Data show that New Year's resolutions start to fizzle during the third week in January. Many workout resolutions have started to waver now that we've coasted into February. How can we find that healthy balance between enough and too much exercise?

A new report published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology states that people who push their exercise too far may be just as unhealthy as inactive people. This study shouldn't encourage couch potatoes to stay put, though.

The findings suggest that moderate joggers have a lower mortality than inactive people, whereas strenuous joggers have a mortality rate not statistically different from that of the inactive group. It's about finding that healthy sweet spot in between.

The CDC says regular physical activity is vital for good health. They recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. For someone who leads an active lifestyle, this can be easily done. Is this an attainable goal for the sedentary?

Articles published in the British Medical Journal say that the 150 minutes a week aim is out of reach, especially for older people. The article argues that the 150-minute recommendation overlooks the benefits of lesser amounts. Has the CDC gone wrong with not showing how to attain this goal?

The 150-minute goal at first glance can seem like a lot, though. Some people may see 150 minutes a week and say, "Well, see ya later." How about this one: 10 hours a month. Sounds terrible. That's an entire day's work and commute spent being active. That’s an entire season of "Game of Thrones" I could be watching instead.

How about showing a charted schedule? What about when your workout schedule is broken up like this: 30 minutes a day, five days a week or 22 minutes a day, every day. Sounds easy enough.

Still scared? Start small. Go three days a week for 20 minutes. Get a feel of the treadmill again. Work your time up a little every week until you are at the CDC-recommended 150 minutes per week. According to the JACC study, that workout sweet spot is closer to the less side of the curve than the more side.

Should runners slow down? My personal opinion: Never!