Pre-existing conditions: things to ask your doctor about before starting an exercise regimen
It’s a step so many of you skip-- talking to your doctor about starting a new exercise regimen. Maybe it’s the day after New Year’s, and you’re anxious to get started on your new routine as soon as possible before your optimism wears out. Or maybe it’s just an ordinary day when you wake up feeling good and decide to go to the gym down the street for the first time ever.
Exercise, like walking and running in the park, is beneficial if you start slowly and pay attention to your body.
You’ll probably be fine if you pay attention to some of the rules I’ll get to at the end of this post. Exercise, in general, helps with blood pressure, blood sugar, weight loss, and stress management. If you’re free and clear of other health setbacks, you’re probably okay to just forge ahead.
But for some people, it’s critical not to skip the step of consulting with a doctor.
For everyday athletes with diabetes, it is very important to check your blood sugar before and after workouts. Ask your doctor if you qualify for a continuous blood sugar monitor. Carry healthy snacks to eat during the exercise just in case blood sugar gets low. Diabetic feet deserve special concern and care. Properly padded shoewear and skincare are important to avoid leg and foot blisters and ulcers.
For athletes with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, ask your doctor if you should undergo medical tests such as EKG or stress test. These tests help the doctor know your heart condition and what type of exercises you should be doing and what you should avoid.
If you’ve recently had surgery or other medical intervention, you’re going to want to get permission from your advising doctor to exercise and advice about what form of exercise is right for your body at this time. Do not skip this step; you could be endangering yourself with setbacks or undoing work you’ve already had done on your body or on your health.
If you have any of these concerns or vestiges of a previous exercise-related injury, I highly recommend you consider visiting a doctor that specializes in Sports Medicine. They will not only be able to guide your exercise practice, they can also recommend nutrition and supplement regimes that might be right for you.
If you have no health concerns and want to join that gym or fulfill that resolution-- congratulations! But there are still things to keep at the top of your mind. Usually, we recommend you follow the FITT protocol for exercising:
FITT Protocol
F: is for frequency. We recommend you exercise about 5 days a week.
I: is for intensity. We recommend you exercise at moderate intensity. That means you can still hold conversations while exercising but you need to take a few breaks to complete sentences.
T: is for time. We recommend working out for at least 30 minutes.
T: is for type. We recommend a good range of exercises including jogging, biking, weight lifting, swimming, elliptical, and calisthenics.
You should also be aware that one size does not fit all. What is appropriate for one person might not be for another person. Exercises for one outcome-- weight loss, increase in stamina, blood pressure, and blood sugar maintenance, flexibility, overall stress management-- can look very different than exercises for a different desired outcome.
It can still be worth a call to your doctor’s office even if you’re healthy and have no concerns. They know your body and can advise you on which routines would suit you and your desired outcomes.
Regardless, be proud that you’ve decided to take this journey! Getting a doctor aboard your “fitness coaching team” -- even if that “team” is just you and your doctor-- is never a bad idea.