Any Tips for getting on the exercise bandwagon?

In the morning, put shoes on.... open front door.
Go outside. Walk for 30 min. Repeat 5x per week, for starters.....


Seriously.... that's how I got back into the swing of things.

I spend 8 hours a day in an office. I get to work an hour earlier and go to the gym which happily is just over the road.

Baby steps.

Try to incorporate more movement in your day. Take the stairs do a lap around your office to get where you need to go instead of going directly. At lunch at a 10-15 minute walk outside or around your building if possible. Once you get solid with that add a few more steps.

I also suggest a walking dvd. I personally love Leslie Sansone and she has some great 1 mile/15 minute walks. Requires you getting up 20 minutes earlier but it will make a difference. I like the Burn Body Fat dvd the best for cardio/weights. Between walking and changing eating habits that's how i lost all my weight.

It will be slow but the weight loss will happen.

Find something that fits your schedule and you will enjoy. For me I loved zumba but the classes where I live are limited and it was not enough or flexible enough. I found a friend who loved the gym and started going with her just to try it out and wound up really liking it. The more I go, the more I keep going because it becomes routine and not as "tough" because I have built up some strength and endurance. It is about finding a groove that works for you and staying in it.

I believe in diving in headfirst...if you just ease into it, there's a greater chance you will stop. Find a friend who can work out with you so you are accountible to someone other than youself to make sure you show up. The buddy system really works.

Usually once I change into my gym clothes I'm fine so my mantra lately has been "just put the shoes on".

When I started working out my goal was 3x/week, and once that became a habit I increased it to 4-5x/week. Now it's at 5-6x/week.

Small changes worked for me. Going from not working out at all to 6x/week was just way too much for me.

In the famous words of Nike, Just Do It!!!! Good Luck!!!

What I was going to say! Just start- 5 minutes into your workout you won't want to stop!

Don't think of it as something that's optional. Make it as much part of your routine as brushing your teeth or paying the bills.

Keep doing it until you love it.

It'll happen.

It takes about 3 weeks to form a habit. Make a plan and commit to doing it for 3 weeks. Find something you like doing. Personally I love lifting, running & ice skating so that's what I do.

Might not be an option for you, but I started cycling to work. Although slower at first, after a few weeks I was getting to & from work in about the same time that it takes me to get to the train and then sit on the train the rest of the way.

Of course, having a shower at work helped, and I was able to follow the train route most of the way, so I had a safety net in the early days when I needed to force myself to keep going.

In the morning, put shoes on.... open front door.
Go outside. Walk for 30 min. Repeat 5x per week, for starters.....

This! I was sedentary for basically my whole life until I decided I needed to get my life in order this past March. I did exactly what this person did. Put on shoes, opened (well, my back) door, went outside, and walked. At first, I could barely make it around the block. Then I went farther and farther. Then I joined a gym, got the help of trainers. Kept gradually increasing what I was doing. Kept pushing myself when I could. Trained for a 5k over the summer. Am doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred now (just started Level 3!)

But really, you just have to start somewhere. Go for a walk in the morning. If that's not possible, do it at lunch. If that's not possible, do it when you get home. But find *some* time to do it! Even 10-minute bursts of exercise are better than doing nothing!

It can be difficult to get started. And you'll dread it for a while. But when you make it part of your routine, you'll start feeling off if you miss a day! You can do it. Just take the first steps. Literally!

Just start walking. You will feel so much better. Once you start feeling stronger then either by an exercise dvd to do at home or buy a gym membership. Best of luck to you.

My tip would be to get a friend who already works out and is somewhat religious about it. Go with them and use them to keep you accountable. This worked for me....about a few weeks my friend kind of stopped going but I was already in the groove so was able to keep it up on my own. I now go more often than she does. You just have to tell yourself that no matter how tired you are, you just have to get to the gym or your day is not complete. I started this at 332lbs....have a very sedentary desk job...and doing to much was just painful and tiring. You can do this...just make the choice to start.

And take classes...so much more fun and you can't quit until the class is over so you won't jip yourself on your workout.

Just force yourself...i had a habit of demotivating myself and say ill go tomorow ect...but once you have started you will notice how keen you will get.