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?

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.

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!!

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!

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!

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.