How to start on fitness

SLOWLY.

There's no one right answer as to what exercise you should do; find something you enjoy and do that. But a lot of people (myself included) go way beyond their ability right out of the gate and hurt themselves. Then not only are you unable to workout again for a while, but you have a really negative association with physical activity. So just take it slow and work on improving gradually, whatever you choose to do.

I think it just differs for everyone. Do something you enjoy or at least can stick with. I was dedicated to the gym for about 6 months and then I got burned out or bored to death. Now I jog at home and I've put a bike on layaway. I think the bike will keep me interested. We also have some weights at home to help with some strength training.

I started by simply walking around the neighborhood. It was spring, and I could still do so because the weather wasn't oppressive like mid-Atlantic summers are. When I started feeling more comfortable with longer walking sessions, I joined a gym. It was actually though a "medical fitness" program prescribed by my cardiologist (I have hypertension). For a few months, I had the exercise physiologists (let's call them trainers) working with me to teach me the right ways to do things without hurting myself. But since that program only allowed me to use the gym three days I week, I "graduated" from the program, and became a community member of the fitness center, and I can go whenever I want, 24/7 now, and still have access to the trainers.

While my case is a little special because of dealing with the hypertension (which is under control now!), I still recommend starting by just simply walking around your neighborhood. Then maybe try some aerobic DVDs, like "Walk Away The Pounds" (which sounds easy, but it's quite a workout.) If you've never done exercise before, I don't know if a C25K program is the best idea, unless you clear it with your doctor first to make sure your body is strong enough, because it *is* a pretty intense type of program. I'm doing a 5k training right now, and even though I've been regularly exercising 6 days a week now for a few months, it's still been challenging to me and my body to do the training days for the 5k....

Good luck!

I started with just walking around my neighborhood with my dog... I kept walking until I was walking about 3 miles per day. Then, I began swimming and riding my mountain bike on the weekends. Now I go to the gym three days a week, walking on the elliptical or treadmill for about 20 - 30 minutes, then strength training for about 30 minutes. I go hiking in my area of Phoenix two mornings a week. I NEVER liked exercising before and now, I have learned to love and respect the feeling it gives me... not just when I step on the scale and see the pounds falling off... but the energy it gives me.

Really getting started is all about choosing an activity that you already enjoy. Unless you are one of those people who don't really have anything active that you like, if so then I suggest walking.

Me, I started walking and jogging to supplement the activities I enjoy. Like dancing, martial arts, and weight training. I love doing these, but at times it's good to change it up, plus on day when I'm feeling drained and don't want a hard core working out, I walk. It clears my head and gets me off my duff.

Try things out, do things you enjoy. Get moving, and keep on moving. Do what you can, at home, at a gym, with a friend. As you go, you'll find what works for you and if you study up on workouts and such, you'll be able to tailor your activities to what best suits you.