You've had a health scare.

And your doctor said you need to start making some lifestyle changes ...

like getting active.

But all you hear is, "Something is wrong with me."

You may feel confused, angry, sad ... or even powerless.

You're not alone.

"I had this strange, heavy feeling in my chest.

There was so much pressure.

And it was hard to breathe.

My doctor told me I had a heart attack ...

That was some kind of wake-up call."

"All of a sudden, everything was a blur ...

My doctor told me I had type 2 diabetes, and that the blurriness was because my blood sugar was too high.

I couldn't believe it."

"I tried, but I couldn't keep up with them.

My doctor told me I was obese.

I thought I was just a little overweight.

I'd just been kidding myself."

A health crisis is scary.

But you know what else?

It's also a chance to get your health back on track.

Adding a little activity to your life can help you get there.

If you haven't been active for a long time ... or at all ...

you may be wondering how you're going to make a change now.

A good place to start is to think about a time when you made a successful change ...

like starting a new job or moving to a new home.

How did you feel?

What did you tell yourself about making the change?

How did you get through it?

Did you ask for help?

Did you focus on small goals to help you reach a larger goal?

Use whatever worked for you before ...

to make activity a part of your life now.

It's not always easy to make a change.

But like others, you can do it.

"When my doctor told me exercise could help prevent another heart attack, I didn't know how to get started.

So we talked about what activities would be safe for me to do, and we came up with a plan."

"The first step was getting the old stationary bike out of the garage.

With my son's help, we set it up in front of the TV.

I stayed on for 5 minutes while watching the news the first time ...

That made me feel pretty proud.

It's been a few weeks now, and I'm feeling stronger every day."

"I got motivated after my doctor said exercise could help control my blood sugar.

Since my knees hurt when I walk, I started walking in the pool.

Then a friend talked me into taking a beginner's water aerobics class.

I'm so glad I tried it.

It's such a great workout ... and the gals in the class are a lot of fun.

We laugh the whole time.

I was really nervous the first time, but now I can't wait to get back in the pool.

I always feel so good after."

"Sitting in my favorite chair and reading a mystery ...

It doesn't get any better.

But now that I know the risks of being overweight ...

guess I feel I've gotta earn that sitting time.

When I first started, I could only walk to the end of my driveway.

I was so out of breath.

But I wasn't about to call it a day.

I made the walk 4 more times that first day.

I remember I was kind of surprised I could do that.

Now I can walk to the end of the block without getting winded.

It's not much, but it's a start."

You've heard some reasons for getting and staying active.

Now think about what might motivate or inspire you to get active.

Knowing why ... well, that can help you stay motivated and remind you that change is possible.

And then think about what you can do today to make activity a part of your life.