Too big to exercise?

I really would say "just" start with walking. It's really tempting to go all out at first, guns-a-blazing, which puts yourself at high risk of total burnout or worse - doing yourself an injury. Walking can still be a terrific challenge, which you can vary by time, speed, incline, and type of terrain. It's also much kinder on your joints than jogging. Start off slow, keep at it, and I bet in just a few weeks time, you'll already begin to feel the benefit. Good luck!

I am only 5'3" and starting at 260lbs. My best advice is take it slowly and build up some stamina... For calorie burning try walking and swimming and if you feel you want a bit more try some of The Biggest Loser workout DVD's. They are designed for bigger people, but don't overdo it to start with or you will just give up...

You can do this. Good luck and add me if you like.
Jules xx

I would highly recommend to start with Leslie Sansone Walk At Home dvds. They are absolutely wonderful for those who are larger and just starting out. They are not intense with the moves, and it is not hard to do at all. Leslie is very good at motivating and reminding you that if the miles are getting to intense to just "go back to walking".

I have done these dvds to lose my first 40lbs (I started at 250lbs). I am going to be starting turbo jam here soon to step it up a bit, but yeah - Leslie Sansone...very good place to start! (You could probably find some of the miles on youtube) and the dvds are really cheap. They are usually sold at Walmart for like 10 bucks a dvd.

Good luck!

I was 220 when I started and everything hurt. I cried sometimes when I had to walk upstairs because my knees were in so much pain. I started off with walking.....indoors. I did Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds 1 mile DVD and gradually increased the time and distance I did it. Eventually as the weather got nicer I moved outside and walked, always trying to increase my pace a little, toss in a tiny bout of jogging here and there, whatever I could do to challenge myself. The weight came off slowly, my knees got stronger, and it stopped being so painful. I also did a lot of Wii Fit games in an effort to introduce variety. Also some Dance Central or Just Dance. Anything, really, to get my butt moving. Eventually at 185 lbs I did C25K (Couch to 5K) and at 180 lbs I did 30 Day Shred. THEN...I discovered strength training through Chalean Extreme and followed that with New Rules of Lifting for Women.

It can be done...it's going to take some patience as you strengthen your body. Don't give up. Get yourself a good playlist of fun songs and have at it.

If you have access to a pool, swimming is good cardio exercise that's easy on your joints and adjustable to your current fitness level (switch up time, distance, speed).

At 220, you are NOT too big to exercise. At 240, I started running. I do believe that if you are not sure of your health to get checked by a Dr first.

Just get out and exercise and don't let anything or anybody around you, stop you. I wear running tights and tees and at 173 pounds, I still have my apple, but it's comfy, makes me feel sporty and and when I'm done, I feel amazing for completing it.

You can also run the stairs or take a low impact class. I just discovered classes and I love them! I was the biggest person in my body combat class but I still kept up. It's just great having people around you trying to accomplish the same goals.

Dude, I'm 313lbs and I train four times a week for American Football (In season) and am in the gym another four times a week.

I know how much it hurts afterwards and the day after but after a few weeks of a routine and warming up/cooling down properly and you don't feel it so much any more. The pain turns into an ache and then the ache turns into... Well, kind of a healthy feeling knowledge that your body has been worked.

Get on it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBgB_cqDiXs

Here is a beautiful example of Leslie Sansones exercise - very simple, yet after 1 mile, you will be sweating!

+1 Low impact, good workout!

I think it is different for everyone. I started off at 300+ lbs at 5' 11". Now I'm about 230 lbs. I still don't run, bad knees and bad back etc. I used to try to work out and then injure myself every few weeks. I dropped a lot of my weight purely through low carb and caloric deficit. Now I go to the gym weekly, about 3-5 days per week. I really recommend that if you do exercise, do it safely, as in, don't skimp on learning proper form and getting good equipment (shoes, gloves, etc). Best of luck. You can do it!

I'm 5'6 so i guess my body fat would've been lower, but I started off at 220. That was 8 weeks after my 2nd baby had been born.

I did a bit of exercise in pregnancy, and I was going for walks right up until my daughter was born, and she was 12 days overdue, so I guess I never lost my fitness properly, although I did put on a LOT of weight. Maybe i'm lucky but I never hurt from exercise even then.

So I went right back to working with a personal trainer doing strength and weight training as well as lots of cardio. Obviously I started off gently but it didn't take me long to build up fitness.

You are young (I was 33 then) so you should be fine. Just build up to it slowly. Maybe try swimming and aqua aerobics and lots of walking. You could also try aerobics. My instructor always shows low impact alternatives for people with knee problems or whatever.

As for people judging you....seriously, no-one cares. I mean that in a nice way. I went to the gym a lot on my first pregnancy and I don't think anyone looked at me! To begin with I probably just looked bigger rather than pregnant!

Here is a post I wrote about lifting while heavy:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/824518-fat-girl-dead-lifting?hl=Fat+girl+deadlift

And squatting:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/924179-fat-girl-squatting

I started at 276lbs (125kg).

In the photos in the squat thread 220lbs/100kg.

Thank you to EVERYBODY for all your encouragement and support. I will definitely be looking up Leslie Sansones when I get home!! I purchased a 30 Day Shred DVD a while back ( Actually now that I think about it... it was a year ago ) And I never even took it out of the plastic because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it, and didn't want to feel like crap because I wouldn't be able to keep up. But after all your posts and positive reinforcement I will slip it in to my DVD player and give it a try after a couple of weeks. c: Thank you all again, I will remember you when I'm making MY Success thread.

Just keep it in your mind that maybe the first time you won't be able to do it all and maybe not even the second or third time but eventually, with enough persistance, you'll get there! There is also nothing wrong with taking a break inbetween if you really feel you can't continue on during the video. Walk in place to keep your heart rate elevated until you find that you have enough breath and energy to continue. Just don't give up! Push yourself to work hard but also be kind to youself. It's a delicate balance you have to find.

I am 5'3" and started at 248. Lost some and then found MFP. and lost some more. You absolutely can exercise. I've done Cage Fitness (look up on youtube), boot camp style workouts (videos and classes), yoga, lifted weights, elliptical, assisted pull ups, walking and I tried running-not a fan. Just find something you like and keep trying it. Make it a habit. Have fun. Yes, you'll get sore. Yes you'll need stock in ibuprofen and Ben Gay but it GETS BETTER. Not easier, just better.

You can do it! Start with walking and swimming and just being generally more active (walk to places you would have previously driven, always take the steps etc). These kind of things burn off loads of calories and the weight will be moving before you know it!

Just a point about 30 day shred. It does have quite a lot of jumping and squats in there that can be harsh on joints not used to it. So even if you can't do those bits, just keep moving and do what you can. March on the spot or anything just to keep the heart pumping. You got this!!!