New to exercise and VERY unfit - ideas please!

onawho

I have no motivation at HOME. I am one of those people that needs to go somewhere. I joined a gym and I saw it as "wasting" money of I did not go 3 times a week.

I started going and just walking the treadmill or the elliptical machine about 45 mins a peice. Get a iPod, or a MP3 player. Great music is very helpful.

I then started peaking in at some of the classes the gym offered. I started to Zumba 2x a week and a body pump 2x.


Start out slow, if you are not having a good time it will discourage you.


And won't you know it, I started going to the gym 5x a week, and I am now a certified Zumba instructor.

It takes time, you need to form a NEW habit. you will get it, join the Y, or find a buddy to work out with. the buddy system at the gym is a great tool

stephenjl

Take a walk. With the dog, or to a park, in your neighborhood. I would opt these rather than the treadmill as the treadmill may seem a little like a hamster on a wheel if your just starting to introduce excercise into your life. Pick a time when things are quiet and not rushed. I like dusk/twilight when the world is settling down, the moon is rising and a few stars appear and the hassle of the day is behind me. Relax, breathe, enjoy the fresh air and the sights. Don't focus or worry about distance or pace, just enjoy the outing, the moment, the place. The key is to find the joy. With joy becomes pleasure and with pleasure you will repeat and look forward to your special time. Walking like all exercise is just as much a mental reward as a physical one and with time you will increase distance and your pace and it will become something "you gotta do" because it makes you feel good not because you have to.

marianne_s

Hi all, I am VERY unfit but would like to try and get some exercise into my daily routine. Exercise is pretty new to me if i am 100% honest , and to be even more honest, I don't like it in the slightest! But, I want to overcome this if i can.

I have numerous exercise DVD's at home, the majority still sealed. What I am wonderig is, if one of these would be a good way to start? What do you guys think?

I even have the 30 day shred which in an earlier post I said I was going to try but I wonder, am i totally kidding myself??? Considering how unfit I am - i think you will all say yes lol!!

So., what I really want to know is what exercise people would recommend to someone as undedicated (but who wants to get dedicated) and unfit as me??

I would be grateful of any advice and support anyone is willing to give.

Thank you x

Walking, Zumba (I started with this).... then maybe Turbo Jam (do it low impact - I still do)
But please don't start with the 30 day Shred, because if you don't do it correctly you may hurt yourself & the put yourself off from exercising again....

Minnie_Moo

I would advise starting with something like Leslie Sansone's walk at home program. I do her workouts every day. The workouts are low impact and very easy to follow. I started with her 1 mile walk, and have since progressed to her 5mi. Leslie is wonderful, she talks you through the workout and keeps you quite motivated. Good luck :happy:

I agree ! I would get any of Leslie Sansone's dvd's and do them. You can find them at the library or Target, Walmart, etc. I like Leslie as she has a bubbly personality and she keeps you going, even when you feel like you want to quit

I bought her dvd set "Walk Away The Pounds" which has 1, 2 and 3 mile walks on ebay.

cookiequeen2011

5 weeks ago I could have said the same thing. I decided that once and for all I have to lose some weight and get fitter. I started off by eating better. I have been eating 3 meals a day of sensible amounts of food and having 1-2 snacks a day (usually fruit).

After a week I had given it some thought and knowing that I want to get fitter rather than just lose weight. I had half heartedly started 30DS a while before and stopped after a few days. This time round I started and went 32 days. The first day was hell. I ached, I felt like I was going to fall over and the next morning I was sore. I pushed myself every day to do it and managed to progress to level 3 by the end of 30 days. I stuck with just doing 30DS for that time. Last week was the first week where I added in other things. I cycled and swam as well and can now do levels 1 and 2 of 30DS back to back. Yesterday I started a running programme which goes from walk 2 minutes, run 1 minute up to running for 20 minutes.

To put it into context before starting this I am 33 and mum of 2. I was 12st 8.5lbs (176.5), hadn't done any exercise for a VERY long time would get out of breath walking up hills and couldn't really run around with my children. I am now down to 11st 11lbs (165lbs), my body fat has reduced by 2%, I have dropped 1-2 dress sizes and have a whole heap more energy.

The other thing that really helped me was starting a blog. I have found it is a great place to let off steam, sort out my thoughts and get support for the highs and lows.

30DS won't work for everyone. It won't appeal for everyone. I like it because you can make it as easy/tough on yourself as you like, you can really feel yourself progressing and for 20 minutes a day to make the difference I have suits me. The biggest things it did for me was give me the confidence to realise that with a little bit of work I can make a big difference.

ronda_gettinghealthy

All are great ideas--- I get bored easily and hate to exercise (ok I hated it -now I feel weird if I dont) I love love love to dance---so I got the old "sweatin to the oldies" sometimes I just put on my ipod of exercise tunes and shut the drapes and dance- I have leslie sansones walk--only takes 10 or 12 or 15 mins depending on how fast a mile you want. just do SOMETHING everyday--it gets easier-- 2 months later I get up and exercise at least 30 mins every moring and even at night. I am also rehabbing a torn achilles and broken heel- so I had to go easy at first-

you can do this


Good luck

jeffrodgers1

Can you walk?

Life begins with baby steps... why not you? (And I mean this in the kindest possible way)

I used to be 320+ pounds... The easiest exercise that God equipped people to do, was to walk. He gave us appealing visual feedback and scenery, and fresh air to enjoy. It is inexpensive, easy to do and if done properly can burn an amazing amount of calories. Walking can be as healthy for you as running (some might argue that it is healthier)

Walking outside in January wasn't an option (as I live in the heart of the Canadian Praires...). So three years ago, I started out with a treadmill... and by walking 15 minutes a day, I lost close to 40 pounds in 3 months. Then I started running... and that is a different story.

Good luck!

stelladoiron

We have a workout program called HOT HULA fitness and it makes working out fun even for the unfit. We are unique because you do not need any equipment not even shoes. We offer free workouts online on our You Tube Channel - HOT HULA fitness TV. They are short 15 minute segments. Give it a go.