A handful of things every newbie should put on his or her exercise to-do list.

Just getting started exercising? Congratulations! Your decision is one that will bring you face-to-face with improved health, looks, energy, and more.
While there is a great temptation to dive in headfirst and go all-out, it’s better to take stock and come up with goals that fit your needs.
A few little goals will make a huge difference:

Goal 1: Find a Time
The first thing you have to do before you work out is figure out when you’re going to head to the gym. Sure, you may go on a n occasional whim, but you can’t depend on these spur-of-the-moment trips to help you meet your fitness goals. Instead, come up with a regular time to get to the gym. Whether it’s at 4.00am, during your lunch hour, or right after work, having a predetermined time to exercise will help you with the next goal.

Goal 2: Stick with It
Once you’ve figured out when you can work out, it’s up to you to make sure you follow through. To make it a little easier, give yourself a goal of sticking with your routine three days a week for three months. Once you’ve been at it for that long, it should be cemented into your schedule, making it easier to stick with exercise for the long haul. If you constantly need another goal, reset your clock for another three months a week or two before completing the initial three months.

Goal 3: Trim or Tone
Toning up and trimming down are often the primary purposes for working out. If these are reasons for your new interest in exercise, use them to your advantage. Every day you work out, write down the most important measurements to you, what size clothes you want to wear, and the exercises you perform. Over time, you’ll be able to see improvements in all areas. And if you’re having trouble in one (it can be difficult to continue losing weight after a certain point), you can be encouraged by other statistics, such as your lowered blood pressure or how much longer you can run now compared to when you first began.

Goal 4: Be Honest
When you’re first getting into your exercise regimen, it’s easy to be forthcoming about your workout routine. After all, you’re in the gym three times a day, lifting more weights in a day than you have in the past four years, and running 6kms during lunch. But it becomes more difficult to be honest when you’ve been at it a while. To keep yourself honest, get an exercise partner to hold you accountable.

Goal 5: Limit Rewards
It’s not uncommon for people to feel they deserve rewards for every positive thing they do. If you’re one of these people, you may seek a reward for your exercising prowess. But it’s important to see the way you feel and look as your reward. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with missing a day at the gym or licking an ice cream now and then. However, if you’re not careful, your reward system can wind up making it impossible for you to meet your exercise-minded goals.

Good luck and happy exercising!

Scott Williams
CEO, Managing Director
Succeed Personal Development
www.succeed.com.au