Where did you begin?

[Orphalie]

Just started working out again. The last few weeks I was walking. I have some immune problems and my joints hurt alot so hard impact scares me. My husband does P90X every day and has a strict routine he's not willing to change but we really want to work out together to motivate eachother. So I gave in and decided I'd do P90x with him for a week and see how it goes. I told him I didn't think I could keep up and he just said do your best and we started. Plyometrics was rough. I managed to do the motified version for about 40 minues. Then I was done. Didn't want to be so sore I'd quit tomorrow.

My question is where did you start? I feel like I'm so horribly out of shape. I know I can't keep up with the hubby but where should I start out so that I don't injure myself but increwase my level of fitness steadily?

[Naeemah74]

I started by marching/jogging in place for 10 minutes at a time a few times a day; while listening to a few songs on my playlist, or while watching tv, or as a break from homework (instead of snack breaks to get my energy up I take exercise breaks. Works better than junk food and no crash or calories). Eventually I worked in some side steps and some kicks and punches, modified jumping jacks and then regular jumping jacks. I've also found Leslie Sansone's walking workouts really helpful. They're pretty simple and as you advance you can 'jog' instead of 'walk'.

Hubby and I did P90X and it IS very intense, but like you I modified and just kept moving until I got better. Keep trying everything until you find what works for you. Good luck.

[skoolmarm729]

I will 2nd the vote for Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds. It's a great place to start!

[rose1]

Walk away the pounds and Callanetics. Callanetics is very gentle, no impact on joints, no bouncing and flailing away, pulls you in and tightens you up like no other exercise and you go at your own pace. You can lose 2 dress sizes without losing a pound, so combined with diet, imagine.

[skoolmarm729]

I just wanted to add that The Biggest Loser Power Walk is another great starting point!

[coffeelover]

Back in January, I started doing a 30 min weight circuit at the gym along with very short walks outside (perhaps 10-15 min). Then I built the walk up to 20 minutes per day. Two weeks ago I started doing the original Power 90. My goal is to eventually be able to do P90X. For the past few days I've been walking 20 mintues twice a day. Slowly but surely I'm getting more fit! Good luck to you.

[MargeGunderson]

I have a lot of pain and mobility issues that pretty much cancel out most forms of exercise. But I discovered walking with ankle weights doesn't hurt any more than walking without them, so that maximizes the limited walking I can handle.

I wear the ankle and wrist weights all around my home. At first I would consciously try to do some leg lifts and some arm lifts every hour or so as I worked on here or watched a movie or whatever. Now I find myself lifting my limbs frequently without even realizing it or watching the clock, and high-stepping as I pace back and forth like I always have while I'm cooking/ turning my bacon/monitoring my dinner, etc.

Now I've added a half-hour walk all around in here raising and lowering my arms repeatedly in the morning, and one in the evening high-stepping with the weights on my ankles (still wearing them all day so all walking is maximized).

Instead of watching the clock trying to get that half hour done without giving up, I pull up one of my iTunes mixes, count off roughly 30 minutes of music and, instead of tediously watching the clock, just zone into the music and listen for the song that signals the end of that session.

And the best bonus of the wrist weights? I'm technically burning fat and building muscle as I stuff my face!

[GypsyLizze]

Originally Posted by MargeGunderson

And the best bonus of the wrist weights? I'm technically burning fat and building muscle as I stuff my face!

Thanks for the tip. I have some (probably rather dusty) ankle weights and believe it or not though I haven't worn them in a while I do know exactly where they are. I need to get some new wrist weights, though. Also, I love your avatar! My husband has a very old and well worn tshirt with that same cartoon on it.


I have also just barely started exercising again after several years of pretty much nothing at all. I started this week on the couch to 5K program. It's not easy. Apparently I roll my ankles when I walk/run and until I get some good running shoes the impact of both is traveling straight up through me. OUCH! I knew it was going to be very painful at the start but I picked this particular program because it is regimented. Even if no one else knows I will know if I skipped a day so it's harder to cheat or come up with excuses, which is what I need.

I have been reading about Callanetics (sp?) on this board and am also very interested in that. I need something to strengthen my core and especially my back but which will also be much lower impact that I can do on the days between my 5K training so I think that will be my next step. I know it draws from yoga and ballet and my 5 year old daughter is excitedly taking her first ballet classes right now so it might even be something that we could do together.

I guess whatever you decide the best thing would be to find something that you can stick to and then make sure you do it. I've always been great at starting things but pretty sucktastic at follow-through. This time around instead of keeping it all to myself so I have no one to be disappointed in me if I fail I'm telling EVERYONE! That way I know that while I'm not necessarily accountable to them I know that they will at least notice if I don't follow through so it's giving me more motivation.