Absolute beginner exercises?

FreckleSpeckles

Hello everyone, I hope this sort of thing isn't annoyingly common to get asked, but I'm having issues with exercising.. I've been at a 1230 cal-a-day allotment since may/june and have lost about 17 pounds so far, but I haven't really exercised at all, beyond playing Just Dance a few times when I could (I'm normally at collage in a dorm, so it's not an option here). I would like to be able to do some strength building exercises (nothing big, not looking to be muscular or anything) just so I'm not such a weakling.. But as I haven't done anything that required strength (gymnastics) since I was a kid, I fear I can't even do basic things without hurting myself.. I'd particularly like my arms and wrists to be stronger, but also have the problem of being an art major, so hurting my arms would NOT be a good thing to do at any point... That being said, I tried to do some wall push-ups a few weeks back and messed up my left forearm and hand for about a week.. So not the best.. Is there anything I can do that's very easy to slowly build up some strength? It seems everything "easy" I try always ends with me hurting myself something fierce when I can't afford to be.. Also, if you just do basic exercises, do you have to do anything special with what you eat, or is that only for people who want to be very muscular? I don't really know much about any of this, so some info would be greatly appreciated.

spickard34

Beginning working out can totally be scary. If you are not going to join a gym check out fitnessblender.com it is free and you can select your fitness level. They are very good at talking you through the proper form of every move. Also try dvds by Jilian Michaels or Bob Harper I love these they will incorporate some cardio with your weights. I constantly hurt my shoulder so I am doing Jillian No More Trouble Zones video with 2 pound weights right now to regain my strength after 40 mins those suckers are heavy. if you are eating 1230 cals a day if you workout and burn 200 cals you should eat some of them back. Good Luck

cwolfman13

For strength work, look into programs like Starting Strength of Strong Lifts 5x5. These are beginner strength programs that will have you moving mountains in no time (an know, you won't bulk up a bunch of muscle...trust me, if you did my wife wouldn't have been doing these programs with me for this long). These programs will start you off light and working on form and slowly progress the weight which allows your stabilizer muscles and tendons to get on board and get stronger too...too many people try to lift too heavy too fast and they injur those stabilizer muscles and tendons...their bigger muscles can handle the load so they feel like a wuse starting so light, but really they're working those smaller muscles and tendons first...then you can load up.

Those are two great programs right there if you follow them correctly. As far as cardio goes, I started out just walking 3x weekly...then I started turning one of those days into a walk/jog...pretty son I was running a couple times per week and then 3x per week and going faster and further. It took a long while to build up my cardiovascular fitness...just baby steps. I currently do more cycling and walking than anything as I've started to have some tendon issues in my feet from running

The important thing is that you start out slow and make consistent, small progressions. People go all balls to the wall right out of the gate and they either burn out or get injured or both.

TeaBea

You might start with a DVD. This would allow you to watch the form first. It could be your push up problem was with form.

Video clip:

http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/petra-kolbers-step-by-step-strength-training-5828

This DVD is for beginners. I don't have this DVD, but have used it's "partner" Cardio for Beginners (I'm a klutz) .....the cardio DVD was great step by step instructions. Even I could do the choreography without getting lost. Petra is great.