Get the support you need

As you work to improve your overall fitness, it's good to understand that trying to do everything alone is the more difficult route.  You have a team. You need to identify your team members and the roles they play.  

• Doctors - you should be visiting a doctor on a regular basis.  Get blood panels done and understand what the various levels and markers mean.  If you have an area of concern, it's good to work on improving it through diet and exercise as much as possible and monitoring your progress.  This is just me, but if you are out of shape and your doctor thinks that medication alone is the solution, you should speak up and ask about thoughts on eating better and exercise.  Many times they don't discuss those options because it's their experience that people won't adhere to a fitness plan, but they will take drugs.  Don't be that person.  Take the drugs if necessary, but work with your doctor towards overall better fitness.  
• Family and Friends - your spouse, significant other, close family members and friends can be a tremendous source of strength as you work towards fitness goals.  Even if they don't have the same goals, you can help them understand the importance of having better health is to you and ask for their support.  Best case, you make a commitment together, plan, help and encourage each other to reach your goals.  Eating right and exercising is so much easier when you have others around doing the same.  Worst case, even if your goals are not shared and you don't feel support, chances are the changes you are making will be noticed and will wear off on others over time.
• Personal Trainer - if you have significant weight to lose and serious medical issues, having both a doctor and a personal trainer on your team can really help.  And while it is easy to discount the value of a personal trainer vs. the cost, think to yourself "How many times have I tried to lose weight before?  How many times will I try again?"  If you don't do anything differently, you'll end up with the same results. I spoke about the benefits of using a personal trainer in another post.  It made a huge difference for me.
• Online Communities and Utilities - there are a number of online communities devoted to encouraging and supporting people to achieve their fitness goals.  Some are free.  Spark People, MyFitnessPal, FitDay, BeachBody and Weight Watchers are a few. I like to participate in the four annual 52-day Challenges hosted on the  Men's Health forums.  Four times a year a group of people from all over the world sign up to participate (it's free), state their own goals for better fitness, and then report regularly on their progress. Challenge members encourage each other and offer advice or praise - it's a great tool for people of all levels of healthiness (and isn't limited to men).
• Books, Podcasts, Websites, etc. - immerse yourself in a sea of information regarding health and fitness.  Listen to podcasts on your way to work, at home or wherever you are.  Go to the "Fitness & Nutrition" category of the "Top Charts" in podcasts and soak up a few different podcasts.  I like Body DoOver, The Fat Burning Man, Get-FIt Guy, Jonathan Bailor and Inside Out Weight Loss to name a few.  Go to the bookstore or shop around on Amazon for good books.  Yes, you'll hear a number of facts that might be contradictory, but that is great.  It challenges you to learn more, experiment and see what works best for you.
• Your phone - can be a great coach, planning tool, tracking tool and training tool.  I did a post on that subject.
• Me - I'm not a fitness or health expert, but feel free to reach out to me on my contact page and ask for advice.  I'd love to hear from you and help you out if possible.

You're not alone.  There are people and good information all around you that will support you as you dedicate yourself to better health and fitness. Who is on your team?