This is the end of my first week of changing the way I live and I've lost 5.8 pounds. I haven't really done any exercise, though...and from past experience I know that when I do the weight comes off more consistently.

So, starting tomorrow I'm going to (force) myself to get up earlier before work to walk 30 minutes around the park five times a week. My park is literally right across the street. I really don't have any excuse. lolol

The reason why I say force is because I hate waking up at the time I actually get up for work. Definitely not a morning person, but this will be good for me.

How do y'all stay motivated to exercise?

I exercise in the evening, because I'd never do it if I had to get up early to do so. (Sometimes I squeeze it in during the afternoon.)

I also try to make sure I do things I enjoy at least a little: I have some dance-based DVDs and a yoga one; I walk outside when the weather is nice only; often I exercise in front of the TV during a show I like.

I started exercising at 5 minutes a day, and added minutes slowly. I'm up to 20 a day, sometimes as much as 45. My last motivator is knowing that people who lose major amounts and keep it off average 60 minutes of exercise a day (according to the National Weight Control Registry). So if I want to get in that club, I know I want to build up to an hour a day.

Congrats on the lifestyle change and the loss! Join us on the exercise thread -- log your minutes!! That helped me a lot in the past!!

Vortex, keep up the good work! I guess I chose 30 minutes because I know that's the longest I can go right now. I walked with an employee around our work place a couple months ago and 30 definitely winded me quite a bit (more than quite a bit if we're being honest). It almost killed me, but that's a challenge I'm trying to overcome.

As for morning time vs evening...I always have more energy when I wake up than when I get off from work. It's going to be hard, and if for some reason I don't I'll have to suck it up when I get home.

I was thinking about getting a treadmill, but I don't know...I had gotten an elliptical machine a couple years ago, got on it for 10 minutes and literally never got back on it again. I ended up selling it.

Thanks, Heather! I think I will.

I did it! It wasn't easy. I went to bed way later than I had planned, but that didn't stop me. I feel better and hopefully I will continue this energy for the rest of the day!

I haven't been on the forum for awhile and yours was the first post I read after I logged in. I wanted to tell you, your goal has inspired me. I, too, live across the street from a park. It takes up the entire block, actually. Since this winter has been so mild, there's no excuse for me not to walk around the park. Thank you for the inspiration.

Do you have an iPhone? There's an app you can get called Walkmeter that will use GPS to track your walks. You can keep track of the number of miles you walked using this app on a Web site called DailyMile.com. I mention it because I just started using it and think it's a cool way to see the progress you are making.

At this early stage in the game I couldn't imagine being/saying anything of inspiration. But thank you! You definitely put a smile on my face.

Get out there! I sometimes feel like the hardest part is thinking about it. The more you think about it the more unappealing it becomes. If we just do it and get it over with...easier said than done I know!

I don't have that, I have an android. But you did encourage me to look up something like it! So, I'll probably start using it. Thanks!