Fitness routine for beginners

RichDalrymple
RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I started my weight loss trek yesterday
i'M 35/M CW: 235LBS H 6"2. I'm a former smoker (been 200 somthing days since I quit). I'm really out of shape . I noticed there are a ton of videos on youtube.. Some people suggested insanity work out even though that looks like insane to me no pun intended lol. My main goal is to find a routine and stick to it. With all these options I just dont know what to choose?
Anyone else have a good exercise routine for beginnings? and or have a daily video routine they do from videos they have found online.

Please help :)

Replies

  • Tmoseley2
    Tmoseley2 Posts: 7 Member
    P90X3 is a great place to start. All workouts are only 30 minutes and they have a mixture of strength training, cardio, and yoga. The cardio is not anywhere close to as hard as Insanity so you shouldn't have to worry about killing yourself trying to keep up. All workouts have modifications if you find something too difficult.
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    Thanks I'll check it out.. Was hoping to use like fitnessblender or youtube type videos to save some money just cant seem to lock down a routine.
  • RebeccaP1972
    RebeccaP1972 Posts: 101 Member
    First off, great job on the quitting smoking!! Secondly I try to do a couple of different things so I won't get bored. I do fitness blender on Youtube and I also just walk around the track and ride my stationary bike. Good luck with everything :happy:
  • 33Freya
    33Freya Posts: 468 Member
    Wow Insanity and P90X may be something you want to try later. P90X has pre-fitness requirements, and insanity is, well, insane for beginners :) Also both programs are very intensive time wise as well as physically. Something to work toward, but I wouldn't start with that.

    Look up C25K (couch to 5K) online. You start out walking and work your way up to running. You can also go to bodybuilding.com and find FREE programs there to follow at your gym. I paid $2 for an app called pocket trainer that I think is awesome as well.

    Congrats on getting started!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Thanks I'll check it out.. Was hoping to use like fitnessblender or youtube type videos to save some money just cant seem to lock down a routine.

    Beachbody products are expensive. Look up a DVD set called Supreme 90....this is a set of DVDs that is somewhat similar. These were sold at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Not free, but cheap.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    I'm partial to weight lifting. Fastest bang for your buck when it comes to getting into shape, not just losing weight. There are many beginners programs:

    http://stronglifts.com/5x5/

    http://www.thenewrulesoflifting.com/

    http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738

    If you don't want to join a gym or purchase equipment for your home, there are body weight resistance programs out there:

    http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/0345528581

    http://www.amazon.com/Convict-Conditioning-Weakness-Using-Survival-Strength/dp/0938045768

    Certainly there are others that I can't think of right now. I'm sure the other wonderful members of MFP will post some. Also, check out this group. They are very knowledgeable and can help you customize a routine to suit your goals.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

    Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Walking is a great way to get exercise. You'd be amazed at what walking can do for you, mentally and physically. Find a nice park or trail to walk on and enjoy it.

    I started out with walking, and I still do it as my main go-to exercise.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Walking is a great way to get exercise. You'd be amazed at what walking can do for you, mentally and physically. Find a nice park or trail to walk on and enjoy it.

    I started out with walking, and I still do it as my main go-to exercise.
    Totally agree start with walking and see where it takes you
  • hig17
    hig17 Posts: 159 Member
    I started out walking, then bought some Jillian Michaels DVDs to do at home. Love them! They are less than 30 mins. I have done the 30 day shred, yoga meltdown, banish fat boost metabolism, and shred it with weights.

    WAY TO GO with quitting smoking also! I have been a non smoker for almost two years now myself :)
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    I'm partial to weight lifting. Fastest bang for your buck when it comes to getting into shape, not just losing weight. There are many beginners programs:

    http://stronglifts.com/5x5/

    http://www.thenewrulesoflifting.com/

    http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738

    If you don't want to join a gym or purchase equipment for your home, there are body weight resistance programs out there:

    http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/0345528581

    http://www.amazon.com/Convict-Conditioning-Weakness-Using-Survival-Strength/dp/0938045768

    Certainly there are others that I can't think of right now. I'm sure the other wonderful members of MFP will post some. Also, check out this group. They are very knowledgeable and can help you customize a routine to suit your goals.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

    Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

    +1 nailed it

    and if you like cardio, 15 to 20 minutes of one of these activities twice a week - burpees, battle ropes, sprints, swimming
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    For me my main issue is just trying to find a routine like broken down daily.
  • fooninie
    fooninie Posts: 291 Member
    Wow Insanity and P90X may be something you want to try later. P90X has pre-fitness requirements, and insanity is, well, insane for beginners :) Also both programs are very intensive time wise as well as physically. Something to work toward, but I wouldn't start with that.

    Look up C25K (couch to 5K) online. You start out walking and work your way up to running. You can also go to bodybuilding.com and find FREE programs there to follow at your gym. I paid $2 for an app called pocket trainer that I think is awesome as well.

    Congrats on getting started!

    I agree with this^^. BB.com and C25k are great!! My goal is do something for 60 minutes per day. (walk, swim, run, play tennis, lift weights etc.)

    I wish you much success.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    For me my main issue is just trying to find a routine like broken down daily.

    Try Strong Lifts 5x5. I linked it earlier in the thread. It also has a free iPhone app that will tell you which exercise to do on which day, how much weight to put on the bar, whether or not to increase and by how much next time, and how long to rest in between (it has a timer). The paid version ($2.00 maybe) will even tell you how many warm up sets to do and with how much weight per exercise.
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    Thats all well and good :) but I only have a tredmill at home and plan on doing all workouts at home. I have no weights or access to weights..
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Thats all well and good :) but I only have a tredmill at home and plan on doing all workouts at home. I have no weights or access to weights..

    Then walk on the treadmill. Lift some milk/water jugs. You don't need fancy equipment to get started. You can ask for that stuff at Christmas ;)
  • CodeMonkey78
    CodeMonkey78 Posts: 320 Member
    I think that P90X or Insanity would be a little too hardcore to "begin" with. These programs are not very beginner friendly, you would have a high probability of getting frustrated/quitting the program, risking injury, and wasting your money.

    I would recommend to start with walking. As walking gets easier, try walk/jog intervals, and continue to build on it. Just try to maintain consistent activity and do better every day.

    For strengthening, start with simple body-weight exercises. Use the modified version of the exercise if you need to. There are a ton of free apps and workout plans on YouTube -- no gym membership required.

    If you have a gym membership, try alternating cardio equipment to keep things interesting. Most gyms will give you a free session/consultation with their personal trainer who can give you a strengthening routine.

    Good job quitting smoking! I know it's HARD! I haven't had a cigarette in over 2 years myself..

    Good luck!
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    Thats all well and good :) but I only have a tredmill at home and plan on doing all workouts at home. I have no weights or access to weights..

    Convict Conditioning - Body weight progressive resistance program. (Second only to progressive free weight programs)

    http://amzn.to/1oyOqJ7

    Get your calories and macros right, you'll be a lean bad *kitten* in no time.
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    Badass sounds good lol
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Congrats on the quitting! My 10 month smoke free anniversary is this month :)

    I really love Fitness Blender videos on YouTube - they have a HUGE range to choose from. Beginning, advanced, low impact, high intensity, etc. 10 minutes to 40 minutes. It really allows you to customize your routine. They have a cardio for beginners - I'd start there and once that becomes easy, move up a level.

    I also think it's worth picking up some hand weights at Target or somewhere similar. They aren't super expensive or anything.

    Good luck!
  • TXPIP
    TXPIP Posts: 10
    My local library has many fitness DVDs. Perhaps yours would, too. Good luck to you!
  • skyekeeper
    skyekeeper Posts: 286 Member
    bump
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    I totally agree with the walking part .. you don't need Beachbody dvd's to have success.

    Walking is really under rated but it is great exercise with great benefits. I would consider it way before running ... very very likely for beginners especially to injure themselves running. I injured myself doing C25k .. and I was reasonably fit. I was definitely not overweight at the time.

    There are a zillion good work out videos on YouTube .. but my first thing I would recommend for beginners is just walking at least til you get into a good fitness zone where you can up your game.
  • joeggarcia
    joeggarcia Posts: 59
    I would strongly suggest reading "The Slight Edge" and implementing that into your life. Nutrition and Exercise is a life style and many people quit because they do not see immediate results please be patient give it 6 months - 1year. I see this happen all the time people try and do these insane diets and workouts and they become frustrated.

    If you have no weights a simple walk everyday increasing your time and/or jump rope every so often.

    +1 for Convict Conditioning..

    best of luck on your journey!
  • Tmoseley2
    Tmoseley2 Posts: 7 Member
    Since you have a treadmill, try the C25k app.
  • mrngstrgal
    mrngstrgal Posts: 3 Member
    When I started six months ago, I started walking on the treadmill at Planet Fitness. It soon became apparent that I would get easily bored with doing just this, so I canceled my cable and paid to see a personal trainer one day a week, Best decision that I ever made! Now I also do boot camps at a boot camp gym, that uses High Intensity Interval Training, but can easily be modified for my lower fitness abilities/knee issues,
    Do something that won't frustrate you or make you bored.
    Great job on quitting cigs and deciding to change your life!
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    The internet has made the world a great place for working out.
    This link (http://operationvegan.tumblr.com/post/62518296539/workout-videos) has links to all of the Insanity workouts and pretty well every workout ever put out there by Jillian Micheals. If you look around online, you can likely find a boot leg copy of P90X etc too.
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    Thanks for all the suggestions.. This is what I've been doing since last week.

    1. Taking the stairs to the 5th floor I work on instead of elevotor
    2. Parking my car on the 6th floor of the garage and taking the stairs instead of the elevator
    3. Everyday on my lunch break at work i've been walking 1.5 miles.
    4. Evening (trying to either do a workout video daily or every other day via youtube)

    Hows that sound?
  • jeanlake
    jeanlake Posts: 130 Member
    I find the row machine to be a hidden treasure in a gym - or for home use. Great for the joints -- it affects so many "body parts;" even a light, 25 minute workout on a row machine will burn over 200 calories. Combo strength & cardio -- a terrific start to any workout program. Good luck to you.
  • jeanlake
    jeanlake Posts: 130 Member
    It sounds like you're committed, Rich. Good job! My doc says any program I'll stick with is a good program.
  • RichDalrymple
    RichDalrymple Posts: 12 Member
    I did this one last night and i thought i was going to pass out but in a good way if that makes any sense. It felt great..

    http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/workout-detail/Body-Firming-HIIT-Workout-for-Beginners-Beginner-HIIT-Home-Workout-Routine/a5/

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