Consult your doctor

January 3

The January issues of magazines are always full of articles on how to keep your New Year's Resolutions. I've noticed that they carry the warning to consult a physician before beginning any exercise program. Why? I heard a trainer once say on TV that maybe there should be a warning that anyone NOT starting an exercise program should consult their physician. What's worse, dying on the sofa or dying in the gym?

I work out in a well-equipped gym with a certified fitness trainer and have been doing so for 18 months. When I started, I couldn't do two squats. I did The Plank for only 10 seconds, and that was on my knees. I walked on the treadmill, holding onto the bar, and could manage 10 minutes at 3.3 mph and no incline. So, if my trainer says he thinks I can do this and thinks I can safely do the training plan, then I will. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/sunrun/pdf/LearnToRun10K%20Program.pdf
He's on holidays in Florida, so I start on my own. Run one minute, walk two. Do that eight times. There's two feet of snow on the ground, so I start at home. I have a pretty big house, but even then I get dizzy running in circles around the main floor. I decide to add stairs in and only do it five times.