So now you're finally taking that plunge. You've decided to take matters into your own hands and finally made up your mind to subscribe to a fitness program. It isn't, however, as easy as buying a new set of fitness apparel and going to the gym and lifting weights. Preparation is essential if you are to succeed in making your regimen work for you. Here are some factors to take into consideration before you engage yourself in any workout program.

Getting approval from your doctor is the first step. Sure, you might feel that you're young and healthy and ready to take on the world. However, it's always a good idea to get a full physical exam before proceeding with any workout program. Only your doctor can tell for certain if you are really physically healthy or if lab results show some irregularity. If you are over 40, are overweight or morbidly obese or if the only exercise you've ever experienced is flipping the buttons of the remote, then seeing your doctor is necessary. Having a preexisting condition such as a heart ailment or high blood pressure even makes this first step doubly important.

Before engaging in a fitness program, read all you can about exercise and the regimen you are about to enroll yourself into. If you plan to do Yoga or Pilates, then by all means, get your hands on all information you possibly can before going full blast into the regimen. Nothing beats the first-hand knowledge you can acquire through your readings in preparing yourself mentally for the road ahead. Besides, it is much easier to follow your instructor's directions if you've stock up your brain beforehand.

As you begin your program, always remember to go slow. It's very tempting to test your limits the first time out, but this is a sure road to strain and injury. If you are starting a regimen again after some time of hiatus, don't think that you can pick up from where you left off. Always take things slowly and only increase intensity levels after a period of acclimatization and adjustment.

You also need to set doable expectations and a realistic time frame for your fitness program to deliver desired results. You can't expect to have washboard abs in as fast as one week. Neither can you expect your regimen to give you results if you don't do it regularly. Set measurable weekly goals for yourself so you can gauge your progress.

Finally, don't forget to take into consideration nutrition while you do your program. This can pose quite a challenge for those who subsist on chips, fastfood and other processed foods. With willpower and discipline, however, you can make gradual changes in your dietary regimen to keep you on the path towards overall health and wellness. Adequate food intake from all basic food groups will give you the protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients you need to sustain your physical activity and enable your muscles to recover so you can derive full benefits from the workout.