There are several things the need to consider before you start an exercise plan. Let's talk about what some of those things are so that you have a clear understanding of what you're getting yourself involved with before you begin.
First and foremost, we need to begin by understanding the fact that the overwhelming majority of exercise plans fail because the people who are attempting to implement them into their everyday life do not do what you are doing right now -- namely, figuring out what needs to be done to give a person their best chance of being successful. You also need to realize that it can be very detrimental to your long-term success if you establish unrealistic goals. Remember, if you are currently out of shape, it doesn't necessarily make sense to assume that you will be able to run in a marathon within a week.
Many health professionals will tell you that it makes sense to schedule an appointment with your doctor. The reason why this is recommended is because it can be useful to figure out whether or not you are actually healthy enough to embark upon the exercise program that you have in mind. You need to be open and honest with your doctor so that he or she can provide you with some guidance as well as with an intelligent opinion as to what you should be doing.
Something else that makes sense is to see whether or not you have the appropriate clothing and equipment that you will be utilizing to actually embark upon your exercise plan. Far too many people just get started without really asking themselves whether or not they have the right kind of sneakers or the right kind of clothing to go to the gym or to even just go out for a walk in front of their house. Invest in a good pair of sneakers and you certainly want to have some clothing that you can wear exclusively when you exercise. This is incredibly important given the fact that you don't want to come up with excuses as to why you cannot do any exercise.
The final consideration is whether or not you can perhaps find somebody who would be willing to start the exercise plan with you. This can be really useful given the fact that you can both support one another and encourage one another to continue even when the going gets tough and frustration begins to set in.