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Finding Fit

 As someone who was not athletic growing and even mocked for lack of ability in the area, getting into a fitness regimen has been a long, arduous process for me. I've always felt less ready, in worse shape and incapable than others. Finding the right group to exercise with what the first challenge - I did not fare well with a group whose average age was much lower than mine or had a significantly higher fitness level. 

That just served to dial up all my anxieties and not deliver any useful outcomes. Once I solved the group problem, things started to work much better. I started to feel middle of the pack with hope of improving with diligent effort. I did not realize that I might have also had the issue of being a non-responder to certain routines and felt frustrated in vain: 

Before beginning a new exercise routine, he says, measure your fitness. You can do this by briskly walking up several flights of stairs or quickly stepping onto and off a box three or four times. Then check your pulse. This is your baseline number.

Now start working out. Walk. Jog. Attend interval training or spin classes.

After about a month, Dr. Gurd says, repeat the stair or step test. Your pulse rate should be slower now. Your workout sessions should also be feeling easier.

If not, you may be a nonresponder to your current exercise routine.

In that case, switch things up,

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