How to Begin Your Exercise Program

You already know you should exercise, but how do you do it?? You'd like to be healthy, but you aren't sure you have the time to fit exercise into your day. Realize that a new habit is difficult to establish at first, but IT CAN BE DONE! follow these steps and YOU'll be on your way down the exercise path in no time. And remember, enjoy the journey.

#1 Plan Exercise into Your Day What if you don't have time to exercise? Stop and think about this... youCan make time for anything you are committed to doing. Relax! It won'tTake as much time as you think.

Look at your schedule. Take a calendar Or day planner arid fill in the activities you do every day. Notice where you have blank spots-even if it's only 30 minutes. Can you fit a quick walk into that time slot?
Make an appointment to exercise. Identify various times you have available and make appointments with yourself to exercise at those times. Write these appointments in your calendar or day planner!

#2 Set Up a Support Network Develop a support network consisting of two sets of people. In the first set, include people who will exercise with you: neighbors, family members, friends at work. Let your enthusiasm motivate these people and they can do the same for you.In the second set, include people who will support you in your efforts. They mi3bt~ not exercise with you but they will encourage you through the pitfalls. A1so, enlist the aid of current exercisers. They will be happy to help because, chances are, tbey've gone through the same thing.

#3 Set Goals Why do you want to exercise? To lose weight, build muscle, or improve your health? If you write down your specific, you will know what direction to go in.

Make goals you can chart, because then you can see progress towards them.
Create a short term plan for this month and then one for four or six months.
Set realistic goals, for example, walking 5 more minutes every week, or losing one pound of fat a month. Don't expect to lose 30 pounds in two weeks.

Keep in mind...for optimal fitness, you'll want to work up to performing cardiovascular exercise, like walking or biking, three to five times per week for 20 to 60 minutes. Of course, whatever exercise you do will provide health gains, so don't worry if you can't reach this frequency at first.