When you start getting in shape, you may be tempted to do a lot of strenuous exercise right away. Unfortunately, this will actually derail your fitness efforts. Often, people jump into an advanced exercise routine too fast and end up injured.

"Progress is from A to B, not from A to Z," says fitness expert Alex Chemerov, co-owner of Discover Movement, a sport-conditioning program based in New Jersey. "Exercise is an investment and the return takes some time. Setting mini-goals and accomplishing them will lead to more confidence and more momentum toward your ultimate goal. Moving progressively and step-by-step will ensure success and not set you up for failure from the very beginning."

So take it easy during the early phases of your workout. When setting your goals, aim to do one extra set of weight lifting instead of four, or only jog for 40 minutes instead of running for two hours. If you're looking to see improvement right away, tune into the smaller changes in your body that are occurring daily. You might be gaining more energy during the day or sleeping better at night. Your outlook on life might be improving. Acknowledge and applaud these changes. Ultimately, they're the most important achievements in your fitness program.

Trust us. Getting in shape will take some time. Be patient and take it slow—results are sure to follow! And they will last if you take it slow.

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