Top 10 Tips for Starting an Exercise Program

This is a special gift to procrastinators. You know how you promised to start an exercise program at New Years? Then in March? And April? And May? Now, it's full-on summer and you're nowhere. Starting a fitness routine when you're older isn't easy, especially if there are years of inactivity between now and the last time you biked or hiked. Here are the top 10 tips to get you going again:

1. Talk to your doctor. Even if you were a star athlete years ago, your body has aged. Ask your doctor to give you a check-up to make sure you're ready to go again.

2. Start slowly. Many people make the mistake of thinking that you need to spend hours a day at the gym to accomplish anything. In fact, small changes can add up. Park your car a little further away at the mall or at work. Take stairs instead of the elevator. Walk just 15 minutes a day more.

3. Let it add up. Make one of these changes one week, then another the next. Before you know it, you may have added an extra 45 minutes of physical activity to your routine.

4. Enlist a friend. Walking around the neighborhood is a lot more fun if you have someone to share the experience with. Better yet, find four of five friends. That way, if one drops out for a day or two, you will have others to keep you going.

5. Keep an exercise journal. Researchers have found that people who write down fitness activities are more likely to continue them. The journal keeps you honest.

6. Mix it up. Some people do thrive on the same routine every day, but most of us like variety. Think about physical activities you like. In the summer there are so many great choices: biking, tennis, swimming.

7. Try dancing. Yes, that's right. Dancing is one of the best physical activities for older people. It exercises more than just your muscles. You also have to think about rhythm and it forces you to interact socially. All that is good for your brain!

8. Look for the right gym. If you do decide to make a gym part of your routine, try and find a place that has lots of members of a certain age. Frankly, it's intimidating to be around young, limber bodies. Many gyms welcome midlife members. Patronize them. They're also more likely to have special classes for beginner exercisers.

9. Get the right footwear. Nothing stops an exercise program quicker than shoes that don't fit. It's worth going to a store that specializes in athletic equipment and telling them what your plan is so you can't get the shoes that will work best.

10. Have fun. Any exercise plan will fail if it becomes boring and drudgery. Look for ways to enjoy it. Your body and brain will thank you.