The advice from Dr Christian Barton, from La Trobe University's Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre is to not go too hard, too soon.

"People who haven't exercised for a number of years and decide they want to again, often do too much, too quickly," Dr Barton said.

The result, in some instances, can be counter productive.

"By the time people get to February, they are struggling to meet their new exercise goals and have developed an injury.

"People then lose the motivation to exercise, because they can't," Dr Barton said.

Finding something you can do with friends and family help with motivation, if that's where you struggle.

It is a fact that people in regional and remote areas have worse health outcomes than their city counterparts.

Australian Institute of Welfare's data reveals that 71 per cent of people in regional and remote areas were overweight or obese, compared to 65 per cent in major cities.

In the central Goldfields region, almost 70 per cent of the adults in the region are overweight and obese.

"Unfortunately, it is tougher to access exercise facilities and services in remote areas.

"A way of overcoming the challenge is to lobby local council and local government to improve the exercise infrastructure," Dr Barton said.

Access to physicians and health professionals who can support people in regional and rural communities start exercising and make positive change is also a struggle.

"There is no funding, either through Medicare or private insurance to support telephone or conference services for people looking to get help remotely," Dr Barton said.

Where exercise support can improve and do so without any cost, is by developing a greater online presence.

"One of the things we will see more in the coming years will be exercise groups and classes forming online.

"People can get together remotely to share their time doing exercise together, using video links," Dr Barton said.

From a technology perspective, apps and websites are constantly evolving.

"Things like reminders that prompt us to do exercise if we aren't doing it or motivational messages and questions to keep us on the right path to being active could be things of the future," Dr Barton said.

The biggest takeaway for people who are lacing up their runners again after some down time is to find something they enjoy and be realistic about their goals, Dr Barton said.

"If you want to run five kilometres, don't try and get there in the first month.

"Give yourself months to get there and listen to your body," Dr Barton said.