All of you joined this exercise program because you have specific goals related to improving your fitness or overall health. If you have not already set some short and long-term goals for this exercise program, do that now! Give some thought as to how much work you must commit to in order to achieve your goals. And remember, you will not see changes overnight. Too often, we find that adults believe they can find a short-cut to weight loss, increased strength or endurance. This inevitably leads to physical soreness, mental fatigue, exhaustion/dehydration, and sadly, more serious injuries. You can avoid overuse by following our recommendations. Strenuous activity does not just mean lifting weights that are “too heavy.” Any type of physical activity can lead to severe muscle soreness (and injury). You can also walk too fast, too far, or lift a relatively light weight too many times. If you have never exercised in a systematic way, you should not rush through this program. Be mindful of the physical activity you have done and will be doing. We don’t go from “couch potato” to “marathon runner” in a week. Our educational modules will provide more information on the physiological changes you can expect. We expect you to be open and to try new things on your own. Everyone needs recovery time following exercise. If you follow our recommendations, you will minimize the total recovery time you will need.
So go slow! Do not try too much, too soon.