Commencing an exercise program is exciting, and I can't express into words how many benefits await you once you've gotten your body moving and on to a higher level of fitness. But I must also share a few words of caution. All too often I see people jump suddenly into rigorous workouts that leave them tired, strained, and sometimes injured. Before long, they are physically burned out due to muscle fatigue and pure exhaustion, and they lose to keep going. That's why they stop, and a few months down the road, look back and wonder what went wrong.

Practicing an exercise program shouldn't be like this. You must achieve affine balance between pushing your body physically, and listening to what it needs (or doesn't 'need) as you continue forward. If you haven't worked out in a while, I strongly recommend speaking with your physician first. He or she can help you gauge your fitness level so you don't overwork yourself and wind up increasing your risk for injury or illness. You may also have physical limitation that you must consider and with which your doctor can assist you. Exercise should be fun, something that you look forward to every day.

One question I hear frequently is this: When is the best time to exercise? To that I say, "whenever you can." everyone's life is busy these days and we all maintain different schedules. For some, it's nearly impossible to get up earlier in the morning to fit in a workout; for others, if the exercise isn't done before 8 a.m., it won't happen at all that day. From a physiology standpoint, there's no definitive answer on the exact time of day that's ideal. There are arguments for both sides- morning and afternoon workouts- and for various reasons. Add to that the fact everyone's body is different, too. Exercise can stimulate on person to feel awake for hours, while it doesn't have such a strong effect on someone else. The biggest challenge for most people is just fitting exercise in at all, no matter what time of day. I recommend experimenting with different times to see how you feel and what fits your personal schedule best. Go with what works for you, simple as that. Aim to schedule your workouts in before your meals, however, so your body can digest properly. If you choose to work out after a meal, try to wait at least two hours, especially if you want to engage in some intense cardio and you've eaten full meal.

Also, keep in mind that the benefits of exercise are cumulative, so you don't have to spend a full hour in one session. You can split up the time devoted to working out through your day. A little here, a little there. It all adds up.