fitness for beginners!

hbb86
hbb86 Posts: 63 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone,

so im very new to exercise in the fact that im really unfiit. Ive been to my doc before and he just tells me to do little and often but little and often wasnt shifting my double chin.

anyways, i wondered if anyone is in the same place as me ? Also does anyone have any exercises i could do to really help build my fitnesss levels up a bit? Can anyone recommend exercises for beginners?

thanks so much

Replies

  • CysterWigs
    CysterWigs Posts: 136 Member
    There are A LOT of really good exercise videos on YouTube, believe it or not. For example, you can find most of Jillian Michaels' catalogue on there. Good luck.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    Do you have a Wii?
  • sjiphone
    sjiphone Posts: 67 Member
    Aquasize. It's a great cardio workout that doesn't wreck your knees. For beginners, there is nothing better.
  • kherrons
    kherrons Posts: 99 Member
    In my opinion swimming is by far the best form of exercise for beginners. It's my preferred exercise. I find that I can swim for a solid 60 minutes doing laps and not feel as out of breath and exhausted as I did before.

    Of course just walking is good. At least it's some exercise. If you choose to do it outdoors try to find a route that has some hills or inclines throughout the walk, otherwise in the gym you can set the settings yourself for the pace that makes you comfortable.

    As a beginner definitely don't try to jump into those crazy workouts: insanity, P90X, turbo fire. Those are on my list after I reach my first goal but I know I would pass out within five minutes the way I am right now.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    If you're interested in running, try C25K. You can download the app onto your smart phone. It takes you from no activity (couch) to running a 5k in 8 weeks. You may want to repeat some of the weeks, which is fine. I did every week twice. I started the first week of April and ran 5K for the first time on Friday. It was great for shedding fat (you have to stick to your calories too) and I'm more fit than I've ever been.

    If you don't like running, you can still use the program on the elliptical or an exercise bike. It takes you through intervals of walking and running, increasing your running time each week. On the elliptical or bike, just switch from slow to fast, or less resistance to more resistance.
  • kkclif
    kkclif Posts: 155 Member
    When I got started I did the Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start DVD. There are like 6 different 10 minute workouts. They start you the first week with just 10 minutes a day, then the next week they start combining and you do 20 minutes, and so on and so on. You are expected to do it atleast 6 days a week, but even on my laziest of days I would make myself do it because it's only 10 minutes..I HAD TO. I ate at a deficit with this being my only exercise and I lost 20 pounds in just a few months. I then went on to buy some of the other Biggest Loser DVD's. I recommend them!
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    www.stronglifts.com

    I wish I had started out with this in the beginning, instead I wasted my time with cardio and other crap.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    When I started out last year I started on the Biggest Loser Challenge Game for Wii...I loved it. It changes things up and progressively would get harder. Plus each week you can see where you are at and even change up your program if you wanted to.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Besides burning calories, what if any fitness specific goals have you set for yourself? That would be my recommendation...set independent fitness goals and then do exercises geared towards achieving those goals.

    Everyone starts out slow, and you have to. When I first started out I could maybe walk for 20-30 minutes 3x weekly. My initial goal was to be able to just complete a 5K running...it took me about 3-4 months to get there, but I got there and now I regularly run 5K races and have actually started to do more than just finish...I actually am getting competitive. After this season I'm going to try my hand at triathlon.

    I find that having fitness goals beyond burning XXX calories to be the best way to increase your fitness and sticking with your fitness.
  • CysterWigs
    CysterWigs Posts: 136 Member
    If you're interested in running, try C25K. You can download the app onto your smart phone. It takes you from no activity (couch) to running a 5k in 8 weeks. You may want to repeat some of the weeks, which is fine. I did every week twice. I started the first week of April and ran 5K for the first time on Friday. It was great for shedding fat (you have to stick to your calories too) and I'm more fit than I've ever been.

    If you don't like running, you can still use the program on the elliptical or an exercise bike. It takes you through intervals of walking and running, increasing your running time each week. On the elliptical or bike, just switch from slow to fast, or less resistance to more resistance.

    I second C25K.

    I would also like to say that you shouldn't necessarily avoid the HIIT stuff, like Insanity. I do Insanity about 3x a week and alternate it with upper body strength training. I can't do all the movements on the videos (YET) but I can do most of them and the ones I can't I modify. I started C25K after about a month of Insanity and WOAH. Running barely gets me winded. Nothing will get your cardio in better shape faster than HIIT, IMHO.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    Walk. A lot. That was what my doctor recommended, and it proved true. Walking is low stress, works your cardio (for endurance), and gets your heart rate up to help lose weight. When I first started losing weight, that's what I did at least 30 min 5 days a week, then I transitioned into workout dvd's, but kept walking too.
    If walking is boring to you (as it is to me), plug in a headset, or a movie on your favorite gadget to while away the time.
  • hbb86
    hbb86 Posts: 63 Member
    Hi everyone!

    thanks for all your replies, you have no idea how much i appreciate it.

    I would love to do aquasize but its not practical, im afraid of the water (cant swim) and the nearest pool is 7 miles away and i cant drive so instead of giving myself excuses to do something, i figured everything i will do will be from home! that way theres no excuses lol

    I have a wii and i have xbox kinect, i do the wii fit but its so repetitive. I bought my fitness coach last night so it should be here soon, it has excellent reviews!

    For those asking, i have one target in mind. I am going to new york on holiday at the end of november/beginning of december and id really love to go over there lighter. I was thinking maybe of setting a goal of 2 stone (almost 13KG) by then, ive got about 20 weeks until i go (or there abouts) do you think its possible? should i make a different goal?

    Thanks everyone

    xxx

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