Need Some Help Getting Started
 

Hey there, I'm relatively new to exercise and need some help getting started.

There are a huge variety of exercises out there and searching online for exercises and videos is quite overwhelming to me. I have always been quite clumsy when it comes to exercise and have no idea if I'm even doing any of them right.

I know walking is probably my best bet right now since it's one of the easiest for me and I know I'm doing it right. However right now it seems to be hit and miss with the weather outside and with no access to a treadmill I'm wondering what kinds of exercises I can do inside with no special equipment.

I have thought of doing crunches since that targets the abs, and I can actually feel the muscles engage in that exercise. I have read that doing 10-20 a day can help but I don't really know if that's enough, or how often I should do them, or how long I should do them at a time, Or if there is any other exercises I should add to that.

Any sort of feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated :)
Thank You

Good for you for getting started!

Walking is great. Just as low key, but indoors, is turning up some music and dancing. Since you're worried about clumsiness, this will be best if you have a room where no one else will see you. Dancing without an audience will help you develop confidence in moving your body.

Someone is sure to advise the Walk Away the Pounds videos. I haven't tried them yet, but they are on my list.

My easiest dance videos are the Island Girl series -- they are always cheap at Amazon. Somehow, since I don't expect myself to be able to dance hula or Tahitian dance correctly, the fact that I do them with less grace than the dancers on the screen doesn't really bother me and they are good beginner workouts.

For strength training, I started with 10 Minute Target Toning for Beginners. Since I have a Netflix account, I can watch it instantly for free on my computer. It has 4 routines, targeting a different muscle group with each one. So, you can do 10 minutes each day and not hit the same muscles on consecutive days (which is a no-no).

To actually get myself to do the exercises, I'm using the monthly exercise challenge thread under the Chicks Up For a Challenge section. I set a goal of minutes per month and count all the minutes that I do any kind of exercise including strength training and yoga.

I LOVE Zumba and would recommend it to anyone. I take it in a class format, and so have never tried the videos, but I've heard they're great. My Zumba instructor always stresses that perfecting the steps isn't what's important - she wants us to keep moving, work up a sweat and have a great time.

And I do all three, even when the entire class is facing left and I'm facing right (happens all the time :))

30 Day Shred is a great video that I actually use - simple workout that you can really feel the next day.

Step Box exercises are good and only require an inexpensive step box. Some folks even make their own boxes and use online videos at home. You can set your rhythm and do basic steps, v steps, etc.

Zumba is good too and just needs a video.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

- D