* Consider your weekly schedule. Pick 5 days to workout and 2 to rest. Make sure you’ll be able to stay consistent. * Pick one rest and one workout day for active recovery, which can include activities like walking, yoga or light swimming. The point of active recovery is to maintain the habit of exercise, while giving your body a rest from more intense routines. * Assign a cardio activity to 3 of the remaining workout days. * Assign full-body strength training to 1 of the remaining days. * Create variety in your cardio routine. For example, if you choose running as your cardio activity, do sprints one day, long-distance another and interval training on the third. * Gradually make your workouts harder by increasing the time, weight or distance of your activities. Generally, you’ll want to train for 4 to 6 weeks at a certain level before upping the intensity.