Out of shape advice...

donovanart
donovanart Posts: 55
in Fitness and Exercise
I want to work out, but I find I can't keep my breath for very long, is it still going to benefit me biking (or other sorts of exercises) 10 mins and breaking? Then doing it again in a little while?

Replies

  • Jessica1274
    Jessica1274 Posts: 363 Member
    Yes, it will. Just keep at it. Go as long as you can. Before you know it, you'll be able to last much longer.
  • ribye
    ribye Posts: 59 Member
    You still get the benifit, yo may not get the cardio benifit depedning on how long you rest inbetween but you will still be burnning calories and hopefully as you build up some endurance the cardio can come later but for lossing weight as long as your moving and burning calories thats a big plus
  • thekarens
    thekarens Posts: 254 Member
    First time I got on an elliptical I could only do 5 minutes, so that first week I did 5 minutes every day. Wasn't long and I was easily doing an hour. Just keep pushing yourself. You'll be surprised at how quickly things improve.
  • onikonor
    onikonor Posts: 473 Member
    Just do what you can and eventually you will be able to do more and more.
  • direwolfprincess
    direwolfprincess Posts: 261 Member
    Yes! Do it. Every little bit helps. The progress will me minuscule at first but you will still be causing incremental changes for yourself.
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    Little by little & sooner or later you'll be able to go non stop!
    My first time on the cardio machines, I could only do about 5-10 minutes, but each week I added on 5 minutes and now I can do an hour!
  • Umeboshi
    Umeboshi Posts: 1,637 Member
    It will definitely help you both calorie-wise and getting in shape so you can do more activity at once. ANY exercise is helpful!
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    Absolutely! Every bit helps, plus that will help strengthen your lungs. When I started swimming again, I could do one or two laps without stopping, and I'd push myself to do 8 laps in a 30-minute period. By the third week I could do 20 laps in a 30-minute period. Now, a couple months later, I can do 40 laps in a 30-minute period fairly easily and I only pause for a couple seconds after every 4th lap. Any exercise you do will help (my running and all other exercises have improved too) but if you have access to a pool I would highly recommend swimming- it's particularly good for building lung strength, plus it's virtually no-impact and works out your whole body. My fiance and I both lost weight without even trying a few years ago just by messing around in the pool at our complex- no laps, no workouts- just treading water, tossing a frisbee back-and-forth in the water, throwing weighted items so they would sink and then racing each other to retrieve them, etc.
  • GaidenJade
    GaidenJade Posts: 171
    Yes! Believe it or not you are doing a great thing for yourself and your body. Ten minutes, five minutes. Just keep it moving. If you can, rest at a slow walk for a half minute then try to push some more. Every week try pushing a bit more, and slowly you will see a HUGE difference. If you go too fast because you think you should be doing more, you could hurt yourself. I have bad knees and a bad back, so working out at my heaviest was difficult. I am getting better every day, though my knees still hurt on my jogging days.

    It will get better. Remember each step is a step in the right direction. :flowerforyou:
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    If you're having that hard of a time, then you may want to look into water aerobics.
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    Definitely. You can even split it up throughout the day. 3 times 10 minutes is 30 minutes of exercise. Also, any bursts of exercise, taking stairs quickly, even if one flight, will also help you.

    Way to go, and you'll notice a change very soon.
  • grdnr03
    grdnr03 Posts: 547 Member
    yes keep going every little bit will help
  • moxiecowgirl
    moxiecowgirl Posts: 291 Member
    Yep, it works. I wasn't able to do more than 5-10 minutes of exercise at a time when I first started out, and now I'm up to an hour or more most days.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    Do what you can do. You will improve very quickly at first.
  • cynthiaturpin
    cynthiaturpin Posts: 3
    I started working out 5 times a week - from doing no workouts. I am walking 2x, cycling 2x, and doing elliptical once a week. In less than 2 months I have gone from 10 minutes on the treadmill to 35. I have increased the time by 1-2 minutes each week. You can do it!
  • AlmstHvn
    AlmstHvn Posts: 376 Member
    Absolutely! Pay attention to your body and honor where it's limits are today - and you're on your way! I like to listen to an audio book - it helps keep me distracted. You'll find your groove and what works best for you!


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  • htalexander
    htalexander Posts: 81
    Every little bit helps! I was not very overweight when I started, but recovering from a bad pregnancy..struggling to quit smoking..and very out of shape. I remember looking at others' workouts (an hour of zumba..crosstraining..45 mins on an oplitical!!) and feeling so terrible...my first attempts at working out were so sad! LOL..I could only do like 5 situps..I thought I would die after playing Just Dance for one song..but It Does get better!! Just add a little on everyday..for example..I live down a long dirt drive and started by walking down and back once...then twice..and now I am able to jog it a few times..and I can do 3 or 4 songs on Just Dance and I am just increasing other things like situps by 5 or so every week...Give yourself a recovery day and then keep going..best of luck!
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    Baby steps man, and patience. Around August of last year, I couldn't even walk the dog a 1/2 mile without feeling short of breath. This saturday I went on a 38 mile bike ride...You can do it, just stick to it. You will see results, and try to a little more every time.
  • waldenlev
    waldenlev Posts: 102 Member
    Absolutely! When I started I couldn't go 3 minutes without feeling like I'd die, now it's 45. Keep at it, and be smart. It's consistency that matters. Go 10 minutes for a week. Then 11:00 for a week, then 12:00... Before long you'll be cruising.

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