Pace Yourself or Push Yourself?

Pace Yourself or Push Yourself?

We all know the fable about the hare and the tortoise, in which the hare bounds from the starting line energetically, hops about erratically, gets distracted frequently, and all but loses interest in the finish line. The tortoise, meanwhile, plods methodically forward, never loses sight of the goal, and eventually wins the race.
Many people who vow to begin working out have all the good intentions in the world but are hares at heart. They purchase a long-term membership at a gym or buy expensive home equipment. They start working out frantically, trying to compensate for a long period of inactivity. Although they start strong, they tend to fade fast. In fact,observers of the fitness scene say that half of all beginners quit within two months.Sometimes they drop out because of injury, sometimes because of exhaustion,sometimes out of boredom, and sometimes because they haven’t geared themselves up for the long haul. The goal is to be a tortoise, building your fitness steadily and consistently, step by step, and making it part of your routine.
When the U.S. Surgeon General’s office began taking serious notice of the Americanpublic’s need to exercise, the original modest recommendation for maintaining cardiovascular health was to undertake three high-intensity workouts per week. More recently, the recommendation has changed to daily exercise but on a more moderate level such as a brisk walk, a bike ride, or climbing stairs. Consistency, this medical authority has concluded, is the most important element of a fitness program.