> What keeps fit people going to the gym on a regular basis isn't wearing their running shoes to bed at night. It's discipline and accountability.<p>There is an alternative, less resistant path which I believe is more sustainable and better for the soul... find something you love that involves exercise, not much discipline is needed once you do, because you probably wont be able to stop yourself from doing it when it's something you look forward to - which in a way is "wearing your running shoes to bed", it's passion.<p>Something which is not exercise for the sake of exercise, i.e not "going to the gym", it must be more mentally rewarding and stimulating somehow. That doesn't mean team sports either, there is more to life, in fact I'd recommend avoiding team sports because then you are more likely to have more control over when and where you can do your activity. Examples: rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing, surfing, skating, skiing. You can do these types of activities with friends, and make friends too, and they can take you all over the world, or at least all over your country - so they are pretty good for the soul ;)<p>Discipline is a useful ability, but you can only apply it effectively so many places in your life, and you wont be able to keep it up forever. Save it for when you really need it to fix something - but health is not a fix, it's a lifestyle.