1. Get Fit, Stay Fit

96. Take Your Exercise à la Carte

Rodney Dangerfield once quipped, “The trouble with jogging is that by the time you realize you’re not in shape for it, it’s too far to walk back.”

Choosing activities that are right for you is important—otherwise you may lose interest or hurt yourself and drop out.

What’s more, no one activity will meet all your needs, so take the “cafeteria approach” to fitness. Try a few things to help you decide what suits you best. And don’t rely on one activity—that can get boring. Variety helps you stick with your program, too. For example, if you like to play tennis but your partner is out of the game for a week due to a cold, you can walk, cycle, or swim as a backup plan.