It Was Painful :(

Okay folks I just started this today, and really, really want to succeed this time. I currently weigh 247 pounds (not good, I know!) I went for a 20 minute walk today and thought I was literally going to die. My legs hurt so bad that I had to stop. This is how out of shape I am. I was very frustrated and disappointed in myself, almost to the point of tears. I had major surgery 4 weeks ago (hyst) and since then, I'm always tired (my doctor said this is not uncommon,) but that wasn't even the issue while walking. My legs hurt so bad. I don't think there's anything physically wrong- I think I'm just that much out of shape.

I honestly hate to exercise, hate to sweat, but I know deep down that I must stick to it and I know things will get easier. Did anyone out there have these types of feelings/thoughts when first starting out?

Hang on in there, it gets better, you can improve your fitness by so much in just a matter of weeks.

Have to doctors advised that it's safe for you to do exercise yet?

I had renal embolisation back in December and wasn't active at all until around 6 weeks after, I started slow. At first my doctor advised a couple of minutes on the cross trainer a day.

I started at 257lbs and have lost 14lbs so we're at a similar weight. At first I could just do a bit at a time, I slowly increased. I can now do up to 4 hours a day. My kidney is still giving me quite a bit of pain but I'm getting there. I did an hour of yoga today, I started doing a bit more just last week and have vastly improved in just a small period of time. I've tried a lot of things out to find what's good for me.

Just take it easy, don't push yourself too hard. For a while I was doing "Chairobics" which really helped, mainly by giving me the enthusiasm to move on to something a bit harder.

Good for you! If it hurts to walk, break up the walking into smaller periods. If 5 minutes a day is what works and you can do that 5 days a week, try that. Then increase the amount of time...or the number of times you walk.

Good luck with everything. You can do this.

If the pain persists you should probably mention it to your doctor. You should expect to be soar after starting or altering a workout routine, but sharp pain could be the sign of something serious.

Well done for starting somewhere - I know if I had come out of surgery I wouldn't have gotten up as quick as you to do exercise! & I started at 146lbs and the first time I went for a 20 minute walk after a while of not exercising got me SO tired, so don't worry, you're not alone at all. It just takes perseverance, like the saying goes: "if it was easy, everyone would be slim"!

I'm not sure if anyone else has recommended this (there are three pages of responses - I couldn't read through them all I'm afraid =/) but swimming is a really good way to get into exercise. My friend had to lose weight because of health issues (she weighed 280lbs or there abouts), and she started with swimming and said it really helped (although she went in off peak times because she was self conscious).

I wish you all the best, and feel free to add me as a friend - I love the interaction of motivating (and being motivated)! You're not alone at all just remember that

- Soph

My hysterectomy was the best thing I ever did to feel good. You will recover soon and feel better than you ever thought. That said - DEFINITELY find a Dr that will do saliva hormone testing. I think this is the 100% key to my ability to have success. Diet and exercise are there and help, but w/o my hormones, cortisol levels, and adrenal fatigue resolved I would have never gotten to where I am. Best of luck and think outside the box for weight loss too.

I had a hysterectomy in Dec 2010 and I can tell you that some of your tiredness could very well be from the surgery. I was tired for a long time when I would do any sort of activity. I had to work my way up. Keep it up and it will happen for you. I don't like to sweat either but I always feel better after I work out. I'm finally finding myself looking forward to it. I take my ipad and watch things on Netflix. It really makes the time fly! Or what about Curves? That moves fast from what I've heard. Not enough time to get bored.

You can do it, never give up. Even if you cant one day do it the next. This isnt a race its your life one day at a time. There is no quiting its all about never giving up. You never fail if you try again. You are strong enough to make a change be proud of your decision.

Have you tried walking in water? Ask your doctor if you can (don't want to get an infection in your cuts) but the water will help neutralize the weight and help your joints. You can get all the benefits of exercise with fewer of the side effects (achy knees/back etc.) Maybe try out water aerobics too. I'm an aquatics manager and we have a class devoted to low impact exercise for those with weight problems. Good luck!

I have a bone disease which causes bone and cartilage tumors on every joint of my body and I have had multiple major orthopedic surgeries. Yes, I know how hard and painful it can be getting started. I also have nerve damage in in legs that used to be aggravated by walking, so I would avoid walking whenever I could.

Walking is now my main exercise. I also run, lift weights, etc. But walking is always part of my daily exercise. Where there's a will, there's a way. Start slowly. Do intervals (walk for 5 minutes, rest for 5 minutes). Don't push yourself too hard. You'll eventually get there.also, give yourself some time to heal from your hysterectomy. You've had a major organ removed!

Okay folks I just started this today, and really, really want to succeed this time. I currently weigh 247 pounds (not good, I know!) I went for a 20 minute walk today and thought I was literally going to die. My legs hurt so bad that I had to stop. This is how out of shape I am. I was very frustrated and disappointed in myself, almost to the point of tears. I had major surgery 4 weeks ago (hyst) and since then, I'm always tired (my doctor said this is not uncommon,) but that wasn't even the issue while walking. My legs hurt so bad. I don't think there's anything physically wrong- I think I'm just that much out of shape.

I honestly hate to exercise, hate to sweat, but I know deep down that I must stick to it and I know things will get easier. Did anyone out there have these types of feelings/thoughts when first starting out?

I will never forget years ago I saw a woman on either Today or GMC who was an "after." She looked AMAZING. Perfect body, beautiful, thin, strong, ran marathons. Excellent shape.

Her "before" was more than 300 pounds and she said her first day in the gym, she couldn't last five minutes on the treadmill at a 2 mph pace.

We all have to start somewhere. The important thing is to start!

I felt the same way I havent had a op like you but i started out at 308 pounds when i first joined MFP. I went straight in at the deep end and got an injury from it,so now I do little each time and increse it every few weeks I do my cardio for 15 mins then in 2 weeks i will up to 30 min, it is hard to get motivated,but as nike says just do it and you did. pat yourself on the back hun cos you have the MO to do it.

I was in pain cycling today. I had to push my muscles so hard to move the bike during my daily cycle, but I didnt set off til 5pm, so that might account for it. I wasn't in tears, but I was very angry at myself for not being as fit as I would like. And because I have COPD, I can never be as fit as I should be for my age. My lungs should be 82% and they are 67% so it really sucks as I would love to be able to go running or jogging as I wished.