By now, you probably know how beneficial exercise can be to your health. Regular exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, decreases body fat, protects against osteoporosis, high blood pressure and diabetes, and generally just makes you feel better.

So what if you’re totally new to the whole exercise thing?  Better yet, what if you haven’t even begun an exercise program yet?

Because of the sheer magnitude of health and fitness websites, books and exercise programs, it can be confusing to know what to do or where to start. We see infomercials with trainers pushing people to the absolute limit and promising that ripped abs and toned muscles will be the end result. We hear of new phone apps all of the time that show you how to do everything from strength training to Pilates. What is a beginner to do?

I’ll tell you.  If you’re just starting, your main focus should be to just get started and to start small.

I know what some of you might be thinking. “That’s not going to work.”  “Don’t I need to do a lot to see results?”  “Will I be able to lose all of the weight I want to lose before my reunion or beach trip?”

Here’s the thing, though. Often, when we set out to start a big, complicated exercise program, we get in over our heads and set ourselves up for failure.

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