Set realistic goals. Try to improve gradually over weeks. Schedule periodic fitness testing. Having your doctor show you your reduced body fat, increased fitness, and lower cholesterol can be a great motivator. Establish a schedule.
Early morning works for some, while others do better with a noontime or late afternoon workout.
This information is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. Before starting an exercise program, consult a physician. Dr Franklin is the director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Exercise Laboratories at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is also a professor of physiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and an editorial board member of The Physician and Sportsmedicine. James Wappes is a senior editor with The Physician and Sportsmedicine.