Starting an exercise program may be one of the best things you can do for your health. After all, physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight — even boost your self-esteem. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability.

When you design your exercise program, consider your fitness goals. Think about your fitness likes and dislikes, and note your personal barriers to fitness. Then consider practical strategies for keeping your exercise program on track.

Starting an exercise program is an important decision, but it doesn't have to be an overwhelming one. By planning carefully and pacing yourself, you can make fitness a healthy habit that lasts a lifetime.

Everyone knows that regular exercise is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Aiming for thirty minutes of vigorous activity three to four days a week is optimal and reduces a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes. With obesity being an important issue in the United States, many people turn to physical fitness to keep their bellies at bay. When paired with a low-fat, high fiber diet, a regular exercise routine can produce drastic results. From a trimmer waistline to heightened self-esteem, exercise delivers satisfaction to all those who engage in it.

Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help you achieve your goals. They all cause you to feel warm, perspire and breathe heavily without being out of breath and without feeling any burning sensation in your muscles. Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise ads up to a healthier and happier "You".

However, this very is Important! If you've been sedentary for a long time, are overweight, have a high risk of coronary heart disease or some other chronic health problem, see your doctor for a medical evaluation before beginning any exercise or physical activity program.

12 Exercise, Health and Physical Fitness Tips, you should consider when starting any exercise program.

1) Set Goals - Not to get slimmer or to get bigger muscles , but fitness goals. Set goals to beat your prior records in distance runs, push-ups or chin-ups you can do, weight you can lift or degree you can stretch. Fitness goals should make the gym / work out fun and exciting where you strive to beat your most challenging opponent, YOU!

2) Dress Right-You should always wear comfortable, properly fitted footwear and comfortable, loose-fitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.

3) Put Away The Bat-Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you fall off the fitness wagon, pick up where you left off. Persistence is key therefore it will pay off in the long run.

4) Short Workouts - Feel that you don't have time or enthusiasm to last an hour? Just go for twenty or thirty minutes. Shorter workouts can be better than longer ones if the intensity is higher and you become more focused as a result. After an hour or two of exercise your body starts to go into a state where more exercise can actually reduce physical improvements.

5) Develop Good Exercise and Nutritional Habits - let them become instinctive. If you can make exercise a habit, then it becomes that much easier to do. Start off small, gradually increasing, repetitions, weight, distance and time, just continue to do it. Before you know it will be like just riding a bike. Without thinking about it, you just get on and go. Exercise habits are the same way. Before you know it, your doing it every day without thinking about it.

6) Partner up - Make friends that have the same ambitions, than help each other get and stay motivated. Choosing partners that are committed to their health. That way you can drag each other to the gym, mall, tennis court, pool or whatever it is that you enjoy.

7) Do some Research - Don't get caught up doing the S.O.S. (Same Old Stuff) routines. This is a sure shot way to lose interest. Engage in different activities, mix it up, don't let it get old. There are many different fitness activities you can try. If you don't like lifting weights, that’s fine. Try yoga, karate / kick boxing, boxing, swimming, basketball, walking, running, dancing, aerobics, or mountain climbing. Get the hint?

8) Ad Some Tunes - Music can set the pace and enhance your workout. A good tune can make your execise routine twice as enjoyable with it than without.

9) Relieve stress - Add Years - We all know that stress shortens lives. So make exercise your stress relief. That’s right, Just go to any local gym or Martial Arts studio. You won't have to ask, that will be one of the first things they tell you. People just go straight to these places after a challenging day even if they had other things to do. Exercising can be healing and liberating of negative and harmful emotions. Therefore instead of not going to the gym or working out because of a stressful day, it will be your motivation to go and keep on going.

10) A Watched Pot Never Boils - Stay off of the scale, stop looking at the mirror. Practice the art of allowing. Just put in positive action, keep moving in the right direction. Having faith and knowing that this is all going to pay off at the end. Look at the fact that you are exercising regularly. Know that you are adding years to your life. Then one day when you least expect, a friend or your spouse will say "Wow you look wonderful" or you might just visit the doctor’s office for a routine check-up and tell you "Mr/Mrs Jones, you’re in top physical condition". Now we’re talking!

11) Create Food-Free Reward System - How about a new workout outfit, pair of jeans, sneakers, jewelry-- or what the heck, even a spa treatment, shopping spree, or weekend getaway? Why Not? You deserve this kind of treatment when you reach your goals.

12) Stay hydrated - It is recommended that you drink around 16 or so ounces of water two hours before your workout for optimum performance and then sip water throughout your exercise program (and after!). Water should be your first choice for fluid replacement unless you're working out for longer than an hour, at which point you can switch to a sports drink.

In closing, my past experiences have shown me that it’s all about having fun. However please do not forget another important thing. Safety is #1. Consult your physician before starting any exercise program, even if you are younger it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Learn from the pros, not Sam the butcher or big Bob the muscular beach boy. There are plenty of professionals out there to be found.

Live healthy, happy and enjoy life to the fullest.