No, my 7-week-old is not walking yet, however, she is the inspiration for this month's article. After I had her via C-section, I was given the normal restrictions that every new mom receives after giving birth. For two weeks I couldn't lift anything over 10 pounds, no vacuuming, no driving and limited stair climbing. 
    Now for some people, this would be a welcome break from the normal house cleaning duties and especially from exercise but for me it was torture to just sit around on the couch while other people did things for me.
    After my two weeks were up, I asked my doctor if I could start working out again and he looked at me like I was nuts until I explained to him that I was a personal trainer.  He told me that I could start walking but nothing strenuous until six weeks postpartum.
    During my pregnancy, I continued to walk and do light weightlifting so I expected that I would be able to jump right back into my usual routine since I was "in shape”.  Boy was I wrong! 
    I did start with walking like my doctor recommended, however, I pushed it a little too far and walked a little farther than I should have and was sore the next day. 
    This got me thinking about the people who are recuperating from any type of surgery and are getting back into their exercise routine, or people who are just getting started for the first time.
    The biggest mistake that people make is going too fast and trying to be a superhero.  No one expects you to be able to bench press your body weight the first day – remember that your muscles need to be trained.
    If you've been sitting on the couch every night for the past 30 years and you all of a sudden start demanding your muscles to run a 9-minute mile, they will start screaming right back at you. By jumping in and going full force, you not only risk injury to yourself, but the next day you will tell yourself that exercising is not worth it because of the soreness and aches and pains that you are experiencing. 
    The other problem is that people don't want to be embarrassed and look like a wimp so they add more weight or do the exercise incorrectly in order to "save face" in front of the other people that are at the gym. 
    I guarantee you that 99 percent of the people at the gym either feel the same way as you and are a little self-conscious about themselves, or they are so wrapped up in their own workout that they don't even know you're there.
     Think baby steps. I had a friend ask me, “How do I get started, where do I start?" I told him to start slow. Change one thing a week.
    If you haven't been active at all, go for a walk. If you drink two cans of pop a day, cut back to one, and then gradually wean yourself down to only one a week while increasing your water intake. Make a commitment to get to the gym or get outside to walk/bike one more day per week than you have previously. Get your family/friends involved.  Join a beginner’s class.
    If you still have no idea where to start or what to do, find a personal trainer who can create a program for you that is tailored to your ability, body condition, and personality, which will all help you stick to your routine.
    Take baby steps and you'll get to your goal faster than taking giant leaps.
    Misti Shawver is a personal trainer. Before starting any fitness or exercise program, check with your doctor first.