Laying the Groundwork

Laying the Groundwork

Once you set yourself up with a slim-down, shape-up goal and decide to get going, it’s tempting to join a health club, buy a wardrobe full of cool workout clothes, go on a fast-fix diet, and order exercise videos and gadgets. Some people—okay, women—even use their about-to-start workout program as an excuse to buy a whole wardrobe in the size they plan to be, claiming that the new duds are incentive to slim down. Too often, new exercisers tend to start with a burst and get sore or discouraged. The combination of impossible
expectations and an out-of-tune body is a formula for fitness failure, and then the expenditure seems like an indictment that deepens the disappointment and discouragement.
Success is not serendipity. It is the result of a good grasp of your starting point, good planning, and a good attitude. Be positive in your approach to sticking with your program, but be realistic about what you can accomplish and in what time frame. Begin with an honest assessment of where you are starting from in order to figure out where you want to go and where you can go. Start modestly and sensibly, remembering to reward yourself as you progress.