What exercises would be good to start that are low impact?

peasgarden
peasgarden Posts: 148 Member
edited May 2022 in Getting Started
Hi everyone! I'd love to again build a healthy routine eating healthy and doing exercise.
A couple of years ago, I used to be very active, enjoyed doing pilates, low impact cardio, dance, walking, and lifting weights and my health was stable. With grad school, my healthy habits declined a bit. I haven't been that active and my health is paying the cost, I feel very tired a lot of the time and rely on caffeine which also doesn't help.

I'm reducing my coffee consumption. Just take one cup a day.
I'm also intentionally drinking 8 glasses of water.
I'm limiting processed canned foods.
I'm trying to sleep 8 hours per night.

Now with exercise, I would like to go little by little. What exercises would be a good start that are low impact?
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Replies

  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,533 Member
    By "low impact" I presume you mean easy on your joints, especially your knees. Some options spring immediately to mind:

    Walking - not power-walking or speed-walking, just non-stop walking. Up and down hills is great, but even just flat walking works. Evening strolls after dinner, with or without a dog, help. Parking at the far end of the parking lot and walking into the store/work adds a small amount each day, which adds up.

    Elliptical - I find the elliptical machine far easier on my knees than running or even biking, yet I can get my heart rate up pretty high.

    Swimming - This can mean swimming laps, or simply wading through waist-deep water. The resistance of the water adds a bit of a strengthening element as well.

    Yoga - no personal experience, but some people swear by it to help increase flexibility, balance, and in certain poses strength/stamina.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    walking, biking, swimming
  • DiscoveringLisa
    DiscoveringLisa Posts: 112 Member
    Walking. Long walks. I do it everyday, it's good for your body and mind ☺️
  • IAmTheGlue
    IAmTheGlue Posts: 701 Member
    Why are you drinking less coffee? Coffee is super good for you. Maybe not the cream and sugar but coffee itself is protective of your liver and has antioxidants. Even decaf!

    Back to you actual question:

    Walking
    Yoga
    Tía Chi
    Elliptical
    Water aerobics
    Swimming


    Good luck to you! You’ve found an awesome, supportive place to be!
  • JaysFan82
    JaysFan82 Posts: 853 Member
    I swim laps 4-5 days a week and I'm down 50 pounds since the end of February. It's been life changing.
  • Xellercin
    Xellercin Posts: 924 Member
    I would recommend just trying things and seeing if they feel good.

    I have to do low-impact exercise due to severe joint issues, and I have TONS of things I do. I have a few hours of gentle PT exercises to choose from every day, I used to walk back when I could walk, I swim, I do clinical Pilates (Pilates for people with messed up bodies), weighted hula hoop, elliptical back when I could do elliptical, gentle weight lifting, dance back when I could do dance, basic body weight exercises, tai chi, resistance bands, stair climbing back when I could climb stairs, really anything that was active and felt good for my body.
  • gpanda103
    gpanda103 Posts: 189 Member
    Generally the more walking and standing you can do, the better. The majority of my movement throughout the day is me standing or walking. I’d set a step goal, and slowly work it up to something that works for you. Eventually you can get too many steps, but you would have to try pretty hard to get there
  • MsCzar
    MsCzar Posts: 1,070 Member
    I LOOOVE rebounding!
    https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/nasa-the-trampoline-and-you/
    I started with just 2-4 minutes a day. It was all I could manage. Now I can keep up a fast pace for 30 minutes without losing my breath. I have had double hip replacements and the mini-trampoline is super gentle on the joints while burning big time calories.
  • mylaineriobe
    mylaineriobe Posts: 4 Member
    Hi! Sounds like you were already doing great exercises before grad school, so why reinvent the wheel? You can resume your pilates, but just start with an instructor who can ease you back in. If you loved these exercises before and still would gravitate to them, just ease back in at a slower pace than before and gradually increase the intensity as tolerated. Listen to your body and make sure you feed your workouts with good, clean protein and some carbs before and after. Warm up and stretch before and after as well. You've already got this - don't sell yourself short! Best wishes on your journey!
  • azuki84
    azuki84 Posts: 212 Member
    Walking and swimming is a good place to start

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