So tonight was the night I stopped procrastinating.

While sitting on my couch watching a repeat of the Biggest Loser and planning my trip to the gym tomorrow I remembered some advice from this board and I thought why wait 'til tomorrow to exercise?

But since I've moved and don't have any equipment in my new apt I did an arm routine from exercise tv with a bottle of soy sauce and a carton of salt. It wasn't the most intense exercise I ever had but it felt good just to get started.

So I wanted to ask...what was your first step towards exercise on this journey?

It sounds strange because most people get lazier when they can drive... but learning to drive! I only learned to drive in May of this year and the first thing I did was drive to the gym and sign up! It was such a great feeling for me - I felt like my entry into adulthood had been delayed by not learning to drive until I was 23 and once I had that power I was going to use it to make myself the most fabulous I could be. Once I had the gym membership it was like riding a bike for me - I used to work out A LOT in high school.

I started out walking in place 5-15 minutes and gradually built from that. Now I do 90 minutes, 5 days a week cardio and 3 days full body weight/strength. I use DVDs, the Wii, hand weights and stability ball.

My first steps were Walk Away the Pounds dvds. I still do them every once in a whle.

love the soy sauce/salt carton improv, congrats on doing that too, I have had many hump moments with exercise (will I? won't I? do I have to??? heh heh).

My first step was literally a first step. I started walking in my neighborhood. I would do it rain, snow or shine. I like doing work outs at home, and I do lots of other stuff now, including the gym. In fact, thanks for making me think back, because on those first days of just going out and walking, I would never have been able to envision how much I can do now.

my first step was getting to the gym and walking 10 minutes on the treadmill.

I knew I had to take some type of exercise class where I would either have to finish it or deal with the shame of walking out in the middle, so I took a step class at the gym. I wanted to die halfway through but I made it until the end and felt so tired yet so good after it was over.

Wow...thanks everyone for posting. My problem is I start out good for about 2-3 weeks and then just stop....I don't think I've ever worked out for a whole month!!!!

my first step was to put on a knee length navy blue bathing suit and creep into the pool about fifteen minutes before closing time....

The first day I managed two laps of freestyle... Now I can do a half mile!

My first step was just to move more than I had been. I got a perimeter and learned the first that I was only walking about 1000 steps a day. The second week, I upped my steps to 3000 and then started giving myself a higher minimum limit every week. Sometimes I would walk around the building after work to get some more steps in before getting in my car.

I also used the Walk Away the Pounds dvd and still use them on days that I have trouble walking outside or getting to the walking track.

I've been wondering if I should get a pedometer...

I started out when I looked outside and noticed the lawn needed mowed. I thought maybe I could fit behind the steering wheel of the tractor, (I had lost about 80 pounds by then) but my stomach was still to big to sit and maneuver it comfortably...so I got out the push mower and started pushing. I mowed until I thought I was going to puke, and then the next day I started out where I left off. I repeated that everyday for a week until I had mowed our entire 2.5 acre yard with the push mower. By the time I got done, it was time to start the process all over again. NOW I can push mow the entire lawn in about 4 hours. (That includes one break). A few weeks ago I had to buy a new blade for the push mower, I had literally worn out the old one. My hubby (and sons) are thrilled because they never have to mow anymore.

About the end of March, I had been on my plan for about 6 weeks. I did a cardio DVD from time to time, walking my dog in the evenings, but did not have an exercise plan. I was flipping through a magazine on my hour lunch break at work one day when I realized I could get in some great walking instead of sitting during my lunch. My offices assistant director eats at her desk so she can take an aerobics class down the street, so I could eat at my desk before or after my lunch hour and have the whole hour free. I decided that I would just go around the block. I could go back to reading once I had done that one block. Well, once I was out there, it seemed silly to only go one block so I started going as far as I could during my break. Within a month, I was walking over 2 miles everyday. Now I can't stand not going. Some days I will have stuff I should work on (working on my Master's so there is always school stuff to work on) or it will be really hot, so I decide that I am not going to walk, but one o'clock comes around and I'm putting on my sneakers to go walk. I just kind of added stuff on after that.