Why do we always tell you to consult your doctor before starting a new exercise routine? Here are two very good reasons.

St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care Physician Dr. Nolan Brackenrich explains why you should set expectations and look at exercise as medicine

You’ve most likely heard it repeatedly. Before starting a new exercise routine, or making any lifestyle change for that matter, you should consult with your doctor.

Why do we frequently tell you this? One reason may be obvious, but the other reason Dr. Nolan Brackenrich encourages his patients to talk to him before starting to exercise may surprise you.

“I think the biggest thing starting out with any type of change in your life, specifically with your health, it’s always good to talk to a physician because you need to set appropriate expectations for yourself because that’s where a lot of people fail when it comes to diet and exercise and such,” says Dr. Brackenrich, a family medicine doctor with St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care in Pooler.

“I try to focus on setting expectations for what their goals are. It allows me to understand their goals and opens up all these other questions about their health.”

Also, of course, the reason you should consult with your physician is to make sure you are healthy enough, don’t have any medical conditions or medication limitations that could affect a new workout routine.

Setting expectations

Dr. Brackenrich is passionate about fitness and bodybuilding and was a personal trainer for four years during college. He uses that background today as a primary care doctor.

“There are similarities between being a personal trainer and a physician in that it’s about forming relationships and building trust. We want them to be honest about what their goals are and attack those goals in a way that they can see themselves doing,” Dr. Brackenrich says. “I used to tell my clients the best diet and training program that you can follow, the best one you can do, is the one you will actually follow.”

Say you go to the gym for two hours a day for two weeks and you’re sore, exhausted and see little results. What are the chances you will continue this pattern? Not likely. But say you start taking a 10-minute walk every night after dinner and keep up with that routine or even increase your walk time. That can benefit someone’s life exponentially, Dr. Brackenrich says.

“Exercise is one of those things that I believe doing something is always better than nothing,” he says. “At the end of the day, life isn’t long. You should eat foods you enjoy – in moderation – and have a good, steady exercise routine. Those two things are going to help you live long enough to see your grandkids and live a healthy life.”

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Exercise is medicine

In addition to setting appropriate expectations, Dr. Brackenrich also likes his patients to look at exercise and diet as medication.

“Diet and exercise – there’s not a single medical problem that those won’t help,” he says.

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For example, for every 10 pounds that you lose, it will drop your blood pressure by four or five points, Dr. Brackenrich says. Maybe that weight loss can help you cut back on your medication or even eventually stop taking it. (But, never stop taking a medication without your doctor’s permission.)

“Exercise is medicine. A healthy diet is medicine. That’s what I talk about from a medicine standpoint,” Dr. Brackenrich says.

Speaking of medicine, Dr. Brackenrich also brings up a current trend of weight loss medicines that have hit the market recently, specifically diabetic medications that lead to weight loss. While Dr. Brackenrich is encouraged that it starts the conversation, he reminds patients, if safely prescribed to take, those should only serve as aides to weight loss.

You shouldn’t substitute medication for exercise. There are just so many benefits to exercising.

“Obviously, it’s going to help your heart, lungs, your brain, but the mental health benefits of exercise are not talked about enough,” Dr. Brackenrich says. “It helps reduce depression, anxiety and you sleep better and have that feeling fulfilled that you did something you set out to do.”