• Seek out the services of a Personal Trainer to help you get started and also to keep you accountable and challenged along the way.
• Expect the process to be gradual. If you have been sedentary, start out slow and make small changes to your daily habits. Don't try to make up for lost time by exercise too hard right away.
• Exercise with a partner. The expectation of a friend, spouse, or co-worker meeting you for a workout will keep you consistent.
• Ask questions and be willing to learn. There is a large amount of information available to give you ideas about your fitness routine. Bring ideas in to your personal training session so your trainer can help you sort fact from fiction.
• Set "SMART" goals. Keep them Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
• Choose a variety of activities you enjoy. By picking sports or activites you like to do, you will look forward to your exercise routine and stay with it for the long-term.
• Realize that life brings all kinds of conflicts. Keep exercise a high priority but also know that there may be weeks when you don't exercise as much as you would like. That is part of the journey........so look at the big picture. Take advantage of weeks when you can get more than your normal amount of exercise completed.
• Set aside a place in your home for exercising. Get a good pair of walking shoes, and some simple tools like an exercise ball, light dumbbells and some resistance tubing. Keep them available so you see them regularly, not tucked away in a closet.

ACE’s Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Personal Trainer

Motivation – Personal trainers wear many hats, serving not only as coach, but as an educator, confidant, role model and a major source of motivation and encouragement as well.

Consistency – Do you find it difficult to stick to your program? Scheduling regular appointments with a personal trainer helps eliminate any excuses you might come up with for not exercising.

Safety – Unsure about how to use the chest press machine at the gym or how to perform walking lunges without hurting your knees? A personal trainer will show you how to exercise safely (including which exercises to avoid) and instruct you on the proper and safe use of exercise equipment.

Individualized Instruction – What works for one person, may not work for another when it comes to choosing an exercise program. A personal trainer will develop the most effective program for you based on your fitness evaluation results and personal goals. Beginners in particular benefit from instruction on how to perform specific exercises and program planning.

Effective Workouts – Today's hectic lifestyles mean you don't have time to waste on ineffective exercise routines. Personal trainers help maximize your time by providing workouts designed to meet your goals quickly and efficiently.

Supervision – Personal attention during exercise is the primary function of personal trainers. Need someone to spot you while you do pull-ups? Looking for feedback on your running form? No problem-that's what your personal trainer is for-to observe, assist and, if necessary, correct as needed.

Sports-specific Training – Many amateur and professional athletes work with a personal trainer during the off-season to prepare themselves for in-season competition. Whether you want to shave some strokes off your golf score or beat your brother-in-law at tennis, a personal trainer can tailor your program to your sport of choice.

Injury Rehabilitation – Injuries and accidents can prevent you from participating in your favorite activities. An experienced personal trainer, however, can make the road to recovery a smooth one by recommending exercises that emphasize overall muscular balance to prevent future injuries.

Special-needs Training – Research confirms that individuals with health challenges such as diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis or heart disease benefit greatly from regular physical activity. These conditions, however, can make exercising safely a challenge. Many personal trainers are experienced in designing programs that address the special needs of these and other conditions.

Ego Boost – It's a fact-feeling good makes you look good, and vice versa. Not only can your personal trainer help you achieve your health and fitness goals, they provide you with positive feedback on your performance and bolster your confidence to take on new challenges.