Looking for someone *****members...

So...I am 54 years old and haven't done any exercise since I was in middle school.  Shameful, I know. I don't know why I am not dead or worse-physically limited or in a wheelchair or something due to my own sloth.  However for whatever reason I am in reasonably good health. Please don't judge me. I am doing something about it.  I truly don't want to just lose my weight. I want to be proud of myself and physically fit.

For many of you this probably won't mean much but...I walked a difficult mile just a few minutes ago. It was in a horse pasture with some (very) small hills up and down, some places muddy and boggy since we (finally) had a good rain. I was feeling a sting in the backs of my calves and I felt so happy. I am tired but energized.

What I am wondering is...is there somebody out there *****members what it was like to start out small and simple?  Can you make any suggestions that will help me continue on my way?
Did you make yourself accountable to anybody for your walk/workout? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. If this same question has been posted a million times--please forgive.

Thanks!
jan

Everyone here can relate EXACTLY with you. We were all the there. It starts with your first step! Try www.c25k.com and come an post everyday on our daily excercise thread. I have been doing it everyday for 2 1/2 years and helps keep me accountable, Welcome and don't be a stranger!

Thank you!  I will...and I won't!  =)

Thank you for the welcome, the link to c25k; I will post everyday on the exercise thread to be acccountable and I won't be a stranger!

 keep it up for a bit and you will be addicted.. to this board and to working out!  The only advice I would give you is stay consistent.  If you have a bad few days, get right back at it.  

You got this!

Good! That is so what I want. I WANT to be addicted! I know consistency is the key. I am hoping I won't embarrass myself.... I have already put myself out there on some boards hoping that will afford me some accountability.... Edited to say...Oh ye-ah! I got this!

we all start out on this journey pretty limited.  Sounds like that mile you walked today was pretty adventurous.  the softness of grass and much is great for your joints, but much harder (cardiovascular-wise) to walk on than a sidewalk.

Just start out with as much as you can do, repeat the same thing a few times and then add a little more, or go a little faster, and repeat that a few days.  You'd be amazed how much better you feel after a few weeks.  and tha's just walking!!!

Accountablility is important.  You can post on our exercise thread every day.

When I first started out, I set a goal of exercising for 30 min. per day, 3X week.  If I did that for a whole month, I bought myself a present, which was predetermined to be a popcorn maker that I wanted (this was pre-op, some post-ops don't eat popcorn).  I also rewarded myself with new exercise clothes/sneakers along the way - all "healthy" rewards.

Thank you so much.  I think I will set my first goal as exercising for 30 mins. a day 3X a week for a month. The "healthy" rewards sound good too. 

Good for you for making the decision to get active! Walking is a great way to start and do forever if that's your activity of choice.

I can remember being exactly where you are and it wasn't that long ago. I had surgery in March of this year. In April, I would go walk the track and sometime I would run the straight stretches. It was SO hard. I worked up to walking 3 1/2 miles and running little bits of it. Yesterday, I ran 8 miles. It's amazing how you can progress as the weight is coming off and you're consistent.

Hang in there and I look forward to your posts! Reading the posts on the daily exercise thread amaze me every day. 

Valley! You have come so far in such a short time! I truly hope I can follow in your footsteps! (pun intended!)  Thank you for the encouragement.

Hey, Jan. I am right here with you. I started the c25k the other day. I just finished week1 day3 about an hour ago. It took me all day to finally get started. But, once I did it then I knew I had to fini**** and I feel great!!  I do read a lot of what these guys put on here everyday and they also make me feel motivated. I love it here. I want to do this everyday. I just have to work it in my schedule and so far everyday since I have started I have done so :)

Just try it and you will feel so much better.....Thankful for the rain we finally got today!!!!