How can I exercise when

I have anxiety and when I feel winded, I started to panic a bit and it makes it even harder to catch my breath.

I had this one. I wasn't supposed to get my heart rate up to high because of the anxiety, and I'd walk uphill and it would happen. Its very frightening. It took me three years to get to a point where I could do it.
OH and I can't drive any more either, haven't driven since 1993.

See a doctor or psychologist to help you with your anxiety. Once the panic attacks go away, other things will get better.

^ Look into this!

Although it's better to exercise for health and fitness reasons, it is not a requirement for weight loss. Focus on losing some weight first before you start exercising, and then take the exercise slow and easy at first. :flowerforyou:

I started at 294. I dreaded doing any form of exercise, especially outside, because people could see me (and Lord only knows what they must have thought), but I went with my husband and kids at firs because I seriously thought I might have a heart attack, and although I could only walk a half mile at a time (and at only around 2 mph), I did it. Did I come back to the house dripping with sweat and a beet red face? Yep. And did I feel good at the end of that half mile? Well, I was tired, my feet hurt, my back hurt, and I thought my shins would never stop hurting, but I felt good about the fact that I did it. I knew it wasn't much, especially since I knew I was going to be capable of so much more. I'm now into my 9th month and I can easily walk for an hour, and at a pace of around 3.75 mph. I'm still just walking, although sometimes I do squats, planks, and push-ups while dinner is cooking. At some point this year, I will probably start using weights to make things more interesting.

As for the weather, I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, and lately, we've had some nasty weather, at least for this area. I will go out and walk in any temperature, but if there's ice on the ground, then I don't get very far. So what do I do then? Yesterday, I shoveled snow....my back patio, the neighbor's driveway and sidewalk and my own driveway again once the snow plow dropped a nice load of frozen snow there. I probably shoveled for the better part of an hour and a half, and I got winded and today I'm aching all over, so I know I got some real exercise. Today, I stayed in because of the ice and lack of leftover snow to shovel, so I did squats with my 90 lb daughter doing piggyback on me. I'll probably regret that tomorrow. :-)

My point is, you do what you can, when you can, and you start small when that's all you can handle. When you can do more, you'll know when you're ready because it will just happen and you'll think to yourself, "whoa....I feel pretty good, I could go even farther." If working out indoors helps with the anxiety, then do that until you feel like you could handle the next step. There are tons of people here who can offer advice and support, and we will, but ultimately, it's up to you to take the steps you need to take. You CAN do it though....you're stronger than the voices in your head. Good luck and let us know how you're doing! :flowerforyou:

I started exercising (for the first time in my life, mind you!) at about 330 pounds this past summer. My first day I just went for 8 minutes. Now, at 274 (still super fat, HI THERE!) I workout every day for 50 minutes minimum (some days I do multiple activities and go for 100 minutes). I feel freakin' fantastic!

Here are some tips from someone who was in a similar position to you:

1. You need to start slow, be gentle and generous with yourself. Start slowly, and gradually build up.
2. Expect to be a little winded. It means you're working hard!
3. As others have said, there's plenty of stuff on YouTube. I like FitnessBlender.com. It's free, there are tons of different exercise videos of varying lengths and difficulty. You can easily search their site for easier beginner videos (at a larger size, I strongly recommend that you also look out for "low impact" videos) that are short (say, 5 or 6 minutes at first!) and gradually start doing longer ones. Choose stretching and warm up videos first! They have several 5 minute warm up videos, and some of them are super super easy.
4. Tough love here: you're going to have to learn to recognize that voice in your head that says "I CAN'T." That voice isn't helping you, hon. That voice is getting in your way. Tell it to shut up and get with the program. Listen for the voice that says "Try. Just TRY." Maybe it'll be difficult, maybe you won't be very good at it (okay, probably you won't be very good at it), but THAT'S OKAY. It's better than sitting on the couch, right?
5. Get some sturdy shoes and exercise-appropriate socks dedicated to exercise time. Don't ruin your feet. You need them.
6. I personally have found the most motivating part of exercise to be the knowledge that if I weren't exercising, I would have to eat a lot less. Obvious, I know, but when you have a lot of weight to lose and you know you're going to be restricting your diet for a LONG TIME, having a few extra hundred calories to play with every day is a HUGE help and deterrent to just giving up. I've been maintaining a huge caloric deficit for months (steadily losing the legendary 2 lbs a week) but I still get to have wine with dinner or bacon on alternate Sundays or a piece of chocolate now and then and it doesn't blow my diet because I exercise. Your mileage may vary based on your eating plan and your fitness objectives.

When I started this journey about a year ago at 326lbs, I couldn't walk around the block without feeling winded or without my back or ankles or knees hurting nor did I want to go out for fear of someone seeing me and passing judgement.

I started by just marching on the spot during commercial breaks while watching tv...that became easier and then I started to march on the spot while the show was on from commercial to commercial...soon I was walking for 20 min and moving up by a few minutes each time I did this (which was 1 a week at first and finally 5 days a week).

Now a year later, by making small changes and watching my diet, I have dropped 119 lbs can walk for hours at a time, use my stationary bike 30-60 min a day and weight lift 2 days a week.

It is possible, start small, one step at a time, one minute at a time. every small step helps. Take it moment by moment and the task won't be so hard. Celebrate each and every little victory...they pave the way to your greatness:flowerforyou:

I just want to second a lot of commenters who are saying, take it slow, take it easy, but get moving.
Do a mix of cardio and weights. (Climbing the stairs is a bit of both)

As for food choices, I wouldn't worry too much about calories and deficit. I would take a look at your eating habits and every week changing one thing for the better. Like reducing pop (if you drink it), to adding a 2nd vegetable to dinner.

I find I get depressed if I stay at home and isolated. Working out gives me a high, but so does a 5 minute phone conversation with my sisters, nieces, nephews, friends, etc.

Good luck and don't give up