Starting an EXERCISE program

Whether you enjoy it or not, EXERCISE is vital for your health and well-being! It strengthens your heart and lungs, increases circulation, boosts your metabolism, strengthens muscles and improves your endurance, among many other benefits. So there is no question that you should exercise... But do you?

There are two ways to look at exercise-related pain. One is the health problems you will encounter if you do not exercise, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, etc. Exercise can be as easy as walking your dog or using a treadmill. Find an exercise that is convenient and enjoyable for you; otherwise you will probably not stick with it. If finances are the constraint, just start a walking program.

The other form of exercise-related pain is injury during/after the workout. If you are going to start a new form of exercise, prepare yourself with proper footwear. Then start with a little at a time. Do not jump to running 5 miles (or even 2 miles) the first day. Be sure to warm up for 5 minutes by walking or doing some light cardio exercise. If you need to stretch before your main  exercise, do so after your warmup. Stretching after your workout can be very helpful, even if you do so for 3-5 minutes. If you only have time to exercise for 30 minutes, your first few minutes and last few minutes should be done a little slower than the bulk of your routine.

When was the last time you exercised???  I will mail a FREE PRIZE for the best and worst responses (within the USA)! Reply in comments section below! This contest lasts for 24 hours!