[nmpuppycat]

When in doubt...walk. It's simple, doesn't require special equipment, except good shoes. Doesn't cost a thing unless you buy new shoes or maybe an ipod for music. You can do it as long as you want. You can take a break at anytime and continue later. If you have never excercised, try walking around the block once a day. Then after a week or so move up to twice a day. The nice thing about walking is you can walk as fast or slow as you want or your body will allow. Of course, the faster and longer you walk, the more calories you burn. The goal of burning calories can come later. You have to get out there and off your butt first!

[nmpuppycat]

I walk everyday. I have since I was a little girl as I used to walk with my grandma who walked 2 miles a day until she passed at 81 years old. Even if it rains or snows, if you can get to a mall, you can walk there. Just try not to shop or you'll go broke!!!! LOL! I also have workouts from The Firm that I love, but since I live in the desert and regualar air conditioning is a foreign concept here (we have a swamp cooler, never heard of one of those until I moved here...all I can tell you is it does not cool!!) I am waiting until it cools off before I start those again otherwise I'll still be sweating at 10 pm with the lack of proper A/C, the phen, and the workout!!!!

[kimberpc]

I really think walking and swimming are the 2 best exercises to get started with.... great for anyone... even someone with lots of extra pounds to lose Especially the swimming... no impact!!

[2peaches]

Hi, I am new, but I just wanted to say that I live in hot and steamy, mosquito heaven Florida and I do use the excuse that it is too hot to workout or walk or etc.

I bought some of the WATP walk away the pounds dvd's from Gaiam about 2 weeks ago and I love the 30 minute walk and the walk away the stress DVD's.

I do them in the pool and I do them in the house. They are quick and fast. Just try!

[polo_bint]

As I have had 4 hip operations just to my left hip... and currently awaiting many more on the right hip, I piled on the pounds as I did not exercise at all in just over 3 years.

Previously, I was so muscular and partook in many sports on a county and national level. All my muscle went within just over a year and the flab started to show.

Now I am able to get up and walk, and exercise in general. I started off just swimming and it was extremely hard to begin with as even the weight of the water caused a lot of pain on my joints. Naturally, I was stopping and starting, unsure if I should have been feeling the kind of pain I was feeling.

My surgeon reassured me to stick with it all. And within 2 weeks things were feeling great.

The problem was I had no muscle around my hip joints to support the kind of exercises I wanted to do.

Swimming was the very best form of exercise to build and strengthen them.

He then moved me on to the exercise bike which is where I am at now.

All with minimal impact on joints which can not withhold impact to a degree.

I still have to be careful though, as my right hip still has not been operated on yet, and degenerative changes may not make it possible for me to undergo the surgery I need, so I know all too well just how difficult it is trying to find the right form of exercise and for how long to do them.

Naturally, I would still rather not do any at all lol, and like many of us, I have to really push myself to exercise.

Walking is also difficult for me, as I walk with a slight limp and if I do tend to walk for longer periods, my limp gets extremely more noticable. I can not stand the thought of people thinking I have a problem, and quiet honestly I am fed up with people asking what is the matter lol.

At least people don't ask me why I am so big!!!!

And because of that reason, I would live in a swimmng pool, as noone can see my limp!!!

Odd thing is, I need to lose weight for future operations, but I am in more pain from losing weight then when I was 19st 7lbs!!! I had no pain in my hips whatsoever when I was at my largest!!!

I think I must be one of those "odd" ones hehehehe.

I was worried abut what I looked like in a swimming costume also, it took me a whole year to gain the courage I needed to actually buy one and go swimming, the longer I left it, the flabbier I became, and the more work I now have to do to try and firm up. I wish I had started exercising again long ago, I was "ok" with being larger, I can not stand being flabby!!!!

Everyone needs to start somewhere, and I am glad I started exercise little and often when I did, albeit a year or so too late!!!! If I could turn the clock back I would have stuck with the swimming from day one. I don't know what I was so afraid of!

Much rather been seen large in a swimming cozzie, then flabby in one!!!!

[wini]

I wanted to bring back this thread.

Obesity will kill you. Obesity will not allow you to live as old as your parents. Obesity causes back pain, joint pain, ankle pain, feet pain. Why? Humans aren't meant to be overweight. There is no excuse not to work out and eat right.

Just as obese want respect and space in public places, so do the skinny. We all want to sit with spouses and no one wants to be obese. But don't sit down next to me and put half of your weight on top of my right or left arm.

You don't need a diet, and you don't need pills.

Just exercise like crazy and live longer.

Because no cardiologist can do a cardiac catheterization safely on anyone over 250lb. High risk of complications from just trying to fix a bad blood vessel in the heart.

Our world is a bit sad. We're eating ourselves to Death. And the other half is starving to death in Africa/India.

[kimchi]

Well, I live in Alaska, and I have problems being active. It is sometimes too cold outside, or my friends can't come over. I mean, I know that there is snowboarding, skiing, skating, etc. But I find those sports very hard and boring. I think it would be nearly impossible for ME to that 100 lbs... :(

[marino316]

Originally Posted by jessielynn0521

When I began I needed to loose over 100lbs I have back,knee and ankle trouble the only workout I found that worked excellent for me is the core secrets workout it didnt put added strain on my back knees or ankles so maybe that is something that she should check with her dr about but I love the core secrets workout!! love it love it love it

I have the same trouble with my joints and working out in a pool has made a HUGE difference for me- no impact.
It's more cardio than most people would think.