habit just that – your new habit! The definition of a habit is 'A recurrent pattern of behaviour that is acquired through frequent repetition'. Personally, I have found that 21 days is enough to begin to see results but be prepared for your new pattern of desired behaviour to take up to 3 months to really become part of the new you.

Make sure your resolution fits in with all five of these conditions and success won't be far away.

Good luck and Happy New You!

An angry sky promised rain to come as I drove up for my Nordic Walking initiation. I was cold, tired and hungry after a long drive and more inclined to curl my fingers around a hot chocolate rather than a pair of poles. Half an hour later our large group was snaking along the Thames path and I was beginning to enjoy myself. It's the mood-boosting outdoors-never fails.

You simply cannot Nordic walk with poor posture and the pole propulsion is quite remarkable. Lift up the poles and you experience a definite deceleration. I was working hard and was ravenous so without doubt burning off lots of calories. Throw in a few pole stretches, resistance exercises and Nordic circuits and the potential benefits to a wide range of people are evident. There's also Nordic boot camps, hill walking, jogging and bounding which is an odd mixture of hopping and skiing. The possibilities are seemingly endless. In fact, I'll wager that Nordic barbie is on the drawing board at this very moment.

I met a spritely group of four senior ladies strapping on their Nordic poles. Having struggled for years to lose weight they claimed to have lost a total of twenty pounds betwwen them since taking up Nordic walking and believed that the key to this success was altered focus. "Whereas in the past I'd be pre-occupied with and hell bent on losing half a stone, now that is secondary to my main motivation which is the sheer enjoyment and sociability of the activity. I can do this. I look forward to it as a chance to catch up with my friends in the great outdoors. The fact that my clothing is getting looser is simply an added bonus."