A friend wants to start exercising but keeps giving up after a week. What advice would you give them?

B Natural answer

I’d suggest they stop starting too big and make the first month really easy. For example, they could walk after dinner, do ten push-ups, or follow a short video. It also helps to track your progress so they can see small wins instead of only noticing the hard days. If possible, they should find a workout buddy or tell one person about their plan, because it’s harder to quit when someone else is checking in. The goal is not to be perfect right away. The goal is to make exercise normal enough that it becomes part of the week.

Key phrases in this answer

• starting too big — Beginning with a plan that is too difficult to keep.“He kept starting too big and then getting tired.”
• track your progress — Keep checking how much you improve over time.“It helps to track your progress so you can see improvement.”
• a workout buddy — A person who exercises with you.“Having a workout buddy made it easier to stay active.”
• small goal — A target that is easy to start with and finish.“Start with a small goal, like a 10-minute walk.”
• same time — At one fixed time each day.“Try to exercise at the same time every day.”
• build a routine — Create a regular habit or pattern.“Start small and build a routine you can keep.”