Exercising- for Starters

dhbey43 · January 2012

Good evening. I am new to the program, 1 month new. I have been reasonably well with my reaching my goals. However, I have 'fallen off' with my exercising. In the beginning, I was walking or doing arobebics 2-3 times a week. Life got busy and then I stopped. Not to mention, I did not have much support.
I don't want to stop exercising all together. I need to exercise for myself and for my daughter. My question is: Can I start over by walking 3 days a week for 30 mintues and increase gradually? I don't want to be unrealisic and fail (which at this point, failure is not an option). Please, I am open for suggestions and advice.

CMmrsfloyd · January 2012

Jump right in and do whatever you feel you are capable of. Pay attention to your body, if you feel you are overwhelmed or in pain, rest. If you get bored with walking, you can consider joining a gym or getting some workout dvds to do in your home.

Tofteberg · January 2012

Start with anything. One of my friends reminded me that walking for 5 minutes was time moving and off the couch. I work long days and was having trouble getting exercise in. I try to get up and move around at work and I am doing Zumba on weekends. As I get stronger and thinner, I will probably have to increase that to keep loosing. Right now it's working.

sandy2006 · January 2012

Set your goals and stick to it. Be realistic but set your goals and just do it! Walking is a great form of exercise. Whatever you decide to do is fine as long as your moving! Good luck

Tofteberg · January 2012

Workout dads to do in my home! Where do you get them and how do I explain it to my husband(lol)

CMmrsfloyd · January 2012

Workout dads to do in my home! Where do you get them and how do I explain it to my husband(lol)

Oops, that was a typo. LOL Supposed to be 'workout dvds' LOL. There are all different types, everything from boxing to dancing to even walking in your living room.

walterld · January 2012

if you can't do 30 min at once or don't have time just do 15 min in morning and 15 min at night. it will work just as well. I started out by just doing something active for 30 min a day. I figured it was better than being a couch potato for that 30 min. I got a dog and lost 10 lbls by getting up to take her out to go potty every couple of hours. then I started taking her for walks and before I knew it I had lost 10 lbs. That gave me the incentive to exercise 5 times a week stationary bike or treadmill. So i think walking 30 min 3 times a week will be just fine.

LilacDreamer · January 2012

I guess i'm a beginner and i'm feeling a little blah reading everyone posts on here that they average 300-600 calories at the gym....my husband and i arent even close to that yet.

discouraging $:\$

He does the treadmill for 25-30 minutes and I do the treadmill for 15mins and the stationery bike for 15mins.

stephanielindsey · January 2012

When I first started I figured I wouldn't be capable of much exercise (over 300lbs) so I thought I'd take it slow and work up to it. Then a MFP friend suggested I do calisthenics for 40 mins/day ( the goal being to burn 800 calories). I thought she was crazy! How was I going to do sit ups or whatever for 40 minutes! I'd die! But I decided to give it a try and it turns out I can do it. The first few days hurt like I've never hurt before but now I'm moving along quite nicely.

My point is, you are capable of doing whatever it is you set your mind to do. If walking isn't working for you, try some thing else!

fiberartist219 · January 2012

Yes, you absolutely can start by 30 min walks 3 times a week. You can start with whatever you want, (but I am not sure about doing dads... LOL)

I started out with 5-10 minutes of jump rope a few nights a week. I gradually built up to doing it more frequently and for slightly longer periods of time.

Then, I ended up getting some DVDs to do at home. I like the Turbo Jam set because it has modifications that make it beginner friendly, but it also burns a ton of calories.

You don't have to compare your workouts to what others are doing. The BEST workout is the one that you are willing to do over and over again. Be consistent, and it WILL pay off for you. Don't get overwhelmed with trying to intensify things or making yourself sore, or trying to develop the ultimate workout plan. Just put your shoes on and do what you can and then do it again tomorrow.

All the challenging stuff can come later. Right now, you just need to get going. :flowerforyou:

Annie4him · January 2012

To Lilac dreamer ,
Good for u for going to the gym with your hubby!, pat yourself on the back! You're doing so much more than me and my hubby. and every couple we know! U can always branch out to try something new. I need to get back to my exercise routine. and I agree with walterid, 15 min here and there adds up to strength and endurance. Time for me to getting moving. Great topic!

stephaniethomas80 · January 2012

i put my excercise bike in front of the television and put in a good movie and I am able to stay on it 45 mins to an hour without realizing how tired and sweaty I am, that is til I go to stand up and my legs are all jello-y, lol, i also like to walk on the treadmill while I read a book. I find If I pay to much attention to my excercise or cals burned I have trouble staying on for as long

walterld · January 2012

that is perfect to begin with. that is how i started. somedays when I am tired I still do 15 on the TM and 15 on the bike, you are moving and that is what counts. keep up the good work

liroez29 · January 2012

Everyday that I work out, I have trouble getting to it, I don't want to do! I always feel better once I get started and after I feel great, but getting there is hard! I have been working out now for 5 months and I struggle every workout day! and I work out 5 days a week! Will power has to come into play! You have to just force yourself, and once you do, you get to where you don't think you can do much more, and then you push past that point!! It is hard, but it is possible! I started with 15 mins walking at 2 mph, and I felt like I was going to die, but now......I am running 5-6 mph, and I am up to 3 miles per run! and I am planing to run a 9 mile race in June! You can get there, and gradual is the key! work your way up! You CAN do it! Just have to have the will power and determination!!! Good luck to you! If you are interested in the jogging training I used, let me know!

LilacDreamer · January 2012

that is perfect to begin with. that is how i started. somedays when I am tired I still do 15 on the TM and 15 on the bike, you are moving and that is what counts. keep up the good work

I just feel loserish. I do walk a little fast on the treadmill at around 3.5mph and then i occasionally jog for a couple of minutes @ 4.0mph til i get a little dizzy. my husband can jog at 6.0 and be fine...thats what i want to do.

yesterday I did like 210 calories and i was all yay thats good...and then i came on hereto find out everyone's doing 300-600..........and i felt very defeated. I dont see myself ever being able to do that much...the best i've can do is 110 calories in 9 minutes.

I have medical conditions which kill my energy levels, and I know i'm supposed to come on MFP and feel encouraged but after what I've been reading today, that ship has sailed.

iKristine · January 2012

That's how I started. 30 minute walk to and from campus 3x week.

Then went up from there. You will find the more you find time, the easier it becomes and the more you'll want to do it to the point it's better option than what your doing now.

pdworkman · January 2012

Don't base your feelings of self-worth on what you think "everyone" is doing. You do your best, and what you can do will improve over time. Everybody here didn't start with being able to do a 500 calorie burn. There are plenty here who don't exercise at all. You're just seeing what you want to.

Are you doing more today than you were doing a year ago? A month ago? A week ago? Congratulate yourself. Pat yourself on the back. Pick yourself up and keep going.

Pam

that is perfect to begin with. that is how i started. somedays when I am tired I still do 15 on the TM and 15 on the bike, you are moving and that is what counts. keep up the good work

I just feel loserish. I do walk a little fast on the treadmill at around 3.5mph and then i occasionally jog for a couple of minutes @ 4.0mph til i get a little dizzy. my husband can jog at 6.0 and be fine...thats what i want to do.

yesterday I did like 210 calories and i was all yay thats good...and then i came on hereto find out everyone's doing 300-600..........and i felt very defeated. I dont see myself ever being able to do that much...the best i've can do is 110 calories in 9 minutes.

I have medical conditions which kill my energy levels, and I know i'm supposed to come on MFP and feel encouraged but after what I've been reading today, that ship has sailed.

walterld · January 2012

shoot, that is all i ever do is 200 to 300 cal burned in exercise a day and that is better than no calories burned. the days i don't exercise is the days i don't allow myself to eat any extra food. so that is incentive enough to get me moving.

CMmrsfloyd · January 2012

Hey, at first my 'exercise' was getting off my butt and cleaning the house more than usual. Walking laps around the downstairs of my house. Anything to not be sitting on my butt as much as I used to. You have to start where you are comfortable. After I started feeling better about moving my body, I started getting on the treadmill - at first just walking for 30 minutes, then going longer and trying to jog a little. Then I started holding a couple of small weights while I was on the treadmill and moving my arms more. Then when that started getting old, I got some dvd's to workout with in my living room. You don't have to go right into super extreme workouts if you don't feel ready for it. Anything that gets you moving and more confident is going to be positive.

Exercising- for Starters

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