Today, my legs are aching...big time. Getting out of bed was painful, I'm walking like Frankenstein, and climbing the measly 10 steps to my office building made me wince. And you know what? I'm loving every minute of it. To me, soreness is a sign that my body took notice of a new workout (yesterday I added stair lunges and running sprints to my morning walk). And the discomfort means my muscles are getting stronger and more sculpted. So instead of popping some Advil and sitting it out for a few days, I'm going to take a yoga class (experts say low-intensity exercise helps diminish muscle stiffness) and guilt my husband into giving me a massage.

Has it been a while since you've felt that good soreness? Try changing one part of your routine: Increase the weight on a strength exercise, walk uphill instead of on a flat path, or add a new move to your workout. Need some inspiration? Try a curtsy lunge lift.

I recently visited Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California. I was only there for a day, but I took full advantage: Between a delicious breakfast and lunch, I walked around the property's 200 acres, took a body-sculpting class, cooled off with a swim in the pool, and indulged in a heavenly deep-tissue massage. I even squeezed in a yoga class before hitting the road. I arrived home three hours later completely wiped out, and was fast asleep at 9:30.

But the next day, I woke up refreshed, happy, and in the mood for oatmeal instead of my usual blueberry scone. I even did something I haven't attempted in months: I ran in the morning. Taking that one-day break from my real life--with nothing to focus on but walking to my next fitness class--was just what I needed to get me excited about working out and eating well again.

You don't have to escape to a spa to get the same benefit; instead, devote one day (or even a few hours) entirely to your health--and make the phone, TV, and computer off-limits. Start with a healthy breakfast and then head to the gym and try a new class or two. Afterward, relax in the steam room, take a long shower, and go to your favorite restaurant for lunch. If you work out at home, load up on fitness DVDs at the library or try a new Shape routine (I'm still loving the Bikini Body Countdown workouts).