Everyone overcomplicates starting a strength program. Beginners think they need the “perfect” split, advanced lifters act like they’ve got it all figured out. The truth? A beginner program should do a couple of things: build a foundation you can actually stick to. Like consistency and discipline. Build good movement patterns. Understand how your body moves, learn technique so you build muscle not injuries.

The easiest cardio program you’ll ever start is also the one your dog will love the most: walking. No gym membership. No equipment. Just a leash, a pair of shoes, and the discipline to show up. Walking is a great place to start any fitness program. Its upsides are huge compared to the down side. When just starting out the risk for injury is essentially zip. Even if you train for strength training but don’t do any cardio or just want to shed a couple, this is a great place to start.

Over the past few years, I’ve dedicated my life to two things — training dogs and training people. At first, I thought of them as two separate worlds and honestly, I wanted them to be. One side of me was coaching clients in the gym, pushing them to build strength, discipline, and confidence. The other side of me was training dogs, teaching patience, order, and focus.