Confused, Exhausted and Discouraged:(

Well, I have been on my weight loss journey for about 2 weeks now. I started working out for around 15 min. for three days a week. I assumed I would be burning a lot of calories and was shocked to find that a lot of the members here work out for 2 hours, 5 days a week! I'm begining to feel discouraged because I thought I was doing such a great job with working out, and now, im unsure as to what I should be doing! Before I started on MFP, I was frankly sedentary and extremely lazy, I attend school online so you can imagine exactly how active I actually was. Can anyone help me to get on the right path as far as excercising goes? how many calories should I burn a day?

Start by walking an hour a day, PLUS add weights for 15 minutes, then gradually increase your time. While any exercise is better than no exercise, you aren't going to be getting results working out 45 minutes a week. At least not the results of many of the inspirational members on here.

Get a heart rate monitor. If you're strapped for time, make time...and look into HIIT.

Dont get discouraged! Everyone starts somewhere. I didnt start out exercising 2 hours a day. I started out with the 30 day Shred which is only about 25 minutes and I took breaks, lol. Also, dont compare yourself to others. If 15 minutes is all the time you have right now then be glad that it is 15 minutes more than you were doing before. You will work your way up to a longer workout if that is what you want to do...and the more you exercise the more you will want to exercise.

The number 1 mistake I see ppl make who start out in the fat loss game is comparing themselves to others. You need to focus on what works for you and keep on that path, fat loss is about what works for you that is why there is no quick short cuts or miracle weight loss methods. At its core it is simply burning more than you take in, you just need to use common sense and listen to the body. A 15 min workout for beginner is fine, if you were to start out doing 2 hr workouts you will be ready to quit or overeat. My advice is to do it in baby steps and take your time, you did not gain the excess weight overnight nor will you shed it overnight, but little by little you will find your way to a healthier happier you.

The most important thing you can do is move at a pace that gets you moving. If 15 minutes a workout is what you are comfortable doing/what your body can handle at the moment, then go with it! I found that when I started on MFP, I did about 20-(maybe)30 minute workouts once or twice a week. What got me to increase my workout time and frequency was when I learned that working out could be fun and not a chore. I suggest finding someone to workout with, finding a workout that you LOVE (aka Zumba..that's my fav) and just doing what you can for as long as you can. I bet you'll find that, out of the blue, you'll be working out longer and enjoying it more. Keep telling yourself that at least you're working out...that you're doing something besides sitting around. You can do it!!!!!!!!! Good luck! :bigsmile:

Don't be discouraged, you have gone from not exercising to exercising. That is a great mental and physical acheivement and you should be congratulated for making this change.
Now you know that you CAN exercise, just gradually increase the amount. You don't have to be doing hours of exercise every day, it just isn't necessary in order to lose weight and get healthier.
Walking is a great exercise - many of the articles I've read say that 30 mins brisk walking each day will keep you fit and healthy.
If you want to do more, that's fine but don't think that you HAVE to sweat it out for hours each day to lose weight, you don't.

How do you eat an elephant? ONE BITE AT A TIME.

If you try to start off working out 2 hours a day, you'll get frustrated and give up. I started a week ago. The first couple of days, I did 15 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes of strength training at the lowest weight on the machines. I only did 20 ab crunches. I started adding 10 more crunches a day; today I did 50! If you work out too hard the first day or two, you'll be sore and not want to do anything. It's better to start with the 15 minutes if that's all you can do. Gradually add 5-10 minutes every few days. If you build up to it, you can avoid injury and doing more than you can handle.

I'd start with 30 minutes four times a week. If you're very sedentary, any exercise is good for you!!

When I started, there is no way I could work out for more than 30 minutes at a time. I'm up to an hour comfortably on a treadmill (and can happily lift weights for the same amount of time) but anything over that gets tough.

Start small and you have less chance of failure, injury, and burnout. Slowly increase your time and intensity and YOU WILL GET THERE. Stop looking at what everyone else is doing and concentrate on yourself. Try to out-do what you did last week. Stay on the bike for an extra five minutes. Lift another set of weights. Walk a little faster. Push yourself.

I know you can do it... cos I was lazy, and very sedentary.... And now I can run a little bit!!

To just get started is a great job! Don't worry about what every one else is doing at this point. Find yourself in your workout. Enjoy the beginning of this exploration!

I'm not sure who works out 2 hrs a day...I certainly don't. I probably run a couple times a week and do some free weights. I've never belonged to a gym in my life, and I'm maybe 6-7 lbs more than I weighed in high school.

You do, however, have to become religious about entering your calories. There just is no other way. MFP takes into account your lifestyle so you should lose weight no matter how much exercise you do. Yes, it helps to do more but if you stay at or under your calorie goal you should be ok.

It helps to go to Settings > Diary Settings > Diary Sharing and change it to Public. That way we can see what you are eating and offer help when the need arises.

Don't be discouraged! I just recently signed up to this site, and I hate "going to the gym". I do want to lose weight, but if it means 2 hours of working out 5 days a week, I think I'll pass! There are so many other things I want to do with my time:) Instead, I'm just trying to get out for a walk each day with my baby in the stroller, and I'm usually walking for a purpose (i.e. I walk to the grocery store, but take a long, indirect route to make the walk longer). I've started working in a bit of weight-training (i.e. squats and lunges while holding my 20 lbs son). I'm trying to be more active in general (i.e. stand while folding laundry rather than sitting, take the stairs rather than the elevator). Most importantly, I am more concious about what I eat and I am tracking honestly. I have been doing this for about 15 days, and I've already seen results!

We are all different - different body types, goals, lifestyles, situations - but I hope my example shows you that you don't have to spend your life "working out" to lose some weight and get healthier. Be proud of YOUR progress - going from sedentary to 15 minutes of exercise a day is moving in the right direction!

Hope this helps...