I like many people like to jump into diet and exercise plans with both feet but this is not the best way to proceed. My wife knows this about me and made me promise to first lose 40 pounds and get a check up before I started to do high-intensity cardio-pulimanary workouts. This makes sense because my knees hurt when I squat to lift things. When I started this diet I was 260 pounds. It makes total sense to lessen the load on my knees before I kick up the pressure on my body!
We just joined Kaiser Southern California and I’ve signed up for my annual physical at the end of February! I had this done nine years ago when I had Kaiser and was very impressed. They (Kaiser) have a couple of close departments devoted to nothing but physicals. You go into the first one and get checked out thoroughly and then schedule a second appointment to go over the results! Talking about taking your health care seriously – way to go Kaiser!!! Here is a commercial about Kaiser I found on youtube.com
Right now I am doing low intensity cardio (read cardio-pulmonary) so I can concentrate on losing fat! The lower end of of the aerobic range (60% of your maximum heart rate) is the best fat burning range according to Covert Bailey (http://www.covertbailey.com/covert/index.html), author of the exercise and diet book, "Fit or Fat." The fun part of it all is once I verify I am ok to kick up the pace and lose my first 40 pounds, I will get to start working out hard in karate (my roots)!
The thing about karate or kick-boxing is the workouts are very hard. Think about it... how would you like to try to hit your opponent and not get hit at the same time for two minute rounds? It is hard work if you are out of shape.
I've had a general health plan for the last several years and I attempted to have physicals yearly. These physicals were painfully lacking compared to Kaiser's full physicals. I left the doctors offices after these inadequate physicals, trying to think back to remember if I signed a binding arbitration agreement or if my family could sue them if they missed something obivious! When I had Kaiser insurance, I never had the feeling the physicals were lacking... Anyway, please consider getting a complete annual physical before kicking up your exercise program.
I have seen the Kaiser commercial before, but I never knew what it was advertising! It’s a good one. I had all the “50″ tests done last summer, including a nuclear stress test. I hope your blog will one day feature the benefits of drinking water and advice on that topic. Do you only drink water? What are your water goals? Thanks.
I like water with hops in it
I do drink mostly water now adays becuase it is affordable and good for you. I cannot talk my wife and step-daugher out of the bottled water though, becuase they like the taste. I think tap water is better for you becuase it has all of the minerals in it already, unlike the filtered water that does not taste as good. I guess I am in a minority position 
John W. Zimmer
Plus I believe that the fluoride in public water is a real benefit for your teeth! People with well water sometimes have bad teeth, even though they might enjoy the water more!