How to Start Becoming More Physically Fit

No matter your current state of health, you can become more fit and lose weight if you take the proper steps. At times it may seem progress takes a long time, but keep at it and eventually you will see results.

Visit your doctor for a complete physical, including blood/lab work. Its important to establish you level of current fitness so you know exactly what you need to work on. A regular physical plus lab tests can help determine if you have specific medical issues or deficiencies that should be taken care of and also if you need to lose weight (and how much weight you should lose).

This is a very important step if you really want to become more physically fit.

Speaking to a physician is especially important before starting a fitness/exercise program if you have a medical condition.

Start an exercise program geared to your current abilities. It is always better to begin slowly and gradually increase duration and frequency of exercise when you want to become physically fit and/or lose weight. Start with walking daily or another low-impact activity, for example. You dont need expensive clothes or gear-- comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing is all you need.

Make dietary changes--consult a dietician, if you can afford it. The physical from your doctor should have given an idea of what kinds of changes you need to make--everyones dietary needs are different. For example, although generally fruits and vegetables are considered healthy, you may have other dietary deficiencies that must be addressed also. Two examples: if you are diabetic, your doctor may have advised you to cut out sugar. If you have high cholesterol, you may need to reduce fatty foods. Achieving good physical fitness means gearing your diet to suit your body's needs. Calories are not the only thing to consider when trying to become more fit or lose weight. Nutrition is very important.

Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential for overall fitness. Many people do not get enough sleep--you may need to cut out some activities to reduce your busy schedule in order to make sure you do get enough sleep. Some studies have even shown that people who don't get enough sleep may not lose weight as quickly, even tho they exercise. In addition, recent studies indicate that lack of sleep (less than 6 hours per night) may have a bad impact on the cardiovascular system.

Also, as you start exercising more you should know that the body repairs muscle tissue and produces important hormones during sleep. If you cheat yourself of adequate (at least 8 hours for most people) sleep, you are cheating your body of fitness.

Record activities, your weight and any other fitness related data relative to your own fitness or weight lossneeds, in a notebook. This gives you a way to track your progress.

Remember: Be patient and never overdo exercise. Pushing yourself too hard too quickly may lead to muscle strain, muscle tears, exhaustion and other potentially serious problems. Losing weight and/or becoming more fit is a gradual process.

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