Exercise improves everything, from heart health to muscle tone to balance, coordination, self-esteem and sleep patterns. But if the last time you jogged was in P.E. class, you’ll need to start slowly. Also, check with your doctor before starting any new fitness plan.
 
Create goals. Most people start exercising to lose weight, but exercise has many other benefits. Maybe you want to increase your general fitness level, in which case you might want to improve your aerobic endurance (how long you can run or walk without becoming exhausted). Or maybe you want to increase your muscle strength or flexibility. Take some baseline measurements — your weight, resting heart rate, how long it takes you to walk a mile, how far you can reach toward your toes, and so on. Then set a goal for how much you want to improve: “I want to be able to walk a mile in less than 15 minutes,” for example.

Consistency is key. Exercise at least three to five times a week. “People get in there and want their whole body to change completely in one month,” says country artist and former personal trainer Keith Anderson. “It’s one of those things where it has to become a lifestyle. You can’t just work out for three months and think everything will be OK.”
 
Choose activities you like, so you’ll stick with them. For the more social types, a cardiovascular workout might include group fitness, like kickboxing or dance-oriented classes at a gym. More of a loner? Try walking, running or swimming. Or get a fitness DVD so you can work out at home. If you want to improve flexibility, yoga and Pilates are great options. Challenge your body by adding some different exercises. If you always walk, try jumping rope or dancing. Don’t forget that a nice hike in the mountains or a good game of basketball also count as exercise.
 
Warm up by walking at an easy pace. Then speed up gradually, aiming for five to 10 minutes of exercise that gets your heart rate up, but still allows you to carry on a conversation. Increase the amount of time you exercise every day by one to five minutes, until you can do 30 minutes at a stretch. Check your fitness progress after four to six weeks. By then, that mile that took so long to run before just might seem like a piece of cake.