Any tips for overweight exercisers? Gear, process, etc?

Oh and with regards to the hydration packs. I know you get back pack style ones

You've mentioned all the things I can think of! I use deodorant rather than Body Glide. I tried BG, but it didn't seem to do anything. Deodorant works just as well and I don't have to go out of my way to find it.

Definitely find some good running shoes. My store videos you on the treadmill and then slows it down to see how your feet are hitting so you know what kind of shoes to get. They also have this plate you stand on that measures your weight distribution. Awesome. (Mine is Big Peach...I think they're just in the South, but they're great!)

I get the feeling uncomfortable with your shirt sticking to you, but I also look at major sweat as a kind of badge of honor. To me, it says "Look how hard I worked!" One solution is to wear a tighter, moisture wicking tank under a tee. The tank should hold a lot of the sweat so your tee won't stick to you.

Alright, here goes: fat guy runner giving advice.

Shoes - don't skimp, but be cognizant of the specific issues you have and how particular running shoes will help. I originally bought a pair of Asics, I slowly switched to zero drop and now minimalist running sandals because it better suits my particular biomechanics. Go to a running store and get fitted, have them do all the tests, and what not to determine what issues you may have and need to stave off with particular shoes.

Chafing - I use A & D ointment on my thighs (cheaper than Body Glide, works just as well). I use waterproof medical tape on my nipples. You want to see a grown man cry out in pain? Put him in a shower with bloody nipples.

Clothing - I like compression shorts under basketball shorts for running, I also got C9 by Champion tech soft compression boxers. They are dreamy. I run a fair number of races and they have gotten in the habit of giving wicking tech shirts out. For the most part I like them, sometimes logos can be hell on the nipples (see above advice). Cotton holds moisture, and increases chances of chafing and backne.

Summer Workout - I got a Frog Toggs Cooling Cloth. Plop it over your neck or head, feels gross but works awesome.

Hydration - Get a hydration backpack. Companies like Camelback make ones for backpackers/hikers that have a lot of pockets, etc. I have one, but don't run with it because it is so bulky. Bell Bicycle makes a much smaller one, that set me back a whopping 20 dollars. It is fully adjustable and fits me fine, in spite of my robust shoulders. Alternately for about 5 dollars you can get straps that hold a regular water bottle and strap it to your hand. On long runs I usually take the backpack and a hand bottle, one with water (Backpack) and one with gatorade (hand bottle). Weigh yourself before and after a workout to get an idea of how much water you lose per hour so that you can drink it back, preferably while running. We lose a lot of salt, and it can mess up electrolytes, so be careful.

Other outlets - for general concerns such as these you might also check out the Triathlete forums and look for the Clydesdale/Athena boards. These folks have the same problems and deal with them, and also do some amazing things athletically. They are a great source of inspiration.

*dies laughing at the nipple comment!

1. Keep it low impact. If you're significantly overweight, high impact workouts can be murder on your knees no matter how good your form is.

2. Find substitutions where your weight or the size of your gut limits your range of motion. If it prevents you from being able to use safe, good form, don't do the exercise at all.

3. Remember that the term "high intensity" is relative to a person's fitness. What a fit person considers high intensity will probably land you in the hospital. For safety's sake, remember that.

Chafing between thighs - Compression shorts are a must, this was killing me when I first started.

Socks and shoes- I purchased Puma's running socks because I kept getting blisters, even if only walking on the tredmil for 45min to an hour. Bought Pumas and while I sometimes might get a blister it's gone down significantly.

Buy good running shoes and replace them as recommended. Running shoes have a recommended amount of miles used before you replace.

Low impact cardio- I like running and power walking, but elliptical is easier on the joints. Also for calorie burn, I find it to be more efficient calorie burn for time spent (when using a heart rate monitor and excising at my target heart rate)

Heavy lifting- do it. Can you can muscles and lose weight at the same time? Not efficiently for most people, but you can increase strength and help with muscle retention while you are losing weight. Your body is less likely to eat away at your muscle if you are using them.

**** best advice is don't over do it at the gym and listen to your body. It's tempting to want to workout 7 days a week at 2 hours a pop, but this will be very unforgiving to your body and could lead to burn out. Stick to a 2-3 days a week routine for at least 45 minutes a session. If you can do more and your body can handle it then power to you.

Remember, weight loss is achieved in the kitchen and workout is an aide. With a proper diet you won't need to over-kill yourself at the gym.

Swimming works wonders.... Laps, or AquaZumba! My favorite. You get a good work out while protecting your joints.
No chafing issues, You might be surprised at how good it feels, and the results you will get. If you are uncomfortable in just swim trunks, you can wear a tee- shirt too. Good luck!

Thanks so far for all the tips and encouragement.

Re: Compression shorts. Fitness being new to me, I thought those were ONLY used for outside your clothes when riding a bike (I'm near a bike trail.) Didn't realize you could/should wear them inside. Old Ayron, Cheeto-eating Ayron, would be surprised that I'm actually excited to go pick some up and walk tonight and see if that makes a difference.

Some folks wear them outside, but things can get graphic, especially if it rains or you sweat through them, and they go all semi-transparent on you, as you don't wear underwear with them. For cycling I wear cycling shorts that look very similar, but have a taint pad and don't turn clear if they get wet. My main issue is the price, I feel like I am paying $20-30 for fancy underwear, which is why I recommend the C9 TechSoft boxers, they are 12 for 2 pairs. Then I save my "expensive" compression shorts for races and long runs.

They have moisture wicking properties which only work if they are directly in contact with your skin. They're quite amazing.

My exercise of choice is riding a bike. Get a comfortable one and literally pedal your A## off. It's easier on your joints and feet, and you can burn just about the same cal per minuet as jogging. You will be able to stick with longer. I have gone from 246 to 209 in 135 days. Just find a safe place to ride.

bump!!