Encouragement for those starting an exercise program

I started or actually restarted exercising in January, 2010. Now I have been a desk jockey for about 20 years. Several times I have done some pretty consistent exercising but then something would come along and I would fall off the wagon.

I first signed up with a gym. There I would work out with some weights but mostly it was the treadmill. I somewhat feared the elliptical. I guess I was unsure of my stamina and rightly so. I stayed away for the most part from the stationary bike as well. The reason being it didn't burn enough calories. Then I also didn't work the torso because well that was work.

Eventually I did move to the elliptical and did okay. After a few months of this I decided I would go for a walk on what is called the Pennsy trail. It's an old abandoned railroad that was paved over.

My first time out I had calf pain and shin splints. I was miserable. Then I realized I needed to do two things, get a better pair of tennis shoes and stretch. The shoe helped considerably. The stretching seemed a temporary fix. The next time out I stretched quite a bit. It was still miserable but the stretching allowed me to continue.

Then the worse happened, I had lower back pain. No stretching or shoes seemed to help that. My legs would readily freeze and I literally could not take another step. I would stop and thankfully the pain would ease up but then a few more steps and it was back in full force. This went on for 8 months. I started thinking I was crippled in some way. I endured but I honestly thought a doctor's visit was needed. This was before I joined MFP btw.

So here is what I learned. You have to work the core and that means crunches, setups, working the obliques and the back. The sooner you do this when you start the better off you will be. Then I thought about the difference between the treadmill and walking or hiking. You can't lean when you hike or walk. So you have to actually get out of the gym or use an inside track if they have one. There is another difference between the treadmill and walking outside. The treadmill is low impact. It has some cushion. I would suggest a good pair of walking shoes and to start on a soft surface outdoors. Especially use a soft surface if you are starting to jog. I just learned this a couple of weeks ago. Lordy was I sore for 2 days.
The last thing I can think to do is to do what you are already here for, lose weight. I was and am morbidly obese but losing the weight has really helped.

It was in November of 2010 that I walked the Pennsy trail for the first time pain free. It was beautiful.

I wish you all success.