Exercising when obese
TheRobotsAreComing
Posts: 26 Member
Obese, unfit people - what exercise/fitness activities do you do?
I've been doing a boot camp thing for the past 6 weeks which won't be carrying on after Christmas so I'm on the hunt for new activites. Which is probably a good thing because the boot camp has been horrendous to be honest with you.
My fitness levels are very low and there are a lot of things my body physically can't do. I'm looking for something that I can do even at my size that will get me moving and build up my fitness.
What worked for you? What did you enjoy most?
I've been doing a boot camp thing for the past 6 weeks which won't be carrying on after Christmas so I'm on the hunt for new activites. Which is probably a good thing because the boot camp has been horrendous to be honest with you.
My fitness levels are very low and there are a lot of things my body physically can't do. I'm looking for something that I can do even at my size that will get me moving and build up my fitness.
What worked for you? What did you enjoy most?
2
Replies
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For me it was simply walking and later on C25K.5
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I'm not obese now, but I was when I started being active, and at that point I was also very, very physically depleted: Very sedentary job and lifestyle, had just completed nearly a year of treatment for advanced-stage cancer (surgery, chemo, radiation, etc.).
I gradually got more active, and within a few years was reasonably fit, training 6 days most weeks - even competing athletically, something I'd not done earlier in life, even getting some age-group place medals in local/regional races. But I stayed obese, just over the line into class 1, for nearly 15 years, despite a pretty robust fitness routine.
At first, I started with very gentle exercise, a form of yoga that was dynamic (but not power yoga), classes a couple of times a week. Shortly after, I started practicing at home for a few minutes daily, gradually increasing that to around half an hour most days. I moved on to some other group classes, trying various things. A weight training class for women (classic rep/set type workouts, not dance-y high-rep stuff) was something I stuck with for a couple of years or so. I figured out that I could still ride a bike, got a new bike, and started doing that sometimes. (At first, 5 miles seemed like a huge challenge, and it was all pretty flat, and paved.)
It was about that time that I discovered rowing, via a new rowing team being formed locally for breast cancer survivors. It was challenging, but doable. (I have terrible knees from decades of overweight/obesity, so I avoid things that are high impact, involve twisting/torque on my knees - rowing and biking work well.) In the off season, at first, I did some low-impact aerobics workouts, plus team practices a couple of times a week.
Within a year, I was rowing routinely, gradually increasing intensity, duration. I joined the local rowing club, rowed on water 2-4 days a week, took adult learn to swim lessons (rowers need to swim for safety). I bought a rowing machine so I could do that at home in Winter. I started taking spin classes at the Y, and tried various other things, like kettlebell classes, and other group fitness things.
By a couple of years later, I rowed in races (on water and machine), went to rowing camps on vacation (I was really scared the first time I went to a one-week camp, worried I wouldn't cut it. It was challenging, but OK. We rowed several hours daily, did a lot of walking, some other activities. I got tired, but kept up.)
About 6.5 years ago, I finally lost weight from obese to healthy weight, and continued what had been my routine for a few years: Rowing on water 4 days a week in season, rowing machine several days a week in Winter (but lower volume then when on water), 2 days of spin classes all year long, some off season strength training and occasional swimming, some yoga/stretching and core workouts. With the pandemic, I dropped the spin classes, did more outdoor bike riding in season, got a stationary bike at home, kept mixing in the other stuff as I felt like it. (Now, a 15-20 mile bike ride is easy, routine.) That's where I am now, at age 66.
My advice would be to consider whether you have any personal limitations (like the bad knees are for me), then simply try things (classes, videos, low investment individual activities) that respect those limitations, until you find something that you truly enjoy.
Give each thing you try enough time to get past the newbie blues: The things that are easy and feel achievable right away tend to get boring fast, in my opinion; whereas things that seem almost impossible at first - but don't threaten/cause injury - can hold my interest for a long time. In group situations, it can seem like everyone else there is good at X, and I'm not. But I've learned that they were all new at X at some point, too, and the ones who aren't jerks remember that and will be supportive (and who cares what the few jerks think, y'know? 😉).
As you dig into some thing(s) you enjoy, those will probably lead you into other complementary activities, in the way that rowing led me to improve my swimming, for example. As you get fitter, additional things will become doable, be more fun. It's a slippery slope in a positive direction!
As an overall philosophy, I suggest starting with something that's enjoyable (at least tolerable!), on a schedule and at an intensity that's just a manageable bit of a challenge. Then, as fitness improves, gradually increase duration, intensity, or frequency to keep that bit of challenge in the picture.
Eventually, you may need to change some activities, if you want to do things that keep contributing to progress: I stopped doing the low-impact aerobics videos after a few years, because they just didn't get my heart rate up high enough anymore to be useful (even though I was still obese then); and they were fun, but not so fun that I felt motivated to do them with minimal fitness benefits..
It's challenge that creates fitness progress. Patient challenge avoids injury (avoids the need to but take time off to heal, detraining while healing). heh en
Not going to exhausting extremes - just that manageable challenge - is a good complement to weight loss, IMO: You want to feel energized after workouts, not exhausted for the rest of your day, other than maybe just a few minutes of a "whew" feeling right after the workout. Overdoing causes fatigue, bleeds calories out of daily life activity (rest more, do less) - that would be counterproductive.
Just start where you are, increase challenge gradually, find the fun: You'll surprise yourself with how far that takes you, with time.
Best wishes!9 -
I love my rebounder (mini-trampoline). 6 stone/85 lbs ago, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without sweating and panting for breath. I started with just 3-5 minutes a day of a high stepping march on the trampoline and sloooowly worked my way up to 8-10 minutes. I remember when 8 minutes felt like such a victory!
I am not young, have had double hip replacements and a wee bit of arthritis in one knee - so I wanted an effective joint-friendly exercise with a high calorie burn. Today I still work out on my rebounder nearly every day for 30-40 minutes and have added some free weight floor exercises to my improve muscle tone.4 -
I started walking. It's so hard when you're big. Chafing, chub rub whatever you call it is horrible, and can hurt. However, I promise it does get better. I started off just short, flat walks. Then I found a great yoga book which gave adaptations for beginners. So I incorporated that most days after my walk. Soon my walks were getting longer and longer and I began incorporating some hills.
After about 8 months of walking, I joined a gym with an endless pool (private) where no-one could see you swimming so I swam as well.
I began using the different stationary bikes, and soon could work up a decent sweat on those.
Then I started "pump" which I disliked at first but now really enjoy once a week.
Two years later, 60kg down, I'm jogging, walking, strength training, tramping (hiking) and biking. For me, variety is the key.
Find one thing you like, stick with it and when you're comfortable and confident, branch out and try different things.7 -
For your joints the pool would be optimal--even just walking in the water, but I realize that most obese don't want to be seen in a swimsuit. So, I'd agree, that walking is the best because you can slowly modify it as you better yourself. There are programs that you can follow "Couch to 5K" is one that comes to mind.
With that said, whatever you do has to be something that you enjoy so that you will stick with it. Exercise just becomes part of your life. Wishing you the best of luck.5 -
When I was at my heaviest I was riding 15 to 20 miles a day on a road bike, around hilly Seattle. I was obese if you used BMI to judge, but wasn't particularly unfit, and was younger so had more energy. 🙂
To lose weight, I kept the cycling up, and started eating less. It wasn't even intentional at first, but once I noticed I was losing weight I decided to really do it.
I think @snowflake954 is right, if you're looking for an exercise to take up as part of this journey, swimming and walking are excellent choices - if you enjoy them. You can drive to a nice place and walk there, we have parks on the shore and it's a lot easier to enjoy walking there vs around my neighborhood.4 -
Come and check us out on the 2022 Winter 5% Challenge. Quite a few of us started out in a position of where moving was point blank HARD!! So we have a lot of experience, and are willing to cheer anyone who wishes to lose weight or maintain. I started out at 288 and 97% of the time using a power chair. I am HAPPY to say I gave that away almost 4 years ago!! WOOHOO!! I can now walk, I am in pain still, but much less without 100 lbs hanging on my poor body. I'm also in heart failure. But, I can exercise, I just need to be careful and not do to much, nor to slack off. LOL Inside is still that person I was before who'd rather not move around. At first as said it was NOT easy,, shoot I laid on my bed just moving my arms and legs. Come and check us out.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/141880-2022-winter-5-challenge-community3 -
When I was obese I started out with walking.
It was difficult- but it gets easier.
Start slowly and get some good shoes.
Working your way up to hills and hikes with different terrain.
Then I bought a bike (outdoors)
This was a game changer - I found that I loved it!
It was difficult and I used to get off and push it uphill - but like everything it gets easier.
I found that exercise outside is so great for my well being too.
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Walking is a great place to start when you have a low level of fitness. I started out walking and kept doing so until I could walk 3 miles per day 6-7 days per week without issue. Once I could do that I started a C25K plan which was 3x per week and continued walking on my non training plan days. I also started working in the weight room about 4 months into my exercise and weight loss diet. Over the course of my weight loss I ran in a few 5K running events.
It took me about 8 months to lose 40 Lbs. When I went to maintenance I felt that I was in good enough physical condition to try my hand at a sprint triathlon. I never ended up completing it as I was injured a couple of weeks before my event, but I did discover a love for cycling. I never really much liked running, it was just something I did because that's what I saw other fit and healthy people doing...but discovering the bike was a game changer and I never looked back.
I spent the better part of 5 years doing various endurance cycling events...mostly 1/2 century rides. I did one full century, and that was a bit much for me. I had to back off of that kind of training a couple of years ago though, namely due to other things in my life becoming much busier...but I still ride quite a bit and I'm going to start doing events again in 2022, but mostly it will be 1/4 century rides.
Moral of the story, fitness is something that is built up slowly over time. When I first started losing weight and exercising regularly, never in my wildest dreams did I think a couple of years down the road I would be doing 50 and 100 mile bike rides.4 -
When my fitness levels have been very low in the past I had a very simple routine
Push ups, jack knives (or sit ups), air squats, and a walk. As my health improved I added more reps/sets/length, and eventually started repeating the basic calisthenics after the walk as well.
The key is to be kind to yourself. When I was very out of shape I would be so exhausted from that routine that I would immediately crash and sleep for the rest of the day. With consistency and dedication it will slowly get better until you're at the point that it was a distant memory.0 -
Walking is really good and if you have access to a fitness center with a swimming pool, aquarobics is really good and fun. I hope you find something you like to do. That is very important to stick with it.1
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Many people have mentioned walking, which is great, but is sometimes difficult, particularly for heavy people.
If walking is difficult for you, don't despair, you can start with stationary bike. A recumbent stationary bike is particularly weight-friendly and is a great place to start. You can buy your own for pretty cheap (e.g., Sunny Health and Fitness) or go use one in a gym. (Make some friends in the real world!) You can do it while watching Netflix, you can follow a free "spinning" workout on YouTube, or you can pay for the Peloton app (with or without buying their hardware).
The Peloton app is pretty cool: For $13/month you get live and recorded coaching for a wide range of classes, including spinning. A number of the smart TVs offer the app, so you don't have to do it on a computer. (Unfortunately, not Samsung as of yet. It works well on Ipad, which you can connect to your TV pretty easily.) Some people find it much more motivating to have scheduled "live action" workouts, which the app offers. (I have no affiliation with Peloton and I don't commonly use the app myself, but I have one friend who raves about it.)
https://www.onepeloton.com/app
I haven't tried this bike, but it looks fine to me for beginners:
https://sunnyhealthfitness.com/collections/bikes/products/sunny-health-and-fitness-sf-rb4616-magnetic-recumbent-bike-exercise-bike-300lb-capacity-easy-adjustable-seat-monitor-pulse-rate-monitoring2 -
When I was obese I would have died doing a bootcamp class. I think I did one around a year in and just about died, LOL.
Walking, stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical. If you want more of a challenge, maybe hire a trainer for a couple of weight sessions or try a spin class.
Just be consistent with it and don't do too much too fast. You can see amazing improvements in your ability/fitness over time. I'm currently considering joining a bootcamp type of gym (F45). 15 years ago, when I started working out again, there's no way I would have thought about this. But if nothing, I'm super consistent and have gotten fitter and fitter over time. You will too if you keep up with it but going too fast will set you back and make you want to quit.
Weight loss (and fitness) are marathons, not sprints!5 -
I walked on the treadmill at the gym or outdoors, and I did some snowshoeing. But my main exercise was a deep water running class at the pool. The hardest part is walking across the pool deck to the water the first time. But then you realize that a) no one is actually looking at you and b) many of the people in the class are similar in size and fitness level. What I love about DWR is that you make it as hard or as easy as you want because no one can really see what you're doing. So it ends up being an activity that progresses with you because as you get fitter, you just do the exercises with more intensity.
Due to COVID I hadn't been to a class in nearly two years but recently a friend asked me to go with her (Instead of the pool I had been doing other things like running, weights, yoga, kayaking, dragon boating, hiking, cross country skiing, etc). I had honestly forgotten what a great workout DWR can be, because like I said earlier, you make it as difficult or as easy as you want it to be.
BTW, I am impressed that you did a bootcamp. I certainly couldn't have tackled that when I was obese. Good job!3 -
Try the Get Back Up. It's just what it says it is. If need be use a small stool to lean on when first starting. Great overall functional strength builder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_DoicHg2E 3 -
The most helpful thing I have done is go to a physical therapist for an evaluation. They know a ton about body mechanics and where you have strength imbalances and they're used to working with people who have no-to-low conditioning. My PT gave me some really good core and body awareness exercises that have made a huge difference in how I move day-to-day and have helped me move on to more challenging types of workouts.5
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Well, IDK if it is allowed, I was barely able to walk or hike even though I was physically able to, if that makes sense. I knew I needed to ju7st up my cardio a bit. I came across this lady Amy on Youtube and got started on a 10, perhaps 7 min aerobic workout thingy. Of course, I couldn't finish. But, eventually, I was able. I have fallen off the wagon and this here person is going to be my go-to. Best wishes1
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Start slowly. Walking is a great form of exercise. When you are ready add more. Start with stationary exercises like deadlift. Wildman Athletica has a recommended approach for obese people.0
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I was a highly accomplished couch potato and at 5'8" / 235 lbs overweight & severely out of shape.
Like many others I started out with walking. I lost some weight and felt pretty good until I started playing soccer again at which point I learned that wlaking wasn't going to give me the level of fitness that I needed to play a full 90 minutes (our old timers league didn't usually have a lot of subs, between family & work commitments / injuries we often had 12 or 13 players show up) so I started running.
Also like many of us I grew up hating running. Phys ed teachers & coaches love to use it as a punishment. What really surprised me was that running by myself at my own pace was incredibly enjoyable. I'm fortunate to have beautiful recreational paths just a few hundred metres from my front door.
Long story short, the fitter I got the more I felt like challenging myself. I got a rowing machine, bought a bike & joined a triathlon club and the rest is history.
I'm not sure how reliable the Garmin app is but according to it my fitness age is more than 20 years younger than my chronological age.
OP do you have access to classes (spinning, yoga, etc)? (I know, the pandemic might not be the best time to be joining indoor group activities) Is there a running store near you? Many of them host (often free) learn to run types of programs? Is there a walking group in your area? Joining a group can provide the accountability that some people thrive on.
Focus on activities that you can do for the long term, be consistent & have fun.2 -
Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-7tFXtaEo
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Joechuks01 wrote: »Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out: (link to questionable video deleted).
Those are basic exercises, but not (for many people) true beginner exercises. Pushups, planks, squats, mountain climbers and burpees - the ones in the video - can be good exercises generically speaking.
People who are very out of shape are likely to to require preparatory exercises to progress toward some or all of those, and the video makes no mention of that as a possibility.
Further, for some actually obese beginners, some of these exercises can create risk of injury, such as back or shoulder injury. I admit, I got bored with the monotone narration, and fast-forwarded through some of the later bits, but I wasn't hearing any cautions about any of those possibilities up to that point.
As a generality, this is emphatically not a good example of beginner exercises for an obese person. It seems like the kind of thing someone might think would be good for obese beginners, if the person doing that thinking has been pretty active for years, maybe now is pretty fit, and who's never (or not recently) been very out of shape or obese.
Can some obese people do some/all of these? Absolutely. (I could, when obese, though the video seems to lack recognition about how mountain climbers in particular are going to work (or not) for someone with substantial excess abdominal fat. 😆)
I'm not trying to set low expectations for obese people. Far from it: I was obese and a competing athlete, and I think our culture overall has too-low expectations about what's possible for obese people athletically, and about the benefits that can be achieved from being fitter even if still obese. But someone who's a true obese beginner doesn't really have a context for knowing (or figuring out) what's safe an appropriate, other than via good guidance from other people. This video is emphatically not that good guidance.
The video has some nice multi-angle photography, and the demonstrator looks pretty fit. It has some spoken reminders about form that are useful. That's about the only positive thing I can say about the video, in this context. It's not that great a video, honestly, overall - kind of average, IMO. Why are you spreading it over so many threads here? Is it your video? Are you compensated for promoting it?3 -
Joechuks01 wrote: »Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out: (link to questionable video deleted).
Those are basic exercises, but not (for many people) true beginner exercises. Pushups, planks, squats, mountain climbers and burpees - the ones in the video - can be good exercises generically speaking.
People who are very out of shape are likely to to require preparatory exercises to progress toward some or all of those, and the video makes no mention of that as a possibility.
Further, for some actually obese beginners, some of these exercises can create risk of injury, such as back or shoulder injury. I admit, I got bored with the monotone narration, and fast-forwarded through some of the later bits, but I wasn't hearing any cautions about any of those possibilities up to that point.
As a generality, this is emphatically not a good example of beginner exercises for an obese person. It seems like the kind of thing someone might think would be good for obese beginners, if the person doing that thinking has been pretty active for years, maybe now is pretty fit, and who's never (or not recently) been very out of shape or obese.
Can some obese people do some/all of these? Absolutely. (I could, when obese, though the video seems to lack recognition about how mountain climbers in particular are going to work (or not) for someone with substantial excess abdominal fat. 😆)
I'm not trying to set low expectations for obese people. Far from it: I was obese and a competing athlete, and I think our culture overall has too-low expectations about what's possible for obese people athletically, and about the benefits that can be achieved from being fitter even if still obese. But someone who's a true obese beginner doesn't really have a context for knowing (or figuring out) what's safe an appropriate, other than via good guidance from other people. This video is emphatically not that good guidance.
The video has some nice multi-angle photography, and the demonstrator looks pretty fit. It has some spoken reminders about form that are useful. That's about the only positive thing I can say about the video, in this context. It's not that great a video, honestly, overall - kind of average, IMO. Why are you spreading it over so many threads here? Is it your video? Are you compensated for promoting it?
I reported a few of these early this morning as advertisement. It's the only video so far on a new YouTube channel, and the business email listed has his last name in it.2 -
TX_Bluebonnet wrote: »Joechuks01 wrote: »Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out: (link to questionable video deleted).
Those are basic exercises, but not (for many people) true beginner exercises. Pushups, planks, squats, mountain climbers and burpees - the ones in the video - can be good exercises generically speaking.
People who are very out of shape are likely to to require preparatory exercises to progress toward some or all of those, and the video makes no mention of that as a possibility.
Further, for some actually obese beginners, some of these exercises can create risk of injury, such as back or shoulder injury. I admit, I got bored with the monotone narration, and fast-forwarded through some of the later bits, but I wasn't hearing any cautions about any of those possibilities up to that point.
As a generality, this is emphatically not a good example of beginner exercises for an obese person. It seems like the kind of thing someone might think would be good for obese beginners, if the person doing that thinking has been pretty active for years, maybe now is pretty fit, and who's never (or not recently) been very out of shape or obese.
Can some obese people do some/all of these? Absolutely. (I could, when obese, though the video seems to lack recognition about how mountain climbers in particular are going to work (or not) for someone with substantial excess abdominal fat. 😆)
I'm not trying to set low expectations for obese people. Far from it: I was obese and a competing athlete, and I think our culture overall has too-low expectations about what's possible for obese people athletically, and about the benefits that can be achieved from being fitter even if still obese. But someone who's a true obese beginner doesn't really have a context for knowing (or figuring out) what's safe an appropriate, other than via good guidance from other people. This video is emphatically not that good guidance.
The video has some nice multi-angle photography, and the demonstrator looks pretty fit. It has some spoken reminders about form that are useful. That's about the only positive thing I can say about the video, in this context. It's not that great a video, honestly, overall - kind of average, IMO. Why are you spreading it over so many threads here? Is it your video? Are you compensated for promoting it?
I reported a few of these early this morning as advertisement. It's the only video so far on a new YouTube channel, and the business email listed has his last name in it.
That's what I figured, those bolded things are rhetorical questions. 😉 And I flagged the post, too.
Meanwhile, I didn't want to add to the possibility that people might be discouraged by not being able to do these "beginner" exercises . . . they're not beginner exercises, universally. Basic in the sense of mainstream, yes. Basic in the sense of universally being suitable for people who may be just starting out in fitness, no.0 -
TX_Bluebonnet wrote: »Joechuks01 wrote: »Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out: (link to questionable video deleted).
Those are basic exercises, but not (for many people) true beginner exercises. Pushups, planks, squats, mountain climbers and burpees - the ones in the video - can be good exercises generically speaking.
People who are very out of shape are likely to to require preparatory exercises to progress toward some or all of those, and the video makes no mention of that as a possibility.
Further, for some actually obese beginners, some of these exercises can create risk of injury, such as back or shoulder injury. I admit, I got bored with the monotone narration, and fast-forwarded through some of the later bits, but I wasn't hearing any cautions about any of those possibilities up to that point.
As a generality, this is emphatically not a good example of beginner exercises for an obese person. It seems like the kind of thing someone might think would be good for obese beginners, if the person doing that thinking has been pretty active for years, maybe now is pretty fit, and who's never (or not recently) been very out of shape or obese.
Can some obese people do some/all of these? Absolutely. (I could, when obese, though the video seems to lack recognition about how mountain climbers in particular are going to work (or not) for someone with substantial excess abdominal fat. 😆)
I'm not trying to set low expectations for obese people. Far from it: I was obese and a competing athlete, and I think our culture overall has too-low expectations about what's possible for obese people athletically, and about the benefits that can be achieved from being fitter even if still obese. But someone who's a true obese beginner doesn't really have a context for knowing (or figuring out) what's safe an appropriate, other than via good guidance from other people. This video is emphatically not that good guidance.
The video has some nice multi-angle photography, and the demonstrator looks pretty fit. It has some spoken reminders about form that are useful. That's about the only positive thing I can say about the video, in this context. It's not that great a video, honestly, overall - kind of average, IMO. Why are you spreading it over so many threads here? Is it your video? Are you compensated for promoting it?
I reported a few of these early this morning as advertisement. It's the only video so far on a new YouTube channel, and the business email listed has his last name in it.
That's what I figured, those bolded things are rhetorical questions. 😉 And I flagged the post, too.
Meanwhile, I didn't want to add to the possibility that people might be discouraged by not being able to do these "beginner" exercises . . . they're not beginner exercises, universally. Basic in the sense of mainstream, yes. Basic in the sense of universally being suitable for people who may be just starting out in fitness, no.
It's good there are people like you keeping an eye out for the community. 👍3 -
TX_Bluebonnet wrote: »TX_Bluebonnet wrote: »Joechuks01 wrote: »Hi,
You can start with some beginner exercises and work your way from there. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
Check this out: (link to questionable video deleted).
Those are basic exercises, but not (for many people) true beginner exercises. Pushups, planks, squats, mountain climbers and burpees - the ones in the video - can be good exercises generically speaking.
People who are very out of shape are likely to to require preparatory exercises to progress toward some or all of those, and the video makes no mention of that as a possibility.
Further, for some actually obese beginners, some of these exercises can create risk of injury, such as back or shoulder injury. I admit, I got bored with the monotone narration, and fast-forwarded through some of the later bits, but I wasn't hearing any cautions about any of those possibilities up to that point.
As a generality, this is emphatically not a good example of beginner exercises for an obese person. It seems like the kind of thing someone might think would be good for obese beginners, if the person doing that thinking has been pretty active for years, maybe now is pretty fit, and who's never (or not recently) been very out of shape or obese.
Can some obese people do some/all of these? Absolutely. (I could, when obese, though the video seems to lack recognition about how mountain climbers in particular are going to work (or not) for someone with substantial excess abdominal fat. 😆)
I'm not trying to set low expectations for obese people. Far from it: I was obese and a competing athlete, and I think our culture overall has too-low expectations about what's possible for obese people athletically, and about the benefits that can be achieved from being fitter even if still obese. But someone who's a true obese beginner doesn't really have a context for knowing (or figuring out) what's safe an appropriate, other than via good guidance from other people. This video is emphatically not that good guidance.
The video has some nice multi-angle photography, and the demonstrator looks pretty fit. It has some spoken reminders about form that are useful. That's about the only positive thing I can say about the video, in this context. It's not that great a video, honestly, overall - kind of average, IMO. Why are you spreading it over so many threads here? Is it your video? Are you compensated for promoting it?
I reported a few of these early this morning as advertisement. It's the only video so far on a new YouTube channel, and the business email listed has his last name in it.
That's what I figured, those bolded things are rhetorical questions. 😉 And I flagged the post, too.
Meanwhile, I didn't want to add to the possibility that people might be discouraged by not being able to do these "beginner" exercises . . . they're not beginner exercises, universally. Basic in the sense of mainstream, yes. Basic in the sense of universally being suitable for people who may be just starting out in fitness, no.
It's good there are people like you keeping an eye out for the community. 👍
Mostly, it's that - being a curmudgeon - I don't like self-promoting BS that fails to add value. But I'm polite. Mostly. 😆1 -
I’m 5’5” and about 260 pounds. I really, really hate the word “obese” and I do NOT personally identify as “obese” (the BMI system is total crap) but I am definitely a plus size girl and having a larger body size has its own challenges when it comes to working out.
I love following this model on YouTube because her size and body type are kind of similar to me but as you can see she can do a serious workout!! I’m not physically ready to do everything she does in this video yet but I think even just starting with one of the moves is a good starting point and then gradually add more as you get more in shape.
Make sure you have really comfy yoga pants that are soft with a lot of stretch! This is really important and will make it a lot more comfortable and easier to feel motivated.
https://youtu.be/V0UBWchfHA8 1 -
I've been a beginner more than once. I'm not sure how obese you are or what your level of fitness actually is, but when I first started, I "ran". I had a 1.5 mile route (and then later 3, 4 and 5 mile routes) that I would "run". More of a jog at a comfortable pace with my dog. But I couldn't run far - the advice I got was to run the length of one song, then walk the next. etc. i couldn't even do that though. So I ran the telephone poles - run the length in between poles, walk the next. I'd set mini goals throughout as I was able - if I felt ok once i hit the pole, I'd go for another pole. Eventually I was just running like a normal person and training for Tough Mudders and half marathons.
You might also start looking at low range spin bikes - I got mine on amazon for like, $300. It's not fancy, but it works well and gets the job done. You can find one in that price range with a weight capacity of up to about 400 lbs, I believe. I have Les Mills on Demand subscription (highly recommend that too) which is why I bought it, but if youre not quite ready for that, it's easy enough to just set it up in front of a tv show and ride for 60 minutes or whatever you can do. If you're in Les Mills, Body Combat can be a nice beginner workout. You just modify what you can't do, and they usually help with that.2 -
I'm 68y.o., obese and have been heavy since 35y.o. my knees are shot and the only thing that is helping me is my recumbent bike. Coupled with leg abduction and adduction exercises this is my primary form of aerobic exercise.
I hope it will get better and less painful once I wear a few pounds off of this carcass of mine. I try and exercise six (6) days a week, about thirty (30) minutes each session.
I'm having to shift my mind and life around Fitness Pal and exercise to make it the priority rather than the after thought.
Good Luck
PolarBearBob1
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