Other articles on this site talk about how to get started in getting healthy, and how to motivate yourself in attaining your fitness goals. Some items keep appearing over and over again in recommendations from fitness experts who are talking about the difference between “success” and “failure” in beginners who are starting to strive toward better physical fitness. It's important to look at some of these basic considerations and judge how well you are approaching your own goals to make sure that you “set yourself up for success”.

Do create concrete benchmarks

When you're settling into a fitness routine, you definitely want to pursue modest, attainable goals with a timeline. Doing this helps you measure how much improvement you're actually getting BEFORE you can actually see the physical results.

Don't overextend yourself

Many beginners fall into this trap, whether by pushing themselves to hard, or just getting into the wrong rhythm. Be careful when working out to your MP3 player, that you don't let your musical device set your pace. Also, don't let others around you set your pace either. Both of these can result in overextending your body's abilities and wearing yourself out. Be sure to pace yourself in any activity to have a better chance at a successful finish.

Do make your fitness routine as “tangible” as possible

When possible, create written schedules and timelines to help you with your goals. A few physical fitness aids can be a good addition to your routine: simple heart rate monitors, or simple tools like jump ropes and mini fitness balls can also be an asset.

Don't set sky-high goals that will almost guarantee failure

Personal trainers and others report this time and time again: for some reason, many beginners seem obsessed with setting excessive goals for themselves. Then, they are puzzled when they don't seem to meet the challenges before them. Always set reasonable and modest goals, and your strategy will pay off as you meet these incrementally, and set your bar ever higher for a steady, gradual improvement in cardio training, weight lifting, or any other activity.

Do combine diet and exercise

Any doctor will tell you that diet and exercise are related, but that doesn't mean that all beginners take this into consideration when planning a fitness routine. In your “fitness journal” or other record, take care to compare and contrast your eating habits with what is going into your fitness routine. Focusing on just one of these and neglecting the other is a very common obstacle to success.

Don't “conk out” at the first sign of muscle pain

Lots of beginners are often quick to surrender after the first or second workout, when their muscles hurt, and their limbs are sore. There is sure to be a little muscle pain in the beginning. That's not to say that anyone should struggle through excessive pain: rather, they should notify their physician. However, beginners can expect a steady, nagging soreness or muscle pain after the first few sessions that should gradually diminish as the body improves its capacity.

Keep these do’s and don'ts in mind when starting down the path to success.