exercise for fat girl?

Personally I love running, but it's a preference thing. From the sounds of things you're not in as bad a shape as many obese people (those whose weight has damaged them in some way and limits their mobility), so it's really all you. Not to particularly advertise running, because it's just one option, but don't discard it out of hand just because of your weight. Despite what you may hear, as long as you do it properly, and work your way up, you can start running at most weights. I've seen women start as high as 300 pounds, and there were women at the half marathon I did this weeks who had to be pushing 250 (and you don't just get up one morning and decide to do a half, they'd been training).

if you chose to try running, start with walking. Once you can consistently walk 2-3 miles at a stretch look at the Couch to 5K (C25K) program. Whatever you chose to do, good luck on getting fit.

I agree with this, I am 256lbs and I just started a Couch to Half Marathon training plan. I don't have to many body related issues due to my weight, except for plantar fascitis, but I am keeping that in check with foot braces and exercising the foot muscles. It is easy, it requires nothing but nice running shoes a road and determination and honestly even after only 2 weeks on the training plan I am noticing a difference in myself.

I also cross train, on my non running days I lift weights and swim or I do classes. It helps to keep it interesting. Honestly if you find something you like just do it. Hiking, Swimming, Running, Jogging or even P90X.

Do whatever exercise you want to do ...... just start slowly ... and gradually build up.

If you find high impact starts giving you joint pain ... ease up & mix in low impact days as well.

Something to get you started .... you don't need equipment ... or even much space. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjduJjO1pLg&feature=related
Walking workouts are really low impact "no-brainer" aerobics.

Check you local library or hulu.com for exercise DVDs .... keep trying new stuff out until you find something you enjoy. collagevideo.com has video clips & reviews so you can see what you're getting (they list impact level, fitness level, equipment needed, etc.)

Self-described fat people running is a recipe for significant joint issues and very little progress beyond the first 2 months newbie gains (which will quickly be negated by sedentary state of rehabbing said joint issues).

Yep, heard it before. "Running is bad for joints" "Running is bad for fat people" "Running will kill you".... Got it. Except it's bull****. Assuming you use a proper training plan: start with walking, move on to intervals, eventually run short distances and increase slowly over time; running is good for your joints. Like every other part of your body, your joints are strengthened by stress. Assuming you don't overdo the stress and injure yourself (which you can just as easily do by lifting to much to fast or overdoing any exercise), running strengthens joints by stressing them.

Now, that said, there are limits to anything, and if you're more than 300 or so pounds you might want to lose a few pounds before you start running. On the other hand, the first step is walking, and when you can walk a few miles there's a good chance you've already dipped below 300.

Then this should have been your first reply...

I would focus on the cardiovascular activities at this point (not to say strength training would not have its place but if you are obese it would probably be better to tackle that problem first...). As others have said, walking and running are good, swimming as well, you may also like biking. Be aware that often with increased exercise people tend to eat more - you will want to keep that in check and maintain a caloric deficit (within reason, folks) to lose weight.

Anything is good exercise if it gets your heart rate up, makes you sweat, and most importantly, is something that you enjoy doing enough to stick to some kind of schedule. I suggest you join a gym that offers a variety of classes (mine is $20 a month). Then take every class that even remotely appeals to you. Try everything at least once. Zumba, pilates, yoga (though for weight loss you will probably want to supplement yoga with more cardiovascular activity), spinning, aerobics, sports conditioning, TRX, kickboxing, circuit training classes, everything. See what sticks.

Yes yes and yes! Great advice.

Exercise for a fat girl is the same as any other person, don't section yourself off. I have like 38% body fat and I can run 4 to 5 miles per day. Your options are endless. Try out a couple types of exercise running, sports clubs in the area, zumba, kickboxing, etc. See what you enjoy and go with that, your size does not keep you for exercising.

You and I are about the same, I started at 285lbs but was active and not achy or inhibited by my weight as far as everday activities go. I went white water tubing 2 weeks before I decided to actually lose all this baggage.

I started out walking on the treadmill for a couple days just to get my legs used to it. It was too easy so I went to the elliptical machine and that thing kicked my *kitten*. I could only do 10 minutes at first. Then I gradually increased in 5 minute intervals. I did 35 minutes today for the first time. Usually I would do as much as I could on the elliptical and then switch to the treadmill at a 3-4% incline to make up an hour. The recumbant bike is great too but it's not enough movement for me.

When I'm just not feelin' the gym I have Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds 1, 2, 3, and 4-mile workouts. They're a lot of fun and a great aerobic workout.

I am working up to running. I want to run outside because I feel like it will be the least boring and it really is the most efficient workout you can get. My goal is to start running outside by the time I've lost 35 lbs, got 18 more to go My major concern with running might be similar to yours, the downpull on my boobs is painful! So I'll invest in some good running shoes and a sport bra!

So I dont need to sugar coat it or anything for myself... Im fat.. plain and simple and Im GOING to fix that.. so my question is what are some good ways to work out? I dont have achy knees or feet or anything that would normally happen to an obese person. I mean I do get out of breath but not just from walking here or there and I am active as in I run errands/go to the park with kids/ect ect but thats just everyday things... Haha sorry for the bio.. anyway.. I need a good solid work out routine and then I need to know how to switch it up.. if you can help me that would be awesome! Thanks!

I started walking 4 miles and then added in workout dvds.. You have to find something that you like to do so you won't get bored and want to forget about doing anything at all.. I hope you find something that works for you..

The 30 day shred is great for a starter workout. My mom recently did it and she does not exercise at all. She lost 12 lbs but gained so much confidence and is redoing the 30 day shred with a healthier eating plan so she can see if she can lose more weight. I also did the 30 day shred. I have always been athletic and in sports but my eating habits caused me to not lose weight. I started the 30 day shred and included a "clean eating" style; my starting weight was 132 lbs and I dropped down to 124 lbs

I agree with the 30 days shred. The good thing with a program like that is that it is structured, gives you clear lay out of exactly what you need to do, for how long. Its good to follow a program like that to get into the habbit of exercising. I also agree with lifting weights, but only after you've started and built up a good solid cardio routine. Overweight people burn more calories whether they are doing cardio or lifting. If your first priority is to lose weight, then start cardio first, and gradually move into weights...

More importantly though is diet!!!! You can exercise all you want, but if your diet is bad, its not going to get you anywhere!

I highly recommend swimming. I did that all my life no matter how fat I was (107kg at my heaviest). It is not hurting your joints and you dont feel the weight that much in the water. Try different styles and see what you feel most comfortable with. It burns nice calories as well.

Hello!

I was fat when I first started, and knew that throwing myself into a hectic workout regime would probably have me collapsing in red-faced gym humiliation.

I started gently - ten minutes' brisk walk on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the crosstrainer, 10 minutes on the bike and then 10 minutes cooldown on the treadmill.

But as others have said before me - anything goes! A good old brisk walk, a bike ride, anything. Anything that gets your heart pumping.