I completely agree with Schmead's and JohnP's recommendations.
Start slowly. Try exercising for 5 minutes a day and slowly increase the time.
Start with walking, alternate the pace (you will need to give yourself intervals to catch up your breath at first) and only after you can sustain a really brisk walk for a while, start jogging.

Otherwise, my recommendation is to find a class that would be fun. I am a huge fan of Zumba. I can go to the class in a totally bad mood, mulling over some work issues in my head, and I walk out (sweaty as a pig) with a happy face and a big smile. At first, you may need to just march to the music as the more vigorous movements may be too much but the music will suck you in.

I agree with those who suggest you take it slowly with jogging/running. I did C25K about four years ago when I was about 275 lbs, but I thought I was doing it slowly enough that it would be okay. I had been doing low-impact aerobics and walking tapes for a while. I would re-do many of the c25K weeks because I wasn't ready to move to the next week's plan. But I was doing it!

I didn't finish the whole program, and never did a 5K run. About ten weeks into it, my ankle began giving me grief, and I went back to walking. Soon, I couldn't do much at all. Now I have achilles tendinitis, and some days it's all I can do to get down the seven steps from my bedroom floor to the living room floor in my home. I have to do ankle stretches every day, and I can't remember the last day I haven't been at least a 2 on the pain scale (of 1 to 10). Most mornings or after I get up after sitting a while it's about a 4 or 5, and as I warm up it gets down to a 3 or 2.

I still walk, after taking a complete exercise break (other than stretching). I'm up to 30-45 minutes now, which would have been impossible this time last year without a handful of Ibuprofen. And I definitely have to start out very slowly when I begin my walks.

That being said, I don't want to discourage you from exercise... just be aware of what you are doing and how your body is reacting. You may be much younger and healthier than I was, and you've lost more weight than I did before I tried c25k.

there are a lot of fun videos out there that are more exciting than Sansone and may better fit your energy and interest level. Look at collagevideo.com for the absolutely best selection. They allow you to select by beginner, intermediate, and advanced... low impact or high... style (dance, calisthenics, resistance training)... and even by instructor. And they have great reviews and allow you to preview most of the videos before you buy.

Kinsy, hey lady ! I have friends in your same situation. My advice to them is to put on a high energy dance song (or just go to youtube and browse some house/electonric/rap/remixes- whatever you like).

Make sure the song is at least 5 minutes and dance your heart out! I have found that I can burn up to 50-70 calories in just a short little minute routine! AND IT'S FUN!!!!

I have other friends who have committed to just 5 minutes a day. In about two months, my friend looked fabulous and it was just kinda out of the blue. Then he told me about the 5 minutes a day. It was all he could commit to and it worked! :)

Here is why to exercise:
The older we get, the more our brain changes. Originally, before doing all my workouts, I exercise because it helps the neurons in the brain function properly. The sodium potassium pumps and axons will fire more accurately, therefore allowing your brain to stay alert and quick. This may not seem like a big deal now, but it's good for your brain to.

It's not just about the physical aspect. It's about the entire mind/body/soul connection! :) And way to go for losing 50 pounds! :)

bar method dvds (from the official site not amazon, way overpriced on amazon) are about 17-20$s and a great workout that i find to be very motivating since you really do feel it the next day (not to mention during the workout) it is also accessible to people of all weights and fitness levels....i only just started exercising a few weeks ago after not exercising for maybe a year or more and after gaining 100lbs....so if i can do it, i'm sure you, or anyone, can too....also you do >not< need a barre !! ..just use a chair...there are some clips on youtube to show what type of exercise it is..very simple, but just as effective movements.....i must sound like an advertisement, but seriously...this is the only exercise i have ever acttually enjoyed and looked forward to doing

i used to live off of leslie sansone dvds...now i can' bear them

i've been trying out zumba dvds too, but i still suck at the steps :p ...but perhaps you are better coordinated then i am ?

both of these workouts motivate me, and i was very resistant to exercise for months....now i still am just a little bit resistant but it is just leftover from before..self-doubt trickling away, faster and faster the more exercise becomes a habit......

i hope you find something you like ! if anything, maybe just try to do some stretches everyday for 10-15 minutes and work your way up

Linsy when I started out I was soooo out of shape and now I can jogg at 3mph for 20mins straight!!!! We arent that different is weight I am 220 right now so dont let your size get you. You have done a great job thus far. At the end of the day its all about what YOU believe you can do! If you believe it you can acheive it dont lose hope

You can always do circuit exercises in your own home. There are plenty of cardio, floor based exercises that need minimal or no equipment. If you were going to invest in some fitness equipment I would go to walmart/kmart/target or wherever and buy a medicine ball (usefull in a lot of circuit type exercises as well as for targeting) and a jump rope (not the kiddie kind, but a fitness one)
Both are cheap and very useful. You can also go on youtube and find some cardio circuits you might enjoy :)
I personally believe diet is 80% of weight loss but fitness is so important, not only to prevent muscle atrophy but also because diet doesnt do anything for your cardiovascular strength/stamina.

Linsy, when I started I couldn't jog for 10 seconds either....literally! What helped me A LOT was weight lifting. I did a weight routine instead of a cardio routine and I still reaped the benefits of exercise (in fact it's proven to be more beneficial to me than cardio but each body reacts differently) but I didn't have to gasp and stumble and feel like I was going to pass out. I still broke a sweat and man I had some REAL sore days but I prefer it very much to cardio type exercises which means I'm more likely to do it more often.

I recently invested in the P90X program (started it last October, took December and January off and now I'm just getting back into it) and I really love it! It is very expensive though (around $130) but I bought mine for $50 on ebay and I have a friend who bought hers for cheap on craigslist. You do it at home, you get 13 different DVD's so you're never doing the same thing over and over and it really kicks your ***! It's one of the first things I've found that I actually ENJOY doing :eek:

You might try the local library for some videos. Mine has a lot of workout videos for free to check out. Or if you belong to something like netflix they have the play it now portion with a lot of fitness videos.

No one says you have to have actual weights to work out. Use water bottle, canned goods, or anything you can find. You would be surprised what you can find around the house.

If people watching you walk is an issue, could you go at different times when there is less traffic? EARLY mornings or late nights? Less people out and about.

Good luck.

Working up to running is a fantastic goal, I would love to one day and it is a LONG term goal for me, but at 266 with a similar activity level as you its going to take me awhile. Moving around at this weight is difficult enough.

I use Netflix and get a great variety of workout DVDs there. I get bored easily when working out so variety is key for me. I know if I fall in love with one I can find it on Amazon.

Also I download new pumping music whenever I can. Honesty, I'd rather listen to something like NPR on the radio. In 'real life' I wouldn't really ever go out of my way to listen to Lady GaGa or Ke$ha unless i'm out with friends, but those 'top 10' type songs are really fun and get me going on my Ipod while I'm walking. I love to listen to interesting Podcasts while walking, but I find something really loud and fast does make to walk faster.

And about being self conscious (sp)....well the quote is true: "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." - Eleanor Roosevelt Get on out there girl! ;)

exercise is very worth it. i had trouble finding the motivation as well, so i just made it routine. routine is far more steadfast than motivation is. the gym is a fantastic break from home, school, work, etc. especially if you have an iphone. ;)

the results are also so amazingly fast that it gets addicting. i don't feel tired after the gym, either -- i feel invigorated. it's far beyond worth it.

The only way to get better is to keep trying it.

When I started running on my treadmill I think the first day after 2 minutes I was DONE.

Now I can easily run half an hour to 45 minutes on my treadmill at a decent 4.5 pace. I'm not a fast runner but I have some endurance at least!

I tried the c25k and didn't care for it- the music selections with the stuff I downloaded was terrible so I kind of just did my own thing, warm up a few minutes, then run as much as I could, then slow down and then walk a bit, then run again. :)

My nutritionist told me just start out with a few minutes a day- and you'll see over time you'll say "I can go longer" and you will :) As for a goal to look towards how about this will help you lose more weight AND will make you healthier :D

The key is to keep at it- there were days I had to tell myself "GET UP AND DO IT RIGHT NOW!" and I'd go do it and when I was done I'd feel great- try to remember how you feel after a workout- that really helps :)

I have a music player so I listen to music when I am out. Or you could get a book reader.