Exercise Alternatives (too fat/anxious for public exercise)

Best way to get over your fears is to face them.

This! +1

I'm part of a group on on here for people who have a lot to lose, http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/58438-for-the-morbidly-obese. I'm just reading what you wrote and the reason I wanted to share the link was because a lot of the things you have said remind me of conversations we had in the group. Especially about the anxiety of excise.

When i started I would walk in the evening. The weather was better and fewer people were around. With my headphones on I felt like th streets were mine. I could concentrate on my walking and less on my anxiety about how I was doing and what others around me were thinking. In all honest, for the most part, I found people to be very supportive and nice. They see me out walking and they know its for exercise. At whatever size it at least means we are doing something about it. Steps are a good option but I would just be carful that your not hurting your knees. Depending on your weight it might do more harm then good at this point. Yoga is a great option. It doesn't burn the most calories compared to walking but It can be done in the home. Walking and yoga are what I did to start and yoga was great both for improving my flexibility and helping me really learn about my body. I traded work for lessons with a private instructor who came to me but their are any number of dvd's (DDP Yoga is a mixed yoga that might help you burn a little more) and of course youtube (Yoga with Adrian has a great beginners series). I'm now doing a lot of bike riding. It's low impact (assuming the bike is set up properly), can be done in the evening (but that has it's safety issues).

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

Exercise is not the answer to weight loss. As a long term overweight who has tried intensive exercise regimes, I have found that exercise by itself does nothing. At one time I was running 110Kms to and from work each week in ten 11Km journeys and all with a day pack on my back. Weight loss - zero! When my knees gave out I switched to the same distance on the bike followed by 90mins in the big weights room at the gym each morning. Weight loss - zero! The problem is perception. When you know you are burning big calories, you say to yourself that it is OK to eat a bit more and you undo all the good work that the exercise has done. I have tried all sorts but only the Atkins has had any success. I have lost 11Kg by following Atkins but it is boring and I am worried about the total protein load on my kidneys. Anyway the only method that I have found to lose weight is to cut back on food. And be totally anal about it. NEVER break the cut back rules even if it is the birthday of your longest and bestest friend and they are offering gold-plated black-forest cake. Say no thanks. If you get off the wagon it takes forever to build up enough motivation to get started again. Some exercise is needed to maintain health but concentrate on food intake for successful weight loss. Do not go into any exercise regime with all guns blazing - you could injure yourself and your poor early performance will drop your motivation - let your body improve slowly. Stairs offer great exercise - start by taking the lift to the eighth floor and walk to the eleventh for one week. Walk all the way when going down. On the second week, take the lift to the seventh. Follow the weekly pattern until you are walking all the way up and down.

So know that anxiety about exercising in public.

But I had no choice. No gym nearby, and I'm too cheap to buy fitness equipment!

So I went outside and walked early. With sunglasses. Sorta a 2 year old they-can't-see-me thing. But it worked. And I forced a smile whenever I met someone.

And I only jogged WAYYY in the back of the storage facility around the back building that no one can see.

Today is 2 months since I started all that nonsense. Today I walked all around a neighboring town (not b/c of shame, but convenience; our kid had VB camp there), then through their park where I, gasp, jogged in public. Thrice.

And I still hate it, but I've sorta adopted the " I don't give a $#!( what anyone thinks ".

Get some good sunglasses, an audiobook (with BRIGHT earbuds so no one dares speak to you!), and Map My Walk on your phone so you can track your progress! You can borrow my attitude if you'd like it!

Walking the stairs… 11th floor… I'd make that a goal. maybe get off at the 9th floor and walk up and get off at the 3rd floor going down? take time to find what's comfortable and then up it. Congratulations on beginning your journey!!!

I second this!!! I think doing the stairs a bit at a time and "graduating" yourself as you get stronger or want a greater challenge.

You could also Google "calisthenics" and later "plyometrics" which are both types of exercise that use the body weight for resistance.

I applaud you for taking steps in the right direction to a healthier life and hope you have steady success.
YAY!

When I lived in an apartment, we had a Gazelle. I still love to use it and plan on using it again after my baby is born. Resistance bands don't take up any room. You can do all sorts of exercises with them. Also, hand weights are good to have as well.

Do you have a Wii or X Box? Some of my favorite workouts are using the Wii Fit, Zumba on the Wii, and all the Just Dance games. I am 9 months pregnant and still do Just Dance. It's fun, and may be a good confidence builder as well.

I started at 450+ lbs just walking was hard for me let alone exercising in public. I started by walking in my woods or by my house 5 minutes a day and increased from there. For the whole first year I Just walked I worked on increasing time and pace until I was comfortable enough to go to a gym. However, if I can give you any advice its if you just do not want to go because your anxious but really want to do gym work outs please go I wish I would not have waited so long because the truth is no one was looking at me. They were doing their own thing. Best of luck to you!

Don't feel pressured to exercise in public. But do exercise. Your will power will improve and you can eat a little more (be conservative about how many calories your exercise burns, plus, don't eat back all your exercise calories).

When I decided I was going to start getting healthier, I got a used Nintendo Wii and Balance board. I started with the Wii Fit software and a commitment to do 30 minutes of cardio every day. I eventually switched to the Wii Gold's Gym Dance Workout and then to Wii Zumba Core. (The Gold's Gym is easier and more tutorial than the Zumba.) I've also tried some Zumba DVDs but I like the greater variety of "classes" that I get with the Wii. I do at least an hour a day now.

Tell them to gwt you a fold up stair climber I was going to get one from walmart . Its the sunny health n fitness also u can get a warranty for 2 years or so for an extra 12$ . I havent had extra cash otherwise I would have it. Its only 100 bucks .

are doing...not were