{"id":11487,"date":"2026-05-15T15:09:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T21:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/?page_id=11487"},"modified":"2026-08-26T08:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T14:33:22","slug":"start-here-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/start-here-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Start Here"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 not-first:mt-2\">\n<div id=\"textdoc-message-6a077b9d4b8481919ee26b7454adbb92\" class=\"popover bg-token-bg-primary dark:bg-token-bg-elevated-secondary border-token-border-default dark:border-token-border-light relative z-0 border [--canvas-bg:var(--bg-primary)] dark:[--canvas-bg:var(--bg-elevated-secondary)] overflow-visible cursor-text font-regular rounded-3xl w-full w-full pt-1 pb-3 sm:max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"relative flex min-h-0 w-full flex-1 flex-col self-end\">\n<div class=\"relative flex min-h-0 flex-auto flex-col overflow-hidden border-t transition-colors border-transparent\">\n<section class=\"popover flex h-full w-full flex-col bg-transparent\">\n<section class=\"relative flex min-h-0 flex-auto grow flex-col overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"block h-auto\">\n<div class=\"h-full w-full\">\n<div class=\"flex h-full justify-center\">\n<div class=\"z-0 flex w-full flex-col items-center\">\n<div id=\"prosemirror-editor-container\" class=\"relative z-10 flex max-w-full h-fit\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Start Here: Find Your Fitness Path<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">If you&#8217;re feeling overwhelmed by fitness advice, programs, and conflicting information online, you don&#8217;t need more noise. You need a simple starting point, realistic guidance, and a plan you&#8217;ll actually stick with. That&#8217;s what this page is for.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Choose Your Starting Path<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want to Restart My Fitness Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">If you&#8217;re getting back into exercise or rebuilding consistency after time off, start simple.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Focus on:<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>Walking<\/li>\n<li>Low-impact cardio<\/li>\n<li>Beginner strength training<\/li>\n<li>Short daily movement sessions<\/li>\n<li>Consistency over intensity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Next Step: <a href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/2026\/07\/20\/beginner-bodi-workout-programs\/\">Explore Beginner-Friendly BODi Programs<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want to Lose Weight and Get Fit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Weight loss that lasts is built on consistency, movement, strength, and sustainable nutrition, not extreme short-term programs.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Focus on:<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>Daily movement<\/li>\n<li>Strength training<\/li>\n<li>Portion awareness<\/li>\n<li>Real nutrition habits<\/li>\n<li>Accountability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Next Step: <a href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/2026\/06\/20\/bodi-workout-programs-for-weight-loss\/\">Explore My Recommended BODi Programs<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want to Build Strength and Muscle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Strength is the foundation of everything else \u2014 metabolism, posture, performance, and staying capable for the long run.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Focus on:<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>Full-body strength training<\/li>\n<li>Progressive resistance<\/li>\n<li>Recovery<\/li>\n<li>Protein intake<\/li>\n<li>Consistency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Next Step: <a href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/category\/strength-training\/\">Browse My Strength Training Posts<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want to Run or Train for Endurance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">I&#8217;ve been running for almost 60 years, and I&#8217;m still training. This isn&#8217;t theoretical for me.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Focus on:<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>Building a real base<\/li>\n<li>Smart progression<\/li>\n<li>Recovery<\/li>\n<li>Staying consistent for the long haul<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Next Step: Visit my <a href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/running.htm\">Running page<\/a>, check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.runningforalifetime.com\/\">Running for a Lifetime blog<\/a>, follow my training on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.strava.com\/athletes\/richdafter\">Strava<\/a>, or explore <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextsteprunning.com\/\">Next Step Running<\/a>, my 30-year ode to running in New Mexico.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want Accountability and a Community<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Fitness sticks better when you&#8217;re not doing it alone.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Communities:<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/nourishandmove\">Nourish and Move on Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/nextsteprunning\/\">We Are Born to Run on Facebook<\/a>, my running community<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/getting-stronger-together.mn.co\/\">Getting Stronger Together<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>I Want Simple, Effective Home Fitness<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">You don&#8217;t need a gym, expensive equipment, or hours a day. You need structure and consistency.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Next Step: <a href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/fitness.htm\">Explore My Favorite Home Fitness Programs<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>My Coaching Philosophy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">After more than 40 years of coaching and my own comeback from a life-altering setback, here&#8217;s what I believe: consistency beats perfection, strength matters at every age, movement is non-negotiable, and fitness should improve your life, not become a second job. I&#8217;m not coaching from theory. I&#8217;m still doing the work myself, every day.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Stay Connected<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Follow me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/coachrichdafter\/\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/howtobefit\">Facebook<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CoachRichDafter\">YouTube<\/a>, and check my actual training log anytime on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.strava.com\/athletes\/richdafter\">Strava<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rich Dafter<br \/>\nFounder, Howtobefit.com<br \/>\nCoaching Since 1982<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"9f57de27-fa10-4ef6-884b-2a312bfa63eb\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Start Here: Find Your Fitness Path If you&#8217;re feeling overwhelmed by fitness advice, programs, and conflicting information online, you don&#8217;t need more noise. You need a simple starting point, realistic guidance, and a plan you&#8217;ll actually stick with. That&#8217;s what this page is for. Choose Your Starting Path I Want to Restart My Fitness Journey [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11487","page","type-page","status-publish","czr-hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Start Here - Coach Rich Dafter&#039;s Fitness, Strength &amp; Endurance Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Start here to find the best fitness, nutrition, and healthy aging path for your goals and begin building your health retirement fund.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/start-here-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Start Here - Coach Rich Dafter&#039;s Fitness, Strength &amp; 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