How did you initially get up and start exercising? Did you a

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  • Moriarty_697
    Moriarty_697 Posts: 226 Member
    I started by going for brisk walks. I loaded up the ipod, tied on some shoes and just got out the door. It often sucked. Eventually, though, I started to take some enjoyment from it. Even if I didn't necessarily like the actual exercise, I found that I would feel really good after exercising. Definitely much better than if I had just stayed home and ate junk food in front of the tv.

    I've read again and again about how walking is exercise for the mind and the body and I believe it. There's something about the rhythm of putting one foot in front of the other that frees your mind to wander, as well.

    Do I enjoy it? The answer to that is a definite yes. And no. Even now, I hate going out for a run. I try to find any excuse I can to keep myself from going out the door. Once I force myself out the door, though, all the resentment drops away. It's not always fun. Sometimes, no matter how much you want things to be different, it's just going to suck. Work is work and working out is work. Most times, though, I find moments and even minutes where I realize I'm having fun. Last week, I took advantage of the warm weather and ran a new route down through a local park that I hadn't visited in a long time. The last time I had been to the park, I walked and walked fairly slowly at that. This time, I ran and it felt good. It felt good to be out enjoying the day, it felt good to be seeing something different and it really felt good to be running. These are the moments I chase.
  • kseier
    kseier Posts: 91 Member
    saw turbojam on an infdormmercial, ordered it, fell in love, and now im 30 lbs lighter and turbokick instructor. i went from lazy and unactive to being a fitness instructor. all because of that one little program (:
  • porffor
    porffor Posts: 1,210 Member
    After about a decade of nothing, I decided I was going to run a 5K. Something I'd have done for fun before. I found couch to 5k plan and got a friend to come along, we went out in the dark - too ashamed to be seen, and only managed to run for half of the required minute.. we stuck to a revised half then three quarters of a minute for a week each building up to a minute. My friend dropped out midway through but I carried on and another friend joined me when she found out I had started running. I was 227lbs and I lost about a stone while I trained, I did my 5K race exactly when planned and ran most of it. :)

    I think finding something you like the idea of is key, and get a routine where you do it at a set time, leave your running gear out, or gym gear etc, don't let any excuses get in the way if you can possibly help it. Routine is wonderful as your brain nags you if you miss what you should be doing!

    Good luck.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I signed up for a half marathon sponsored walk, started walking, decided I would be more comfortable doing the walk if I lost some weight & joined MFP, and then got the bug and joined a gym. Simples.
  • brandimacleod
    brandimacleod Posts: 368 Member
    I started walking last summer at 325 lbs because I started here and needed to lose weight. I cant say i loved it. It was hot and sweaty and I live on a mountain side so its up and down hill. But I have dogs, and they needed the exercise, so I feel like it was a good choice.

    A few months into it, on a walk, I had a whim to see what it would feel like to jog as a a fat girl. And in a "Run Forest Run" moment, I have not stopped. I have lost over 75 lbs since that first summer time walk, and now i also belong to a gym and work out every day. And I like it.

    My new belief is to try everything and see what i might like. Running i love. yoga I hate but love how I feel later. Elliptical I am still trying to make nice with and do it because its a great burn. I don't think i will ever get back onto the stair climber machine ever again. Ever.

    But, in the immortal words of Nike...

    JUST DO IT!
  • Hoakiebs
    Hoakiebs Posts: 430 Member
    Generally start with walking, so you don't overexert yourself or get a leg injury which would just sidetrack you. I just have a 1 hour and 1.5 hour course from my house down a main street that'll burn 600-900 cals (speedwalking). Then, either join a gym (Planet Fitness in our neighborhood is $10/mo. although I think it's now 20 for new members) or get home equipment or a fitness video. Most Videos will have a beginners reel that will start you off on a 20-30 minute routine, then go to 45 min intermediate and 1 hr. advanced routine.

    It's much easier not to feel hungry if you have exercise calories to eat back. For instance, I'm on a 1570 cal diet, but can normally eat 2100-2400 cals. with my walk and still lose weight. I'm on my 56th day and have lost 28.4 lbs., and I know that that was the initial push, mainly, but I'm now losing about 1.5-3 lbs. per week, depending on the week.

    Just ease into it. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn doing simple things like walking. The key is not to get injured and burn fat. You want to keep your heartrate in the fat burning/cardio zone. Then you want to do some strength traing next, because more muscle requires more calories per day to maintain, so you'll burn by just living. But ease yourself into it.

    Another little trick I used to use was to punish yourself for guilty pleasures, like when I watched TV, I'd put a sign on the TV that said "pushups/situps at each commercial". I got fit then. If I'm going to a SuperBowl party, I make sure to get plenty of exercise so that I have 1000 extra calories in the bank.

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  • AmyEm3
    AmyEm3 Posts: 784 Member
    I started with the 30 Day Shred and walking. The 30DS was hard at first but it's only 20 minutes long. I started walking to ease myself back into running. I had run regularly in the past but that was almost 10 years ago. I run 5-6 days a week now and do various Jillian Michaels dvds. I just started P90x yesterday.

    I love running and look forward to it. Strength training is just meh for me but I do it b/c I know it's good for me.
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    I started by buying a recumbent exercise bike. I did that 7 days per week for 30-40 minutes for a few months. Then I started adding in other kinds of exercise. Now I don't really like doing my exercise bike very much, so I usually do workout DVDs a few days per week, and ride my exercise bike once or twice per week. It really helped me get started though because I could watch TV while I did it. Now I enjoy exercise a lot more and it's not so boring for me to do an hour long DVD. GL!
  • ebonyroche
    ebonyroche Posts: 682 Member
    In 2007, I started Walk Away The Pounds with Leslie Sansone video. I saw it at Target and it was 10 bucks so I grabbed it. When I started I was over 330lbs and I could barely do the 15min/1 mile walk. I eventually worked my way to the 3 mile and then I started Turbo Jam. I felt so good I lost almost 70lbs. So start off slow until you are ready maybe 2-3 a week and work your way up, you will get to where you want to be.
  • tallnsexy
    tallnsexy Posts: 22 Member
    i was just like you. I had to bite the bullet one day and just do it. I started out picking the time of the day where I'm most positive and have less distractions. i first started walking at a regular pace on the treadmill, and now a month later I'm running, joggin on incline and all other sorts of cardio. Once you start your body just craves it and you'll find yourself actually enjoying and looking forward to your workout. Good Luck and don't quit
  • gtfcnat
    gtfcnat Posts: 199
    We bought Kinect for the Xbox last summer, and when I bought Dance Central and Zumba for it. After the first few goes the novelty kinda wore off and I stopped using it. We also bought Yoru Shape for it, and I think I used two or three times at most.
    When my Mum told me about MFP I realised that I should be more active as well and dug out the Your Shape disc but it didn't work properly, so we ordered the newer version and since using that I've been getting really into it.
    If I don't do it for some reason I actually miss it :noway:
  • sig1238
    sig1238 Posts: 16
    You get up and do it, even when everything in your head screams, "Nooooo!"
  • stroken96
    stroken96 Posts: 436 Member
    I was doing my Wii and my Elliptical I would get bored. About 2 weeks ago it was sunny out so I set out
    for a walk, did it for 5 days then my work schedule was changed and I didn't walk for 2 days. Thought that would
    be it but no I really enjoyed being out in the brisk morning air, I back at it this week too.
    So never give up on healthy
  • MattGetsMad
    MattGetsMad Posts: 429 Member
    I bought a bike. Best purchase I've ever made.
  • HotCuppaJo
    HotCuppaJo Posts: 476 Member
    I simply started walking... I used the treadmill that had been sitting in my basement collecting dust for a few years, and got up and moving. Then, I bought an elliptical, because I remembered years ago when I was working out, I really liked that better than walking. It's harder, but more satisfying when I'm finished. (And I have bad hips,...it seems to be better for my joints.) Anyway, I've tried doing some classes...Zumba and Cardiolates. Those are fun and you can take a friend with you. :) Also, I try to schedule the workout (elliptical or treadmill) at the same time each day... I do 30 minutes daily, and I watch Family Feud while doing it. Lol. Love that show, and even my kiddos can come in and sit on the bed and watch tv with me while I work out.

    NO, I don't enjoy working out...I don't think I will ever be THAT gal...but I do like when I start to see results and I've found that I'm OBSESSED with the counting of calories, etc. I love MFP and will log on at work and constantly be updating, checking out what foods I can eat and, more importantly CAN'T eat, and I have my entire day of meals planned out before noon. :) It's fun for me, oddly enough!

    Anyway, you will find exercises/workouts that you "enjoy"... or can put up with...and it will become habit. I didn't do ANY exercise before, so I can sympathize with your question.
    Good luck!
  • Kaathmandu
    Kaathmandu Posts: 129
    I agree with the earlier poster who recommended dance classes.
    But I reckon the best thing is to find an aqua fitness class with a fun instructor and good music - there's lots of different styles, including aqua zumba. Water is 15 times more resistant than air, so you get a good workout, but if you are in water up to your waist, you are only supporting half your body weight so no major stress on joints. Deeper and less.
    And because the water keeps you cool, after you've cooled down and stretched, you feel refreshed and great and ready to party, instead of hot and sweaty.
    There is the whole exposure thing - I wear a sports bra, rashie and bike shorts, so no embarrassing flab on show. And you can power it up while everything wobbles under the water where no one can see!! Go aqua!
  • glamsquadtia
    glamsquadtia Posts: 20 Member
    Wow..All of your stories are so inspiring! Thank You so much for the advice, validation and support. It really helps to know that someone has been where you are & that they've had success, it means that I can too...I cant Thank You all enough! THANKYOU!
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