1. Pace yourself
If you're feeling full of enthusiasm that's great, but remember to go "slow and easy" at first, says exercise physiologist Dr. Cris Slentz, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Also remember that it will also take time to get where you want to be, especially if this is the first time you've exercised.
Dr. Slentz recommends starting with short 15- to 20-minute sessions of physical activity to get the process going, and gradually as you get fitter you can up the intensity and duration of your workouts.