Weight loss Tips? What is the best exercise for LARGER Women

amberjay0
amberjay0 Posts: 28 Member
I am looking for exercise ideas for the BBW out there

Replies

  • The best way to start is just plain old walking!!
  • eh613c
    eh613c Posts: 14 Member
    The best way to start is just plain old walking!!

    Walking is a great way to start. Also you can try swimming. It's better for the joints.
  • Ashleypeterson37
    Ashleypeterson37 Posts: 347 Member
    Def swimming! Walking is also a great start. Over time just increase your pace and distance.
  • I started off with walking, the elliptical, and the Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD.
  • ambermichk
    ambermichk Posts: 108 Member
    as a big girl i enjoyed the treadmill the best, walking, easiest with good results.... oddly enough the other machines were uncomfortable for me. I wish i had a pool to swim here (or guts to put on a swimsuit). I also enjoyed zumba since i could do it at my pace even in a class
  • I've actually been wondering the same thing. I do my walking but wondering if there is more I could be doing. No pool for me.
  • cloneme_losehalf
    cloneme_losehalf Posts: 356 Member
    I was suggested to try using toning/resistance bands and water aerobics. I was told it was even better on the joints than walking. There are even exercise that can be done from a chair so not to put more strain on the joints than the daily living does. I was also told to do wall push ups until I was comfortable doing floor pushups.
  • polar135
    polar135 Posts: 319 Member
    start with walking, timed, 20 minutes, then 30 and try to power walk a block at a time so you can pick up speed as you get more comfortable.
  • ltoro
    ltoro Posts: 10 Member
    I started off with walking, the elliptical, and the Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD.
    Hi there what is this Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD? is it any good?
  • I started off with walking, the elliptical, and the Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD.

    how was the power walk dvd i got it but waiting for the colder weather to start. was it a great workout.?
  • ltoro
    ltoro Posts: 10 Member
    Walking is great.
  • The key is to find something that YOU like to do...if it is walking, then great. If not, then as long as you are moving you are being successful! Just be patient, be consistent (move regularly). I cannot stand to do the same thing every time so one day I run, one day I walk one day I bike with the kids, one day I dance with video games. The object is to OUTPUT not burn out!...Check the cardiovascular list for ideas that might interest you and be realistic. GOOD LUCK!!!
  • ncole3
    ncole3 Posts: 164
    As BBW myself, walking for 45-60 minutes is a great start...not only for exercise but for your heart health and endurance. You can start adding strength training 2-3 times after 1-2 weeks.
  • cnsmith2
    cnsmith2 Posts: 539 Member
    can do walking, if you just need some place to start, though I highly recommend water aerobics or an elliptical machine if you have access to a gym. I've found for me anyway that I can burn a lot more calories doing anything in the pool than I could on a machine or walking simply because it doesn't bother my joints as much and it is more of a full body workout rather than just walking.

    p.s. it's fun too. :D
  • bcweisen
    bcweisen Posts: 118 Member
    I actually love the Walk Away the Pounds videos. It's like having access to cardio machines at home. It's not just walking, but kicked up walking with a little resistance exercise as well. It doesn't require a lot of coordination, but it really makes you sweat. Plus, when my oldest child was napping, I could just pop it in and get to work. Only 30 minutes a day, 4-5x/week I was able to lose all her extra baby weight in a few months. It's harder to do now that I have 3 kids and am pregnant, but still great to sweat at home.
  • I agree with everyone else. Hi I'm new here but not new to exercising and losing weight. Walking is the best and most inexpensive exercise there is. One thing that usually motivates a newbie is that walking will help the belly fat not just the legs. If you can't walk outside Leslie Sansone walk away the pounds dvds are great as well. I'm like 280 my walking partner is about 340 and previously before we fell off the wagon we both lost about 30-40 pounds and we just did walking and dvds for exercise. So it's not about how fast but the time 30 minutes daily. Start at 10-15 minutes maybe 2x a day and work your way up. Hope this helps and encourages you to get moving.
  • hummzz
    hummzz Posts: 385 Member
    I started with working out at 5 minutes at a time several times a day until I got more endurance. I am still a BBW but can move a bit more now. I also made all my physical activities into workouts. Like cleaning the house became vacuuming while dancing or vigorously scrubbing floors. I also would make it a point to climb my stairs several times when doing laundry or whenever I had to go down to my basement.

    Now I workout on my elliptical, stair climber and a CardioFit machine. I LOVE this machine. You sit on it and you do full body crunches that are low impact if that what you need. I also have home DVD's I do. Step Aerobics (start out at 5-10 mins then work your way up from there), Zumba is always fun and a great workout and Yoga is definitely a must have!

    Also Gold's Gym makes this resistant band gym that fits on your door. It comes with a exercise guide and dvd as well. I think I paid $20 for mine.

    Hope this helps! Good luck!!!!
  • goochinator
    goochinator Posts: 383 Member
    Can't ad much to what others have said...I agree with walking and swimming and water aerobics. But I'm also going to add this: Don't let a larger size body stop you from trying new things. If you belong to a gym, check out the classes. Most, if not all of them will have adaptations for those who cannot do the same moves as a small fitness instructor~ and that's okay! I too ama larger body and I do all the classes I want, because I know to modify for what I can do. If it's a zumba class, modify the moves to slower or lesser to what is comfy for you. I can guarantee if you push yourself to your own personal limit, you will burn calories!! I do these classes at my gym and trust me when I say I'm usually about twice as big as anyone in the room, but I don't care. I burn calories doing what I can, even if the steps/moves arent right/complete, I still am working it hard.
  • I started off with walking, the elliptical, and the Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD.

    how was the power walk dvd i got it but waiting for the colder weather to start. was it a great workout.?

    The Biggest Loser Power Walk has four levels and then a rest period where you do some light stretching. It's fantastic. Each level is only one mile but it increases intensity as you go through the levels. The first level was murder when I started, but it's low impact, shows modified moves, and is really motivating. The second level has weights, so I use three pound weights (sometimes five). It's just really awesome if you're first starting. I even use it on my rest days so I at least get some cardio in. Each mile is about fifteen minutes, so you can find time to do one in the morning and one at night. And from there, things just got better, so it's worth it!
  • saintspoon
    saintspoon Posts: 242 Member
    I love the elliptical! The first time you're on it you'll like turn purple & almost pass out LOL but once you get used to it .. it's awesome! it makes you feel like you're floating in a beautiful smooth motion :) you won't feel fat at all!
  • HeatherShrinking
    HeatherShrinking Posts: 776 Member
    I joined a gym and they had an optional fitness assessment. I was nervous to do it, but a nice trainer went around to all the machines with me and showed me how to use them. He also had tips on how to make them more comfortable to use for larger women. Like on the leg press machine, if you recline the back of the machine a bit your tummy doesn't get in the way.

    And like everyone else said, walking. I like the C25K program (Couch to 5K). It gets you ready for a 5k by having you build up your endurance by doing increments of running or faster walking during your walk.
  • GrammyWhammy
    GrammyWhammy Posts: 484 Member
    Before you begin exercising, think about your overall fitness. Do you have any orthopedic issues, like arthritis or injuries? How about your cardiac health? If your Dr. okays an exercise program, you could first start simply by walking. In fact, before doing any other exercises including weight training, a gentle warm-up, like walking, is important. If you're walking in your neighborhood, look up walkrunjog on the web and plot your route. You can figure speed and time and make up alternate routes. Mall walking, especially in the heat we're experiencing in the SW, or walking on a treadmill, is great too. That's what I do. Start very cautiously, perhaps 5 minutes every other day, the first week. Increase a minute or 2 every other time after that until you can walk for 30 minutes. Then try to increase your speed. I first started at about 2 mph. Because I have knee issues, I will only walk 2.5-3 mph.

    Once you walk a bit, then try using free weights. Don't be embarassed to start with small weights. At a cardiac rehab they start everyone, men and women, with 1-pound weights. Look up some simple weight exercises on the web, like bicep curls, pectoral flys, etc. Begin slowly and gradually increase repetitions and sets, then move up to 3, 5, and 7.5 pound weights.

    I now work with a trainer, have since March. I was in terrible shape and could barely walk up steps. I told her I wouldn't respond well to a "Jillian" type trainer and wouldn't do things that made me sick or hurt. The results are STUNNING. I am able to walk up steps without pain, get up and down from chairs far easier, and my back pain is gone.

    There are plenty of other options: yoga (but if you have trouble getting on the floor and back up, you may need to wait), recumbent cycling (I do this--very effective and easy on my knees and back), the eliptical (I started this last week at 2 minutes, ramp 3, and can now last 5 minutes), and more. My daughter's a Pilates instructor and wants to work with me, but I'm waiting until I'm stronger and more flexible. I have also done the Curves circuit, which is fun too.

    This last thing, which I really love and has helped immeasurably, is water aerobics and water walking. If you have access to a pool, go for it. It's great for joints and YOU DON'T SWEAT! And, you really do get a workout. Several years ago I lost 100 pounds and water aerobics (3xweekly) helped greatly. If you don't have a pool, check with your local recreation department or Y.

    If I can do it, YOU SURELY CAN!
  • IMYarnCraz33
    IMYarnCraz33 Posts: 1,016 Member
    Walk at Home (Leslie Sansone dvd's) is also a good "walk"
    you 'walk' 1 mile in 15 minutes.
    I was so heavy when I first started that I had to do it mostly sitting down.
    I was also doing leg lifts and bicep/tricep exercises that I remembered from
    a video I have that's packed away. (Bun Busters Total Body workout).

    Here's a link to the WAH video I do. there are 3 vids on the page.
    I do the one on the left. I do plan on buying some of her vids, just can't atm.
    http://www.walkathome.com/try-walk-at-home/
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    The one you will do consistently. No matter how great an exercise can be, if it ain't done, then it's useless.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If you haven't been exercising at all, I'd start with walking and work up to a power walk. Once you have built up some stamina try different things until you find something you find fun, because that will be the one you stick with.
  • Nina74
    Nina74 Posts: 470 Member
    When I started, I hadn't exercised in YEARS and I was over 300. I started with walking and elliptical. I could barely do 3 mins on the elliptical without dying. My trainer set goals to get to 15 mins the first week adn 30 mins the second week. By the end of week two I was at 30 mins. After a bit of feeling more into a routine I started spin class (yes, even at my size). For me, it was a huge motivator because it wasn't boring, there was always something new and it was low impact on my body but high-impact on my fat! :-)

    Just find something that you LIKE to do, set goals and you will be more likely to stick with it.
  • The best way to start is just plain old walking!!

    This or swimming. Water aerobics is fun too and very easy on the joints.
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