'Doctor, doctor, give me the news'

Before you jump in the water or on the bike, see a doctor

Angel Fern, a senior exercise physiologist at Beaumont Cardiac Rehabilitation, said it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before you begin your training.

“It’s just a good idea to get that physicians OK in case they have something they don’t even know about,” she said.

It’s an especially good idea, according to the specialist, if you are a male 45 or older or a female 55 or older.

She added that no matter your age, if you’re a smoker, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should also visit your doctor.

“Exercise certainly helps all of those factors, but making sure they’re being managed is important,” she said.

For those who are thinking of starting and haven’t exactly been hitting the gym every day, Fern said it’s good to start out with some reasonable goals.

“The short-term goal could be, ‘I want to walk 30 minutes without taking a break,’” she said. “The long-term goal could be walking a 5K.”

Fern added that in the end, you have to listen to your body.

“Anybody who has symptoms of chest pain, shortness or breath, any of those, check with your doctor,” she said.

— Christian Davis