[thewalrus0]

Okay, I'm not "lazy" exactly. I have a tendency to pick an exercise that is too hard for my body and after a week or two of going at it with all I've got I just stop and then I feel bad for stopping and my diet suffers.

I love exercise and my goal after reaching 170lbs is to become a runner by completing a Couch 2 5k, but I definitely want to start exercise before that. I'm planning to start walking first.

Does anyone here walk for weight loss?

I am more of a cardio girl but I understand the benefits of weight training. I'm just not very good at it yet. I'd like to start first with cardio. No exercise is worse than only doing cardio, though I plan to one day do cardio and weight training.

I think I want to get in the habit of 30 mins, three times per week with a day of rest inbetween.

I'm going to begin the "Walk to Mordor" challenge and start logging my miles. Walking is the easiest exercise for me but I've done a lot of exercises and that I've enjoyed. Biking, swimming, yoga and pilates are a few good ones.

I suppose I'm looking for some beginner advice. Should I just start walking three times a week, thirty minutes and go from there?

[gatorgirl6]

I think the best exercise for a beginner is to get out there and get moving regularly. All that you mentioned are great - walking, swimming, biking, etc. Try to push yourself some. Maybe try the couch to 5 k program. It will add some jogging into your walking routine and it will get your heart rate up. I normally will do 25-30 min of running/walking and then 20-25 min on the bike. I ride hard on the bike so it really does get my heart rate up, but it doesn't have as harsh of impact on the joints (I have a bad ankle). I don't find that I am sore the next day. I think it is because biking after a run allows my muscles to not cramp up. Plus you can track both of those for miles on your walk to mordor.

[westcoast rosa]

Unless you have a medical issue preventing you from starting the couch to 5k program, go for it now. No need to wait until you hit 170 lbs. I started at 265 and at 231 can now comfortably run 5k without stopping. It is amazing and really helping me lose the weight.

Go for it!!

[kelly315]

I love walking! I'm occasionally picking up and running for short distances (now less than a minute at a time) but don't want to get to the point where I don't exercise because it's "just too hard." I'd rather walk everyday and build some endurance for the stuff that comes later!

[thewalrus0]

Thanks for the suggestions! At my weight I've noticed extra pain on my ankles and feet and just yesterday I did something to my hip and it hurts quite a bit.

I really like swimming and in October we Alaskans get a dividend from the state so I'm going to sign up for the gym here that has a pool. There's one by my work I could go to on days I don't have classes.

Winter is on it's way and it's already getting really cold in the mornings.

I think for my first exercise plan I'll do the swimming, and then I'll add in walking/biking. I want to eventually switch it up each week to keep my body guessing and then I can start weight training too.

I just don't want to burn out like I always do. Swimming is relaxing and low impact but it's movement that I don't normally get. I think it's a good start and then I can go from there.

Thanks everyone!

[NoPainNoLoss]

I walk for exercise every day. I lost 20 pounds for now. I walk about an hour or so. I first started to walk when I left my security job. I was mortified because I got up to 355-360 pounds. My first days of walking I went around the block a couple of times and my feet blistered up and I was in pain. Do not get discouraged though walk the amount you can an increase it when you feel comfortable, its not a race. I increased my walks to 30 minutes because I needed to walk back and fourth to college. Today I weight 318-320 and I walk an hour a day, I cover about 3-4 miles. It gets easier, right now I come back home and my legs do not hurt anymore so its time to increase my distance. In terms of rest if I need to I rest on the third day, I walk for 2 days then rest on the third. I do not take breaks for more then 2 days because I begin to lose my progress and my muscles begin to cramp again after the same distance. I also rest on injuries, I had sprained ankles, sprained toes and pain in the knees. Do not forget the most important part is also calorie intake, i personally dropped all junk food, soda, starch, butter, baked goods, reduced salt and increased water intake. It sounds like a contradiction but since I started drinking more I began noticing my water weight drop with ease. Everyone body is different in terms of diet, I see people lose weight and still eat high carbs like bread and pasta. I cannot, I gained like 10 pounds in one week eating bread. I stick to lean protein like chicken and I boil eggs, I eat fish. I eat salad which still has carbs but they are very low. I also drink lots of water.

p.s. If you start developing pain in your joints from walking I would recommend swimming instead.