exercise for big people

Walking is great. Keep it up. If the weather makes it hard for you to walk outside, you can purchase a Leslie Sansome walking DVD for walking in the house. After you lose some weight you can up the speed of your walking. There are resistance bands you can use to build strength which will help. Have you thought about a personal trainer, if you can afford one. Your daily calories are supposed to be figured so that you can lose without exercise but you should talk to your Doctor to see how much he suggests you do. I have been fighting my weight for at least two years because of surgery on my knees and the weight made my hips hurt. Now that I've started walking again and lost 9 pounds the hips are not as quick to fire with pain. You just have to be patient and take it one day at a time.

Keep on doing what you're doing. As you go along things will get better. I don't know if this helps. Someone else may have much better suggestions. You're young and it just takes time. :flowerforyou:

Dance! Sorry, I'm on a dance kick, that's my answer to everything today. But seriously, dancing is a great workout and it is fun. I dance with my doors locked so no one walks in on me (awkward!) and I work up a sweat pretty quickly. Even if you just dance for 5/10 minutes here and there that is something. Going up and down stairs is great as well, sometimes I go up and down the stairs in my building (and hope no other tenants come in!) because it winds me just going up once! Let's see, what else...walking, like you said, making sure to swing those arms, if there is a park near by with some hills that is a good way to get some variety and some good scenery. I hate walking the same way everyday, it gets boring, so we walk around Valley Forge or smaller local parks.

good luck!

One thing I like is doing mini circuits at home - do jumping jacks, crunches, squats, push-ups, pretend jump rope, etc. Do each for a certain number of seconds (say 20) then move to the next and so on for a total of however many mins. It will get your heart rate up and burn some calroies. I also think boxing (and kicks low, not up high) are great when you are starting out.

i feel like im to big for a bike.. wouldnt i look bad?

You would look like a rad lady who won't let her weight hold her back from doing healthy fun things like cycling!

In fact, because the bike helps support your weight and is so low-impact, it can be a very accessible way to get a good cardio workout for bodies of all sizes.

Dance! Sorry, I'm on a dance kick, that's my answer to everything today. But seriously, dancing is a great workout and it is fun. I dance with my doors locked so no one walks in on me (awkward!) and I work up a sweat pretty quickly. Even if you just dance for 5/10 minutes here and there that is something. Going up and down stairs is great as well, sometimes I go up and down the stairs in my building (and hope no other tenants come in!) because it winds me just going up once! Let's see, what else...walking, like you said, making sure to swing those arms, if there is a park near by with some hills that is a good way to get some variety and some good scenery. I hate walking the same way everyday, it gets boring, so we walk around Valley Forge or smaller local parks.

good luck!

I second this! I like to dance. I've put my iPod on and dance in my living room. (I like loud music and I feel my neighbors would get annoyed with the level).

I've been on a kick where I will space it up. I'll dance for 10 minutes or so and relax for a bit and then do it again and again. You can burn some good calories doing this.

Though for my main exercise I do kickboxing and once a week the elliptical. Though for larger people, I would vote for walking. At my heaviest I started on the treadmill. I eventually got bored and tried the elliptical. I was only able to do it for like 5-10 minutes at first. I slowly worked my way up and for the last 5 months I've been doing an hour.

swimming is also a good, low impact, way to lose weight (indoor pool in the winter, of course)

you can do this.

I have really enjoyed playing Wii games with my boys. They have a few games that really get my moving! In the privacy of your own home there is no way you should worry about being judged... don't be so hard on yourself!

I started with walking, and then got into doing the elliptical. When I first started the elliptical I did it with no resistance, and as I got more comfortable I kept adding resistance, I get a good sweat doing the elliptical. I have also started to lift free weights at home. You can do it girl, go slow and little by little keep challenging yourself. Feel free to add me:happy:

i feel like we're similar weights.. don't let your size affect how you work out!
walking is great, if you're feeling up to it you could add some jogging! bicycling is great too. do you have a gym membership? going to a gym has helped me tremendously, i don't know how to use weights but i go to a class with low weights- it's amazing!

I enjoyed the Yoga: Just my size by Megan Garcia. She has tips and tricks to get real stretching done even with a body that doesn't have so much room to move. She taught me how to adjust my belly and thighs so I can lean further and be safer in my workouts. the DVD is awesome too.

There's another one I want to try that's all standing- for those of us who can't get up and down from the floor easily. Chair and Standing Routines: Ageless Yoga, Vol. 1 by john schlorholtz. It has seated yoga sections and standing yoga sections. A lot of beginner yoga still has tons of up dog/down dog/ hop around movements that I simply cannot do yet because of injury- I think it'd be a great place to start.

I second the Wii games or Kinect (what I use). the Wii games will have more variety but the Kinect you don't need to hold a remote-

In my opinion (not a personal trainer or doctor) when you're at a certain point even just incorporating movement is a good start. Working out is relative- I can't go ten minutes on a stairmaster right now- my heartrate hits 200 and I'm out. BUT I can play some video games that 'normal' people wouldn't find stressful but they are good workouts for me. Hope that makes sense! Eventually I'll be able to do the more normal workouts- but for now even moving is a big deal. I weigh about 270 so that's 270 pounds I'm moving with me that thinner people wouldn't have to deal with. Eventually I'll show the stairmaster who's boss

I second the votes for Leslie Sansone workouts.. She is great.. And when I get tired of listening to her I put some music on my laptop that makes me want to workout harder... She has a ton to choose from.. And she does some great workouts. Also I have Wii & do alot of Tennis & bowling. I want to advance to Zumba & other fun stuff - but I am just a month in & have to build up my strength.. Just so your moving that counts alot more than you think. And don't worry about what other people think you look like.. Everybody has to start somewhere.. I know I have a long journey ahead of me with 100 plus to lose - but every long journey starts with one step.. And your moving in the right direction. Good luck.....

zumba is SO fun! Would you be going to classes or doing it on your wii?
The beauty of Zumba is that you can do some moves differently if you're not at that level- for instance, i've been doing it for about a month, and theres still moves that i can't handle. but i still have so much fun and burn SO many calories!
ya'll feel free to add me

Dance! Sorry, I'm on a dance kick, that's my answer to everything today. But seriously, dancing is a great workout and it is fun. I dance with my doors locked so no one walks in on me (awkward!) and I work up a sweat pretty quickly. Even if you just dance for 5/10 minutes here and there that is something. Going up and down stairs is great as well, sometimes I go up and down the stairs in my building (and hope no other tenants come in!) because it winds me just going up once! Let's see, what else...walking, like you said, making sure to swing those arms, if there is a park near by with some hills that is a good way to get some variety and some good scenery. I hate walking the same way everyday, it gets boring, so we walk around Valley Forge or smaller local parks.

good luck!

I second this! I like to dance. I've put my iPod on and dance in my living room. (I like loud music and I feel my neighbors would get annoyed with the level).

I've been on a kick where I will space it up. I'll dance for 10 minutes or so and relax for a bit and then do it again and again. You can burn some good calories doing this.

Though for my main exercise I do kickboxing and once a week the elliptical. Though for larger people, I would vote for walking. At my heaviest I started on the treadmill. I eventually got bored and tried the elliptical. I was only able to do it for like 5-10 minutes at first. I slowly worked my way up and for the last 5 months I've been doing an hour.

What's great about dancing, it that it can be loads of fun! All you need is a little music and then move your body! No class needed, no such thing as doing it wrong. Just have fun with it!

Yoga, tough when large but not impossible, will definitely slim you down! I swear by it. It has taken inches off my arms and legs, and has really helped me maintain a balanced state of mind.

Exercise does not have to be a chore. Have fun!

Shaun T from the Insanity Videos has a very inexpensive dance video set called Rockin Body. The choreography is super simple and he has one of the girls showing the low impact moves. The shortest routine is only 15 minutes. Perfect place to start. Not an intense workout - just a fun calorie burner.

I also have 100 lbs to lose. I started by walking during my lunch hour for 30 minutes. I also bought biggest loser cardio max and did level 1 for my first month. I still can not do some of there moves like jumping jacks, however I modify and and just move side to side or skip. As long as you keep moving you do not have to keep up with them. If you can not do a move that they are doing, just dance during that move or walk in place. That is what I did and now I am able to keep up with the video.

Other things to increase exercise. When parking, do not look for the closest spot, try to park further away every time to add to the walk, and use the stairs instead of the elevator when you can.

Good luck to you!