There are many people writing blogs and offering advice on specific diets and exercises, but something I realised recently is that many fail to advise on the most important aspect, which is how to initiate an exercise routine.

Therefore I have decided to write a simple step-by-step guide on how to approach the subject and where to begin.

Step 1
As already mentioned there are so many different ways of keeping fit. You are more likely to keep to your new exercise programme if you enjoy it.

Therefore you need to find your ‘fitness personality’ by working out which type of exercise will suit you best. Are you a morning or evening person? An outdoor or indoor person?

Step 2
Next you need to think about making time for exercise. If you find it hard to set aside a full hour each time, a session at the gym is probably not suitable for you.

Activities such as walking or cycling may fit into your routine easier.

Step 3
Once you have decided on the type of activity and the best time to fit it in, you are now ready to commit to it. This means making the first physical steps to partaking in exercise.

However, in the early days you should start off slow. Not only is this advisable for health reasons, but also many forget that you need to mentally prepare and adapt to any changes to routine.

Step 4
Now that you are going ahead with your exercise programme, the most crucial point to remember is to set yourself realistic goals.

Your motivation will be led by your objectives, but set the bar too high and you could end up being disappointed and ultimately demotivated or even put off completely.

Think about what your end goal is and then plan how you are going to get there. Break your long-term goal into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Step 5
Lastly, once you have all this in place, ENJOY it! And remember, is true when people say fitness is for life.