Many people tend to overdo their exercise programs looking for quick results. Doing so, however, may prove to be your downfall by resulting in injury or sore muscles. Injury will put your workout on hold, and sore muscles may prevent or discourage you from keeping up with your exercise program. We believe we have worked someone too hard if, once they are used to exercise, their muscles are sore after a workout. Of course, muscle soreness is likely at first. Stretching during the cool down will help prevent muscle soreness. Stretching muscles will also help relieve some of the pain. Your best bet is to start any exercise program slowly and gradually increase the workout. We start people out with 15 minutes of stretching, 30 to 40 minutes of walking or walking/jogging. This gives people a good beginning without the pain or injury.