15 min of exercise… thought I was going to die. Advice?

First off, kudos to you for exercising! Way too go! I think you (and your doctor) should judge how much you exercise but I would do the same thing tomorrow and the next day and the next. Do it for a week and it if isn't any easier day 7 than it was on day 1, go back to the drawing board. Best of luck(:!

Do more, it gets easier.

Start slow try walking for 20 mins. Whatever works, just stick with it!

Well, today I tried to work out for the first time in probably months based on my doctor telling me that being obese isn't an option. She recommended that I do 15 minutes 4-6 days a week to start off. I did fifteen minutes today and seriously thought I was going to die. Maybe it's because I'm like 80+ lbs overweight. I did 3 minutes of cardio, 3 minutes of abs, 3 minutes of butt, 3 minutes of cardio, 3 minutes of arms using Blogilates. With about 1-2 minute breaks in between all of those.

I spent about next the ten minutes coughing and then the next five chugging water. I felt like death.
Because I moved around for fifteen minutes.
…

WELL, needless to say, I'm already dreading exercising ever again based on that. So, what should I do? Start at less than 15 minutes? Turn part of that into something easier? Try something completely different? I literally did all beginner videos.

Haaaaalp.

Well you did accomplish that first 15 and I am wondering if you felt a sense of accomplishment (after you caught your breath)?
I mean, you did a great job.

The good news is you didn't die.

Don't stop. You'll improve more and more each time.

walk - walk at a pace you can manage - if you walk for 15 mins and feel ok - keep walking a bit faster

once you can walk briskly for a hour - if you are on a treadmill start to increase the incline - if you are outside find some hills to walk up and down or stairs

Congrats on your start, but you may have over done it for your first session. Start out walking 15 minutes and add an additional 5 minutes each week. I was in the same shape when I started and I can easily do 60-90 minutes of exercise now! You can do it! Just don't stop..you will be amazed at what a difference you will feel walking every day!

Don't stop! I started slower than you, and that may be something you need to talk to your doctor about. I started at 291 pounds and hadn't been very active, but despite being morbidly obese, I didn't have any major health concerns. I made my starting goal 3x/week, 20 minutes a day, and all I did was the treadmill on about 2.0-2.5 mph. I got used to it for a few weeks, bumped it to 30 minutes and then gradually built up my speed. Next I added elliptical and alternated between the two, working on increasing speed, resistance, and incline.

So, you totally don't need to jump in 4-6 days a week full bore. You may burn out and not make it a habit. Small, sustainable, forward-moving steps.

It took me a few more months before I was ready to do yoga or strength training and almost a year before I moved from machines to free weights. Now I do a lot of workout.

My whole me me me point --- start small, build up, don't do too much out the gate. I just wanted to give you an example so you saw what someone else had done too

You've got this!

Adding my name to the list of those suggesting walking. That's pretty much the only thing I'm doing right now & it gets me sweating & my heart rate up. I was actually kind of surprised at how serious walking can be when you walk at a faster pace for 15+ minutes. I did a half hour at 3.5 mph tonight & was dying by the end of it, but you could easily do the same amount of time at 2.5 mph, or do less time and less speed, or less speed and an incline, or something like that. I like walking because it's easy but I still feel great like I do after any other workout.

I would also suggest a Fitbit or something similar to motivate you to walk! I didn't start doing extra walking until after I got a Fitbit Flex, & now I live to reach my step goal & see all the fancy graphs!

Wow! You really went at it full tilt. Don't! Exercise should make you feel like you have done something good, even if it was a challenge. Feeling like death, hating it and never wanting to do it again isn't the way to go as you can see.
I'm in with the walking suggestion. Start there for your 15 minutes. Increase it as you can, even if its only by a minute at a time. When that starts to feel comfortable (not necessarily easy but something you have a handle on) then add something else like the Biolates. Play around with different things until you find something you enjoy. Anything that gets you up and moving is perfect for now. Good for you for doing this!

Exercise should be fun! Like so many others before said, starting out too fast will burn you out. I was 120lbs overweight and was in your shoes. Take inventory of what will keep you active that you like. You don't necessarily have to kill yourself to be active. I will try, literally, anything! I think I have exercise ADD. My timeline went like this:

Walking and being sore
Walking and being okay
Walking and loving it, so I added GRADUALLY:
Jogging Couch to 5k program
Running
Yoga
Biking
Dancing and Zumba. Didnt like Zumba
Pilates
Weights
Did my first 5k
More biking
Loving my new active lifestyle and I added bike races
More 5ks
Swimming
The more I did, the better I felt
A triathlon, joined a tri club
Hooked at this point
More swim, bike, run....cant get enough
More triathlons
More bike races- "criteriums"
A half marathon
More weights
Mountain biking added
First and only mountain bike race where I realized I need more work on the mtb
A hip injury sidelined my running, but I wanted to stay active
Joined a beginners developmental rowing team
Rowing races in novice category
Loving being on the water and the team atmosphere
Progressed from the beginners team to a competitive womens team
Will be shooting for a spot at nationals with my team in August

This has been over the course of four years in the making.

You see, I am not tooting my horn here. I just want you to see where it can lead if you slow down and allow yourself to develop your interests. Get your mobility up and the rest will come. This is a process. :-) we are cheering for you!

Adaptive fitness (Google it) is a real thing. You will adapt and be able to do more. When I started out (347 lbs in 2012) I had an injury and couldn't work out at all. I lost 50 lbs with diet first and then started working out (Jan. 6, 2013). At first all I could do was 15 minutes of Wii Fit. But I bought a heart rate monitor and I used it like I was training for the MF Wii Fit Olympics (if there was such a thing). Twice a day, six days a week, I got my big butt up on that Wii Fit step and did step aerobics. Within two or three weeks, I could start walking. I walked a quarter mile at first. That's it. WIthin two more weeks I started adding wrist and ankle weights. A bit after that, I added a riser to the step. Because everything got easier. The key is to keep challenging yourself. Not to the point where you're puking during a workout. But one day, what you're doing now will have you hardly breaking a sweat, and then it's time to step it up. If you can't handle the workout you're doing now, start out by just walking. I swear, if you're consistent, your body will adapt and you will get better at it. By the end of last October, my workouts consisted of kettlebells three times a week, biking three times a week, kayaking three times a week, trail running three times a week, and a long walk three times a week. My Saturday brick workouts were a 20 mile bike ride, followed by a 6 mile kayaking trip, and a four mile trail run. I'm training for my first triathlon this summer. You can do this. I promise you, because I've done it. And if I can do it? Anyone can.

Well, first off - well done by joining MFP and posting this. Don't become too discouraged - and as others have said, start more slowly and ease your way back into exercise. When I started on my exercise bike at the beginning of February, I could only manage 5 or 6 mins before I was out of breath and having cramp in my legs. But I persevered, and gradually increased it over the last month so that I am doing 4 x 30mins workouts on the bike daily and have also increased the calorie burn at each session as I can now put more effort into it. It will change for you, so, please - do NOT get disheartened at your first attempt - it will get easier and you can increase it when you start finding it easier.

I have not read all the responses, but here is my take:

First, you will improve. When I started I was almost throwing up because of the workout. I got through it though. The next time was not as bad. You will get better, but it takes time and keeping at it, so don't give up. Usually progress at first goes fairly quickly.

Second, walking is exercise. Get out and walk at as brisk a pace as you can which you can maintain for at least 15 minutes. Exercise, especially when you start out, does not need to be super intense. You just need to get your heart rate up and keep it there for those 15 minutes. That is the advantage of walking. Most people can do it, and it will help get you better able to do other programs, especially as you lose weight.

Third, I suspect you may have gotten too intense a program to start. I am not familiar with it, but my concerns would be the focus on specific body parts. You don't need that at this point, a good brisk walk (see my second point) would be better.

Fourth, just a word of caution. You need to lose weight, that will happen primarily from diet, not exercise. The exercise will make you healthier, but eating a moderate amount of calories less than you burn in a day will take the fat off.

You can do this. Just realize it takes time. As I said, when I started I was almost throwing up, but I went back to the workout the next time, and it was not as bad. By the next week I was doing it just fine.

try walking, gradually increasing your pace and distance. Also swimming is good exercise but also gentle on you.