Today I am taking a very gentle walk, not because I want to, but because I have to.

Welcome to Walking is Fitness. This is a podcast of action, providing a little extra motivation to help you keep that fitness promise you made to yourself.

Hi, I'm Dave. I started walking for fitness in 2013 and still take an intentional fitness walk every single day.

I'm walking right now, gently, and I would love to have you join me for the next 10 minutes.

So this is one of those days on the calendar.

Dread would be way too dramatic, but I don't look forward to it.

And I haven't for quite a long time. I have my annual physical coming up, and prior to the physical, I need to have a fasting blood test.

And today is the day for that blood test.

The reason I'm not looking forward to this day is not because of the needle.

I don't mind that.

The fasting part of the test, I don't mind that too much.

But what I really, really, really don't like about today or this morning is that I can't have coffee.

Now, I know, by the way, I'm not a doctor, not a licensed personal trainer.

This podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only.

Anything that I talk about today that sounds medically related,

it's not meant as advice for you.

You talk to your own doctor, seek your doctor's counsel.

Don't take mine.

Over the years, I've actually heard conflicting reports about whether black coffee is okay for a fasting blood test.

Most of what I read is the only thing I can have during this 12-hour fast is water.

That's it.

In fact, water is encouraged.

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