The Pain/Gain Correlation

Some people scoff at the "no pain, no gain" mantra of physical fitness gurus. Not the apostle Paul.

So you finally get it together and decide to begin an exercise program. It almost doesn't matter whether it's walking, jogging, swimming, practicing yoga or step aerobics, weight-training or following some other plan. As long as it's gotten you off the couch and onto your feet in some active way, it's a good thing.

And perhaps this time, you really get into the program and stay with it for a while. Your muscle tone and overall fitness improve, your cholesterol numbers head in the right direction, your pulse slows, your weight goes down while your energy goes up, your self-image improves and your sense of well-being becomes buoyant. You may even feel as though you can keep going like that for years to come.

But then something happens that, at least temporarily, derails your plan. It could be an injury that forces you to put your program aside for a while. It could be a death or crisis in the family that not only disrupts your routine but also so demoralizes you that you have no heart for ...