January 2

In any fitness program, your physician is your best friend beginning before day one of your program.  It is not wise to embark on a fitness program until you first pay a visit to your doctor. To go directly from a sedentary lifestyle into an exercise program without professional advice is dangerous. I would love to advise you to skip it because physician visits can be expensive and such a requirement could discourage a lot of people from even starting. But unfortunately, I cannot. If you have insurance, it should not be much of a burden. But if you are not covered, inquire about availability and price at your local urgent care facilities for what is called an 'athletic physical'. They often perform school athletic physicals which should be sufficient for you unless you have preexisting medical problems. Just explain to the examining physician what you are doing before the exam begins. The doctor can rule out any heart/circulation irregularities and can advise you individually on getting started. Knowing you one-on-one, the physician can then also offer good advice on a suggested pace, supplements and diet. The visit to your doctor is an important first step as you embark on one of the most significant ventures of your entire life – a life that just got longer by acting on the wisdom to get started today!