Where to begin.

Wow, almost an identical experience - upsetting isn't it - oh the shame but it shook me out of denial.

Great that you are seeing a personal trainer first. Once you are past 40, it is very easy to injure yourself if you go from zero to workouts so never forget to listen to your body and build up to it if you need to. Another thing to bear in mind is that your muscles may not be as flexible and hopefully, your trainer will encourage you to do some simple stretching, bit by bit, all of which helps to sustain the workout regime once you get to it.

Decide, commit, succeed - that was my mantra; can't remember where I heard it now but it's a neat way to remember that you need the first two steps if you have any hope of the result. You have decided and so as long as you can sustain the commitment, you will succeed. The trick for me was to find something that I enjoyed and wasn't too demanding. I knew that if it was too uncomfortable, difficult, humiliating or time-consuming, I wouldn't sustain it and so it was trial and error but in the end I got it right.

You may prefer the gym but I followed a home video and at first, couldn't do it standing so had to do what I could of it sitting on a high stool. I was horrified by how hard I found it but if you stick at it, you will be delighted at how quickly the body get's stronger.

This ten minute clip inspired me too.

23 ½ hours – Dr Mike Evans short film on the role of exercise in preventative medicine
youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

and a few facts to bear in mind

- The body is a machine designed for movement. Immobility is bad for the health.
- The R.D. number of steps per day for good metabolism is 10,000; about 2 hours total of general walking about.
- For the desk bound: Set a timer to stand up and sit down again, once every 20 minutes. This has been shown to stimulate hormones that help to prevent the metabolism from becoming sluggish and to keep fat burning.
- The minimum R.D. amount of aerobic exercise for good health is 20-30 minutes a day.

Moderate fat burning exercise
To keep the body fat burning, it is not necessary to go to the gym or take up running etc. (unless you are on a weight loss regime). All you need to do is raise your heart rate for about 20 – 30 minutes and day. Housework can do this and many other activities that keep you slightly out of breath, for about half an hour each day.

If you are not very fit or your life-style is sedentary; simply follow this three minute routine and repeat seven times, once a day - Total time: 21 minutes.

1. Exercise hard for 2 minutes –
(Don’t overdo it: housework, dance or limber up until slightly out of breath; gasping is not good)
2. Rest for one minute.
3. Repeat 7 times.

Good luck and if you keep it up, you will start to look better and feel better about yourself in less than 2 months. Being in control of your own health is such a good feeling; in equal measure, the polar opposite of how you feel now.

Totally agree, some of us need a way into it and starting simple is better than setting yourself up for failure by overreaching - Been there, done that loads of times, slow learner - and one of those pedometers helped me stay aware of steps deficit but they are not necessary if you are time aware.

CarisaSullivan wrote: »

I have decided I will not beat myself up. Small victories. Will get there!!!

Such a good attitude; not to think in terms of success or failure, only the willingness to try and beginning again...and again >ahem<