PUBLISHED 03/27/2002
Choose this beginning-level program if any of the following applies:
- You're severely overweight.
- You're recovering from illness or surgery.
- You have a chronic health problem that limits activity.
- You devote less than 60 minutes a day to"active" tasks like walking the dog, chasing after kids, or putting out the garbage.
- You spend your days sitting at a desk or in your car and your evenings lounging on the couch.
With the Get-Started Plan, you'll ease your way into a regular walking routine. It starts you out slowly, to build your confidence and reduce your risk of injury. Even at a moderate pace, you'll reap many benefits. ("Moderate" means you're moving fast enough to get your heart pumping but not so fast that you become out of breath.) Almost immediately, you'll notice improvements in your flexibility, your energy level, and your mood. After the second week of the program, your workouts will feel easier a sign that your heart is getting fittter and your legs are getting stronger.
