Step by Step

You know you need some exercise, but you’re having trouble getting off the couch? What if we told you that you could talk to a physician at the same time you’re working out? The Walk with a Doc program is just the ticket for those looking for a fitness incentive. On designated Saturdays throughout the year, approximately 200 people congregate at Highbanks Metro Park in Lewis Center to get their blood pumping the good, old-fashioned way: They go for a walk.The concept was created three years ago by David Sabgir, a board-certified cardiologist who practices at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus and Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware.

 

“I would talk with my patients about the importance of exercise,” Sabgir says. “I thought the best way to prove it was to develop a program and get involved with them.”

The leisurely hour-long walks, which begin at 8:30 a.m., cover anywhere from one to three miles. Participants are provided with pedometers, fruit, granola bars, water, coffee –– and blood pressure checks.

Along the way, they also get the chance to ask Sabgir and a dozen other medical professionals questions ranging from how to keep cholesterol in check to the benefits of ingesting fish oil.

Success stories abound. One participant lost 84 pounds (with the help of a sensible diet), while others lowered their blood pressure to the point where they no longer need medication.

“Each time we walk,” Sabgir says, “it gets more rewarding.”

For more information about the Walk with a Doc program, call 614/273-8030 or visit www.walkwithadoc.org.