Glad to have found this section of the boards. I thought I would try Zumba today and so I started with a beginner video, I think I was able to get halfway through a song before my chest started burning and my throat got dry and heart racing. That scares me so I backed off a bit. I do not wanna start off head strong and need something to ease into gradually. I can say it will take some time learning all these moves. My daughter has agreed to do it with me (She is very fit and in shape) so I said Id give it a whirl.

Does anyone have any suggestions? We decided to just try dancing to some music we like, we figure as long as we are moving we are accomplishing something and its better than doing nothing? Is that correct?

Any suggestions for something I can do to ease my way into a workout routine of some sort? I figure I would only be able to do 5-10 mins at a time to begin with. Any thoughts?

I'd start even slower than that by going for 1x 30 minute walk a day. Do that for 1 week and then see how you feel.

I've come to the conclusion (for me anyway) that unless you enjoy exercise or dance, then its only going to be a temporary and forced hobby. I am fairly sedentary, altho in the past I've tried doing all the usual things. But in the end, I dont enjoy doing exercise for the sake of it - so these days I dont bother. However, I do housework with vigour, I garden with vigour and generally put more energy into doing things that need doing. I also like going for walks.

But, like I say, thats just me. You may find that you were destined to be a "gym bunny" lol!

Jo xxx

I thought about doing just that. I think I will try that and see if helps some. I know I need to do something to get myself used to moving again.

Just between you and me I hate exercising! I hate P.E when I was in school too. I think I may just try going for a walk every evening and going from there.

I'm a team sports kind of person; if I had some group of people to play ultimate frisbee or indoor volleyball with I'd probably be exercising all the time. I personally hate most workouts that involve doing something by one's self. Running is OKAY, but eventually my right knee gets to hurting once I get to a point that I can up the intensity.

I agree with Jo, though, that unless you really just love it and feel a need for it, it's not really necessary. I'm at 26.5 pounds lost, and I really haven't exercised at all nor will I again (the one time I did my ankle hurt half the day) anytime soon! I think it's more important to focus on the right foods instead of the exercise...

Exercise is over-rated as a tool for weight loss. Have you read Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat? His contention is that when your metabolism is healed you will WANT to exercise to burn off excess calories. Till then, move if you feel like it, don't if you don't. I will add that I do exercise because I feel better if I do. However, when I'm in my upper weight zones, I don't much feel like it. There is always a risk of injury to joints, particularly when overwight, so I listen to my body re: exercise or not.

I like Judy's suggestion of walking. It's a very natural exercise. I might even start with less time - maybe 10 or 15 minutes - and see what your body tells you. If you feel like you want to do more, go for it. Otherwise, limit it to what does feel good and build up from there.

Exercise is good for you, good for your heart, good for your entire circulatory system. Exercise is supposed to be good for your brain, and good for your immune system. Moderation of course is recommended.

Try walking. It's easy and you can take it on your own pace.

Take long walks at a brisk pace. When you go shopping, park in the farthest spot from the door and walk. Then walk some more.

I too hate exercising, but I do it anyway. I do a half hour on an elliptical trainer almost every day. I started out slowly, but now I'm burning between 400 and 480 calories in that half hour.

I keep it on the back porch so I don't have to drive anywhere, and I can watch the birds, butterflies, rabbits, and other wildlife that comes to my back yard in the evening close to dusk.

As I said, I hate exercising. The hardest part is starting. So many days I tell myself I'm going to skip today. But I realize that if I start skipping, I'll end up using the elliptical to hang clothes on. So I get on it, and the half hour passes, I take a shower, and am glad I did it.

Many years ago, I took a vacation. I was climbing a steep hill, got winded, heart was pounding, and everybody else kept going except my wife who stayed with me.

I bought my first manual treadmill then. A couple of years later, we took another vacation, and I could not only keep up with the others, but could have left them behind if I wanted to.

Since then I've worn out 3 manual treadmills, and I'm on my second elliptical.

In the back yard I've seen regular birds, rabbits, butterflies, plus a wildcat, fox, sandhill cranes, gopher tortoises, and lots of migrating birds just passing through that I had to look up to see what they were.

But that is just the bonus.

I don't get winded and I don't get apprehensive about my heart pounding when others seem to be doing fine.

Walking is what we are built for. You don't need fancy gym equipment, the elliptical is not necessary. Just put on some comfortable shoes and take some time out for yourself. You deserve it.

Bob

Thank you all so much for your input on this subject. It makes me feel a tad bit better at this point. My husband loves to walk, he walks probably on average 2 miles per day. I may try walking part of the way with him tomorrow. I have thought about getting an exercise bike too. I used to love to go for a bike ride. But I am somewhat self conscious about others seeing that "fat overweight middle aged woman riding a bike" I'd feel much better if I had an exercise bike I could ride indoors. I may get one soon. I haven't been this out of shape in years. I used to skate and ride my bike and I used to be a cheerleader and kept in shape pretty good, but as I got older I just let myself go, which is why I am here.

Walk with your hubby. What a wonderful way to spend time together. Walk and talk and share some time together. Sounds lovely.

I go with that. Walking is a lovely way to relax and to chat with loved ones. I often walk with my husband - we can talk about the kids, our life, our plans, put the world to rights and we can have a nose around the neighbourhood. It may not be majorly aerobic or strenuous, but its a lovely way to spend an hour or so

Jo xxx

I would say it depends on you and your needs.

Walking could be just fine for you, if you have no medical issues.

If you have any insulin resistance or are diabetic, Dr B. recommends resistance training.

Personally, my body does better with semi-vigorous exercise. I mean semi, enough to get the heart rate up to know you are working and to have some sweat develop.

But I am Type 2 Diabetic and Insulin resistant. So, my main activities deal with resistant type of work outs. So lifting weights 3 times a week and biking 2 times a week.

Honestly if it was upto my desires and I had a good back, I be doing yoga 5 days a week with some biking.

Yoga allows endurance, resistance and relaxation.

maybe when I get closer to my goal weight my back will be better.

Exercise is secondary to adjusting the eating habits.

But if your body feels bad exercise is good. Not just good for the brain, or heart or immune system but it is good for the joints and back if you do the right types. Because it allows your joints and your back to move allowing the joint to re-hydrate along with the lumbar discs to get re-hydrated. For women walking helps with bone density as well.

But I definitely agree with people find something you like to do that requires movement and do it.

For a while (1.5 years ago) I was painting my rooms in house that is how I got back into moving again.

Also, if you need to do some exercise indoors, I like the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds videos. Her patter can be irritating at times, though. The exercise is walking based, so it can be as low impact as you want.

Have fun! Sometimes, it just feels good to move!

Frankly it's far too *hot* out now for me to park far in the parking lot, or do any outside walking. Two 10-15 minute walks with my dog, morning and late afternoon, just about does me in. But the layout of my house is such that you can walk around in a circle from the living room to the den to the kitchen, to the dining ell, and back to the living room again. And my house has central air! So lately I've been setting a timer and then just walking around the house in a circular motion until the timer goes off. It does get my dog very excited. My biggest issue is that I have one very bad knee. But I'm tryiing to get ready for a week at Disney World with my son, DiL and 2 grandkids next month.

Too hot might make you sweat, and that's a good thing.

I don't know your situation, but people existed billions of years without air conditioning in climates including the Sahara Desert.

Go for a walk, sweat, clean out your pores, and take a nice refreshing shower.

That is unless there is some medical reason why you cannot.

Bob