You should get as physically fit as you can because life behind bars will be a challenge to your body as well as your mind and spirit.

Building up a few muscles might not turn you into a super-hero but it will give you confidence and a confident attitude will go a long way toward making you less of a target for predators in jail.

Physical preparation should not stop at exercise; you should get yourself overhauled. Get a thorough medical check-up so that any emerging problems can be dealt with by drugs or therapy; healthcare outside prison is superior to healthcare behind bars. Get your teeth checked and have any treatment necessary; you could be left waiting for weeks with raging toothache if you need a dentist while in prison.

If you smoke or drink, get help to kick your habit right away – they represent a weakness you don’t want to take inside with you, vulnerabilities are soon spotted and exploited by other inmates. Tobacco, alcohol and drugs are usually redily available (at a high price) on the prison black-market, but you don’t want to get involved in that if you want to survive in prison. If you wind up in debt to another prisoner, the price could be your life.

Get fit and survive in prison.