People who were out of shape how did you start?

I started off with riding my bike a few miles everyday, it's low impact and great cardio.

Hi everyone,
I am pretty out of shape and am trying to start working out. I went to a body sculpting class and an aerobics class. After the body sculpting class, I was in pain for 2 whole weeks! It makes it very difficult to continue going to class regularly when I can barely move. Those who are in shape now, how did you start?

Don't feel bad. When I first started working out, I was sore for the first two months. It's just your body building itself back up. Just take baby steps. Start working out every other day to give your body time to rest and rebuild. And I don't know if this will help or not, but when I first started out and didn't want to go out and do anything because I was so sore, I remembered this quote, "Pain is weakness leaving the body."

I started out walking and working with a trainer 2x weekly. Just do it was what I used to tell myself because if I stopped to think, I had a million excuses why I was too busy, too embarrassed, too tired, too sore to go. Instead I put walking or working out on "auto pilot" putting nothing else into my calendar for 2 or 3 mornings a week. I woke up, washed up and dressed comfortably and went to work out on those days with no other thoughts other than just do it then there's a steam room and sauna waiting for you at the end of the workout. Steam room and sauna were my rewards initially.

After a few months I started to notice that I was walking longer and watching what was happening in the gyms hour long classes. I walked into a class one day and to my surprise I made it through the hour. Could I do everything? No way! Did I do what I could? Yes!

This is about three years later. I workout 5 to 6 days a week. I love to do it. I am open to trying different exercise but for me I love both strength training and aerobics. I do both each day if possible. I miss working out and would do it more if time allowed.

Can tell you this; Advil was not enough because I was taking it often so instead I used Naproxin which is Aleve. I used ice if necessary and like I already said, I used steam, whirlpool and sauna which probably helped muscle soreness too. I ached but felt changes that superseded any discomfort. My family dug up old photos last night and they are freaking out at the changes in my physical appearance. Major changes! I am freeaking out every day at the changes on the inside. Major changes!

Also, the soreness as long as it's not from injury goes away as you begin stretching or your next exercise. Just go slow and just do it, you'll be glad you did!

I don't have areas I can walk, or money for a gym, so I started (in march) with jogging in place. I could do a minute at a time, maybe up to two, and id do it several times a day..was easy cuz u can do this anywhere and not have to change clothes, , so while the microwave was counting down id use the timer, or during tv commercials, heck even in the bathroom at work.. I could only do the 1-2minutes because my calf muscles would start hurting or id be out of breath.

I can now do 45minutes straight, with weights in each hand, without getting out of breath, without my calves hurting..but only to 45minutes cuz my toe area starts to cramp up. I do other excercises, but the jogging in place is what I started with.

I started by playing around to find out what I actually like to do. I really didn't even know. Then I started doing one of those things every day, but rarely the same thing two days in a row. Then I started paying attention to the calories and challenging myself. If you're going to stick with it you have to enjoy it. There were some classes I tried and never went back to, because my self-talk was defeatist the whole time. If I didn't come out feeling great I didn't go back. Walking lasted for about 2 weeks.For me, turns out water running, karate, baseball, an elliptical, outdoor biking (boo winter), the weight room, the wii fit and the 30 day shred are all great options. I get bored fast, I guess!

When I started MFP, I started with a food plan of 1200/day + 300 exercise calories. That made the wii fit obselete, but I still play as long as I add something else in (or carry weights while I do it).

Love what you do! Good luck!

I started off with Leslie Sanson walking dvds. They are easy on the joints and have 4 basic moves so they are really easy to pick up on and do.

I first started by walking slowly increasing speed every week or so. Now im on the wii fit doing what i am able to accomplish along with speedwalking outside.

Baby steps as seems to be the common link of these threads. First thing was up my water intake and started keeping track of what i was eating...really honestly eating. That in itself was enough to motivate me. Then I became a Beachbody Bum...started with Turbo Jam, then Chalene Extreme, P90X, then came running. I love to run!!! Currently doing Insanity with running here and there.

I found the initial weight loss and reaching the goal was fairly easy in comparison to maintenance. Keeping my motivation up to exercise and eating clean was more of a challenge in the long haul. I am not perfect but have adopted a lifestyle rather than a temporary fix.

I didn't do baby steps because I know me. LOL I did something I never thought of doing and didn't think I would...saw a sign for a tae kwon do kickboxing class and signed up. It was SUPER hard, but I went at my own pace and the whole group supported me...even though I finished last and could only do the modifications. I absolutely loved loved loved the support and atmosphere. It made me keep going.

Just get started doing something and commit to it! You'll get there!

I started out on the ellipticals. I turn up the resistance and go for about 45-60 minutes usually, 5-6 days a week. I did that for a few weeks and then I started Insanity (just finished week 2). Find what works best for you, maybe do a type of cardio (like the elliptical, treadmill, bike, etc) for whatever amount of time is comfortable for you and then work on some of the weight machines? Just set a goal for yourself about how often you'd like to go to the gym and then steadily increase your activity level?

I know it's not always the best approach, but I am the type of person that just goes right into whatever I'm doing. I don't really take time to ease into anything, but I don't do anything that would cause me injury so it works out. lol If I ever want to become a runner or lift weights, I think I'd definitely have to reevaluate my approach!

I started in August with going swimming twice a week. Then in October I joined an aqua aerobics class and just 2 weeks ago went to my first body toning class.

After my first couple of aqua aerobics classes, my arms and legs ached for about 2 days, but now it doesn't bother me at all.

After my first body toning class, I could hardly move the following day, and you should've seen the state of me going up and down stairs. It was 3 days later before things begn to ease up. After my second class, I ached the following day, but nothing like the previous week.

All I'm saying is that, start with something simple and work your way up. You will ache initially, but it will ease with time.

That's what I've found anyhow.

Still not in shape, but went from barely moving (a flight of stairs would wind me) to walking almost 4 miles a day. Start slowly. I started going for a walk at lunch, now I walk a 1.5 miles at lunch. I added walking back to the train station after work (1.12 Miles), now I walk to and from the station plus at lunch. If the weather is really bad I will take transit one way. Add to this the cardio at the gym 4 times a week and I've gotten a lot fitter. Recently started hitting the weights at the gym after using my dumb bells at home for a month prior. Go slow no point getting yourself so sore you don't want to move for a week.

I started out with C25K....which is walking/jogging. It really helped build my endurance! I regularly run 3 to 4 miles and at times do more.

Do what you can.

I try not to get too ambitious during my workouts, because when I am sore, I am not going to work out again until I feel better.

So, I recommend going for walks, and doing some yoga. As you get more stamina, you can try a few minutes of jump rope, but don't be surprised if you're out of breath after only two minutes. Just do a little here and there and slowly build up to doing more.