[Candeka]

You aren't supposed to be dog tired broken after a workout either. A "light sheen" is fine -- and get a heart rate monitor if you want to track your progress more accurately. Sometimes a bad mood can color your feelings about a workout and make it seem something more or less than was it was on the HRM.

Yeah I am very out of shape, so it is easy for me to go past the 85% heart rate zone. My heart rate monitor is awesome for telling me to slow my butt down. It yells at me if I leave between 65-85% of my target zone which is really handy for knowing when I'm being lazy or when I need to take it down a notch.

[ddovii]

Originally Posted by berryblondeboys

The trend right now is to make exercise short and sweet, but HARD. That is so not necessary. Walking every day, increasing your pace over time is perfectly fine exercise. Exercise should not be painful. if it is, you won't continue with it. I just don't get that mindset.

Find something you enjoy doing and do it, challenging yourself to do a few minutes more or something. or get yourself a pedometer or heart rate monitor or even a fitbit, bodybugg, or bodymedia thing like bodybugg to help you push yourself little by little.

Cosign 100% on this. I've found that my pedometer is my best exercise tool. I never would have started walking if I hadn't injured myself running, but I'm finding that walking is just as effective because it's easier to do it more often and for longer. With running, I enjoyed it but I had to do the whole outfit, running shoes, find a place to run thing. Walking is the one exercise you can basically just spur of the moment just walk out your door and do it. I've discovered a bunch of pretty parks and areas I never would have visited, just looking for new walking areas.

The pedometer is fun because I feel driven to keep going until I reach my set goal, and it's very satisfying to hear it beep when I finish. I use a cheapo one and like it, but I'm lusting after the "striiv", which is not just a pedometer but motivates you with games and goals.

Good luck either way. Throw the "no pain no gain" idea out the window... you should not have to be in pain!