How can I start exercising?

evemourningstar

Hello, I am new to this. I'm not very healthy right now, and I know it's probably important to start doing some exercise. But, I don't know where to really start and I kind of lack the motivation? Even when I really want to, I just can't get myself to do it. I don't know how to work on this :( I want to do better & be better. I also just don't really know a lot about the topic in general. Any information/advice/etc would be appreciated!!

musibee

Clos eyour eyes and leave out the door. It is just the first step to make.

Sometimes it is good to make an appointment with youself in the calendar and put this one on premium or mark it red.

Best tipp to make an appointment with a friend, but I know from experience that this is often not consistent.

Hope this helps.

Regards. Bee

TracyL963

Start slowly and work your way up. Walking is great exercise; all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes. If you can't get outdoors, try walking indoors. Google Walk at Home on Youtube. You can even find 10 minute walks.

Beginner yoga is excellent too. Yoga with Adrienne is a favorite.

I agree with Bee. Make an appointment with yourself. Mark the calendar or keep track on a spreadsheet (I'm a numbers gal). Keep trying new active things, and after awhile you will find your groove and make exercise a new habit.

cornfritter22

When I started, I got a dog who would need to be walked. He got me moving. He was my motivation, my obligation the one I wouldn't let down.

cornfritter22

AnnPT77

First, I want to be clear about one thing that may not apply to you, but for sure is a common misperception among new folks here: To improve fitness and burn a few extra calories, exercise doesn't need to be gym-based stuff, doesn't need to be some punitively intense thing, doesn't need to be unpleasant. If a person likes gymming, great. Same for intensity. I don't know anyone who likes "unpleasant".

Ideally, find some way of moving more that you personally enjoy, or at least find practical and tolerable. There are so many options: The videos mentioned above, walking, dozens of kinds of dancing, a martial art, yoga, active VR or video games, swimming or other pool activities, playing with kids, gardening, hobbies like carpentry that involve movement, and many other options.

Once you find that thing or combination of things, the sweet spot is a total exercise plan that is manageably challenging. Ideally, it would leave a person feeling energized for the rest of the day(s), not fatigued. (A few minutes of "whew" right after an activity is fine.)

The "enjoy" part is because any exercise we enjoy, we'll tend to do more often, and that's 100% more beneficial than some theoretically better exercise we procrastinate and skip at the slightest excuse. The "manageable" part avoids overdoing (which is counter-productive for weight loss OR fitness improvement. The "challenge" part is what gradually creates fitness improvement.

A total exercise plan considers the types of activity, the frequency, the intensity, and the duration - that should add up to the "enjoyable, manageable, mildly challenging".

Over time, with repetition, the combination that's manageably challenging will get easy. If the person wants to keep making fitness improvement, it's then time to increase one of those things - frequency, intensity, duration, activity type - to keep the manageable challenge.

I can't tell you exactly what to do, but the above is how I'd suggest thinking about it. Don't make it more unpleasant or difficult than it minimally needs to be. Thinking "enjoyable, manageable, mildly challenging" IME reduces the amount of "motivation" required. Just think of ways to introduce more movement into life - whether official exercise, or daily life routine. That'll work.

Best wishes!

LiveOnceBeHappy

Put on sneakers and walk out the front door. Just go for a walk! When you go shopping, park in a spot further away. Sneak in movement when you can.