Good exercise routine for beginners

SycoraxMedea
SycoraxMedea Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm just now trying to start exercising regularly, and I'm finding it difficult to not only have the time, but to have the energy to do it. I'm 21, and for 6 years my physician told me I shouldn't do any running or jumping because I had a cyst on my ovaries and could ruin any chances of having kids in the future. I had surgery for it a while ago, and everything is all healed but after not being able to be very active, I find that my physical state is less than stellar.
I'm a full time Nursing student at University, so I spend lots of time writing essays and studying, and I have a part time job as a cashier at a busy department store, and I'm usually very tired when I get home from that. I'm in the healthy body weight range, but I'm not really physically fit, and it feels bad.
I've been trying to jog, but it's hard starting because I get winded so fast, and walking doesn't feel like it's doing anything for me. I try to use the wii fit when I have a few extra minutes, but I haven't noticed an improvement with that either.
Does anybody have any tips on where I can start, and what has worked for you? It's hard trying to get active after so long just vegging out. : /

ETD: when I say I don't notice walking doing anything, I mean that it isn't seeming to increase my physical endurance or anything. I know it's healthy to keep walking.

Replies

  • clee369
    clee369 Posts: 101 Member
    Squats
  • Zomoniac
    Zomoniac Posts: 1,169 Member
    Jog slower. Gradually get faster. After many years of minimal cardio you'd expect to struggle at first, just try not to let struggling stop you. Stick at it and you'll get a lot better very quickly. Doesn't sound helpful I know, but after vegging for that long anything demanding like running is bound to be a struggle. Just persevere.
  • SycoraxMedea
    SycoraxMedea Posts: 2
    Jog slower. Gradually get faster. After many years of minimal cardio you'd expect to struggle at first, just try not to let struggling stop you. Stick at it and you'll get a lot better very quickly. Doesn't sound helpful I know, but after vegging for that long anything demanding like running is bound to be a struggle. Just persevere.
    Thanks, I'll try to just keep working at it.
  • cordianet
    cordianet Posts: 534 Member
    If you're strictly looking for a cardio workout, I don't think you can go wrong with the Couch to 5K plan from Cool Running:
    http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

    That said, I would also recommend you try to find the time to do some strength training. Your body needs more than just cardio to truly be fit. I'm sure others will chime in here, but both the "Starting Strength" and New Rules of Lifting For Women" books are very well thought of for beginners.

    A third option for you to consider might be kettlebells. They give you a great cardio workout while also helping you get stronger. Do some research on them, but it's something you can do at home if you are so inclined. There are now kettlebell classes offered in many areas as well.
  • es2189
    es2189 Posts: 142 Member
    I agree with the previous poster. I definitely recommend C25K. I was extremely weak and anti-exercise, but decided on a whim to start the C25K program. It has literally changed my entire life. I sound like an advertisement for it, but since it's really only an idea that I'm advocating, I guess I can't really be benefitting!! (I used the C25K Free iphone app, but I'm sure any one would work...I would've loved to have had one with GPS). Anyway, I went from not having even gone for a walk in over 2 years to now running 15-20 miles a week. After finishing the program in August, I decided to add strength training, mostly to help with my running.

    The great thing about it is that it starts really slow, but if you're like me, you will still feel challenged. And then you increase slowly but steadily, running only 3 days a week, which is also really nice to start. Make sure to jog really slowly. The point is just to get your body used to running. Don't worry at all about distance or speed. Once you finish the program and just start running, your will naturally get faster. If you're tired, slow down even more. If you really struggle with a week, repeat it. That's not a bad thing and it shouldn't feel like a failure. The important thing is just to take it slow and steady, and realize that if it takes you 6 months or a year (the program is designed to be 2 months), then that means that 6 months to a year from now, you'll be running 5ks instead of sitting on the couch.

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