The most difficult challenge that people I talk to face is how to incorporate exercise and personal fitness into their lives. They know they have to do something to get in shape but they really do not know how. It can be disheartening due to the abundance of information out there. So much that you may not know where to start.

In todays society we have an abundance of food choices that it is easy to pile on a few extra pounds. Also our day to day jobs are less physical as they where 100 years ago so we have more sedentary life styles. We know the advantages involved when we exercise and cleaning up our diet. However, most of us do not know how or where to start.

So what’s the best way to start, and how do we begin?

The very first thing you need do is go to your doctor and get the approval to start exercising. Your doctor may also provide some helpful tips as well.

After you get the OK from your doctor, try these 5 things to help you get started:

Make the Choice to Start Exercising and Eating Right

Making the decision to do something provides a form of commitment you made to  your self. Deciding that you need to change behavior creates new possibilities. When you say to your self I need to get in shape, it means something. You should be answering these questions in your mind: When can I work out? What exercises do I need to do? What foods should I be eating? Make your self think about the commitment you just made. Once you have done that you can let go of the past and take steps to move forward.

Write Down What You Do

You need a reference that is realistic towards your weekly activity. Write down  everything you do during the week. This should include work hours, commuting hours, nights spent with your spouse, your childrens activities and anything else you can think of that you do. You should also include what you do on weekends. You should make a list for each day of the week.

Some people set lofty goals like working out for 2 hours a day. This can be due to an old saying, More is Better. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Knowing your schedule will help you set achievable targets and help you find a few hours a week to start exercising. You will have a visual perspective on what you can and can not do with your routine.

Aquire Information through research

Most people do not have enough information before they start a work out program. So how do we get the information we need? The good news is we live in the information age. Take advantage of your favorite search engine and learn a little bit about healthy eating and exercise. However, do not go overboard and lose focus. Find a source of information you like and take notes. Find the simplest and easiest workouts and nutrition tips. Do not over load yourself with information.

If you can afford it, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions to start you off. Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to get started because you have made a commitment to meet someone to workout. Your goal is to have the trainer show you the basics on exercise and eating healthier. It may also be safer to learn how to perform the exercises (especially if you have not exercised for a while).

Set yourself achievable targets

Keep it Simple! Following a simple plan while on a hectic schedule is a lot easier than following an elaborate plan. You should have a plan of which days you want to work out and one goal to change your eating habits for the next few weeks. For example, I will work out for a half an hour for 3 days this week. I will eat a little less each meal. Simple is success.

Follow through with your daily schedule

Now that you have a plan, all you need to do is follow it. This is another big step. Make sure you read your daily plan first thing every morning. You need be mentally prepared for the great day ahead of you. Having your daily schedule at hand will help you achieve your goals for the day. When you have completed your workout for the day, highlight it or cross it off your list. It will show you that you accomplished something for yourself. No matter what you must execute. This will be the hardest and most rewarding step.

I hope these things help you get started on a new life of physical fitness. Life is filled with making decisions, knowing your commitments, getting information, planning and execution. Try these approaches for yourself and you will see that having your own workout and nutrition program is not as hard as you first imagined.