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How to Start

Starting a new exercise routine can be tough. I know. I’ve been there, too. The biggest obstacle I faced was fear. I was never athletic as a kid. Always told I was too skinny or weak, I found myself believing that. Maybe you have a similar story. What I can tell you is this: you are more than you think (in every way). I got over those fears with a friends encouragement and a plan.

First, and this is important, if you haven’t already been told to exercise by your physician, it would be wise to make an appointment to get approval before you begin. You never know what you may have done to yourself in the years of neglecting your body…

When I first began exercising, I wasn’t aware of pacing myself. I was so out of shape that I literally got nauseous after only a few minutes of exercise. So it is from experience that I encourage you to begin your exercise program slowly and with thought.

There is truth to the cliché “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” My body had years to learn it’s sedentary ways and no matter how many weights I threw at it, there was no way I was walking out of the gym looking like one of those Spartan guys; At least not after only one day of training. Lesson learned the hard way.

Save yourself some embarrassment and begin your workout by walking at a moderate pace for 5-10 minutes or so. Then, work your way up to 20-30 minutes. After that, stretch and leave. That’s it; At least for the first week.

What’s important is that you be consistent. You are creating a habit here. Somewhere along the journey of building my routine I realized I am not in a race. Exercise is a part of my life and my primary job is to make sure it stays that way.  If you can get your mind to accept that philosophy, things will be easier for you, too.

I tried several things after I became consistent with my walking routine. I tried the Elliptical machine and found that I preferred it to the treadmill. I tried yoga and tai chi, and while I still incorporate some of their moves, I settled on weight training and calisthenics (body weight exercises) as my primary source for building muscle, burning fat and giving shape to my body.

The point is that I tried different approaches. You should, too. Different activities appeal to each of us. If you are an outdoor person, you may prefer the trail to the swimming pool, but if you’ve always liked to dance, you may want to sign up for Pilates, a dance class or even yoga, because you will probably enjoy moving through the postures.

What I’m trying to say is don’t worry about what you “can’t” do. If I had done that, I would have never begun my fitness routine. Instead focus on what you would “like” to do. Once I got that concept down, I learned that my body is capable of much more than what I asked of it. Soon, you will realize that for yourself. All you need to do it start.

As always – Enjoy Your Life,

John Aaron Villarreal


The Legal Stuff: I write to inform, inspire and encourage my readers to enjoy all that their life have to offer.
The content and information on this site is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease.
Please consult your physician prior to starting any exercise, diet or wellness program.

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