Start Slow
All the motivation in the world is no match for an injury if you hurt yourself from doing too much. Remember: Even if you start out with a walk to your mailbox today and move up to the end of your street and back by the end of the week, you're on the right track. It may not seem like much, but as long as you're doing more today than you did this time last week, you're making progress.Drink Up
Staying hydrated is important during and after your workout, but you may not know that it's also crucial before you work out. Muscles need to be hydrated before you exercise, even if you're just taking a walk. When your muscles are dehydrated they literally "go dry" and become much less flexible. Not only does this make exercising more difficult, it can actually set you up for injury, such as a sprain.
Stretch It Out
A lot of "newbies" know they need to stretch before a workout, but many of us don't realize it's just as important to stretch afterwards. When you stretch, you help to lengthen the muscles that tighten (and therefore, shorten) during your workout. Stretching will cause your muscles to go back to their normal size, making them more supple. That pays off at your next workout too -- you'll be less prone to injury the next time you exercise when you stretch this time.An added bonus? Doing some stretches is a good way to round out your exercise session because it provides a sense of relaxation. That sense of calm will help you feel more rewarded by the exercise and you will be more likely to stick to it permanently.
Give Yourself a Break!
Those first few weeks, you may feel you simply must exercise every day or you might lose your momentum and throw in the towel altogether. But even if you have a lot of weight to lose, taking some time off isn't the same as giving in (If you're tempted to push yourself when your body is saying "Just don't do it," you need to remind yourself of that.).Your body needs to time to rest. During that time off, your body is busy repairing muscles that you used during your last workout. As a rule of thumb, take at least every other day off when you're just starting out.
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