Well, thanks for starting this group Karen, it is the kick in the butt I have needed. Here is a quote that I think is appropriate for those of us ready to take on this challenge! Call it a workout tip!!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. -Maria Robinson"

I am getting off my butt today and getting on that treadmill....I want to do the C25K and will start that in the very near future. For me....we have to start somewhere....

Also....my tip for the members....Measure yourself and weigh yourself as you begin this journey!! And take a photo (I don't include my head in the photo!). That way, you will be able to see how far you have come on this weight loss/get healthy journey!!! And log your food...don't guess the caloric or carb intake (if you are on a carb diet), and weigh your food...get a food scale, coz you would be very surprised what food weighs...NOT what you may think!! Those are my tips for today!!!

Karen, that sounds like a fantastic plan. Sorry to hear about the cardio delay but better safe than sorry when it comes to the surgery. As for the strength and flexibility exercises in a chair, I would suggest you Google it. There are a million different suggestions out there. I know before I had my knees replaced that's what I relied on. Unfortunately, I un-bookmarked all the sites. A couple items you might want to consider purchasing are: a couple of hand weights (3/5/10 pound weights, whatever works for you), a resistance band, and a small rubber ball (doesn't necessarily have to be an "exercise" ball - right now with summer time you should be able to purchase a small children's play ball for not much). I know those are the items we use consistently at the Y with my Chair Aerobics class. Hope that helps

Oh and spend the money one some exercise cloths. The best investment I made was purchasing sweat wicking, light weight, exercise shirts (I got mine from Underamour on amazon since they sell XXXL). Because exercising in cotton is just miserable. The next thing besides a good pair of walking shoes (defiantly an investment, especially if you can get to a store that will fit them for you), are sweat wicking socks or runners socks. They are synthetic, breath nicely, wich away sweat, stop chafing and reduce hot spots.

Also if you have chafing issues, dear god get yourself a pair of compression shorts or bike shorts. Free your thighs.

I have my own issues with motivation so I'm not the best to give any advice.

the only advice I have is you have to be doing something you can enjoy. If you don't enjoy it then you will never keep up with it. I never really was able to enjoy yoga, even though I enjoyed what it could do for me, so I let myself stop and move on to something else. If i was going to keep trying to force myself to do yoga the lack of motivation would have translated to other things I was doing.

So find something you enjoy and do it, virtually any physical activity will do. Also I would say don't focus on how many calories it will burn for you, or how long you have to do it to achieve a certain goal for weightless. That sort of thinking will get you nowhere, it will also make the weightless aspect of exercise more difficult in the long run. You wont progress, your body will adapt and what your doing will become less effective. If you are doing something you love, and are remembering to push yourself each and every time you go out (within limits) - go a little farther, go a littler longer, push a little harder, you will continue to progress, the calorie defect you generate will continue and so will your longterm enjoyment.

I also think it's important to remember to take time to rest when you needed it. We all probably started out exercising 5-6 times a week or more. I know I did. Now I don't, I still exercise at least 4 times a week, mixing up what activity I am doing. If you really are pushing yourself each time and not just staying in your comfort zone then you will need time to rest and recover. Over due it and you can hurt yourself, physical and mentally. If you over do it then the pain keeps you from working out and all you remember about the exercise is the pain and their is no motivation to return. Several years ago when I was going to the gym I had a couple episodes of throwing up in the bathroom (sorry janitor) and it killed it for me, I never went back. I've been biking and over the past week haven't been giving my legs enough time to recover between long rides so it has made each outing difficult and painful. Who wants to keep going when your in pain, and soon I'm questioning if I should keep doing the thing I enjoy.