Need to Get Moving - Need Help!

Hello Hot little sexy pouches! 

So I'm 6 weeks out and got the ok from my doctor to start exercising. At this point, he said I can pretty much try to eat whatever I want as long as I stop when I'm full. The pouch loves cheezeits, but I try to stay away from them! The pouch also loves tortilla chips with ground turkey and cheese (tons of protien you should try it out). I have yet to exercise. I at the very least started taking the stairs at work. Instead of the elevator I walk up the four flights! That's got to count for something. Does anyone have any tips on how to break into the exercising? I'm just not quite ready to jump in full force. I'm scared like in the past I'll end up dreading it! 

Any advice you could provide would be lovley! :) 

Hey There Darling,
I know exactly what your going through. I started seriously 1 day per week at the gym. I picked up a Zumba Class or a Cardio Class and that was it. Now I do 3 days a week and then stay after for a 15 minute eliptical walk/run type thing. Baby steps are better then no steps and YES OF COURSE YOUR 4 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS COUNT. Goodness your going to have buns of steel working out those stairs! 

For me, group classes help because I'm basically forced to do whatever it is they are doing.  If it was left up to me, I would probably find every excuse not to exercise.  But do something you enjoy..if you absolutely hate the gym, don't go!  Try DVD's at home or maybe invest in a piece of home gym equiptment.  Every little bit counts and does help...so keep parking far away from stores and taking the stairs.  It's a gradual process, so don't burn out right away by doing too much.  

Good luck!!

~Emily~ 

I'm not much of a gym rat, simply because it's a pain in the ass to get on the machines at the fitness center at my college. I like the gym, I just don't want to stand around forever to get in my exercise.

What I do for exercise:

1.) I bowl. One to two nights a week in league, maybe practice here and there. Not great for cardio, but good for things like balance (i.e. core strengthening) and muscle control. Plus, it's fun, competitive, and doesn't feel like exercise.
2.) I have to walk. A ton. My campus is rediculously spread out. It takes me 10-15 minutes just to walk from my car to the buildings. And I'm usually carrying heavy stuff while I'm doing it. I count it as exercise. And I have to do it anyway.
3.) I walk. Two miles a day, at least. Grab your cell phone, ipod, or whatever, and get out there. Some days, I just stroll and contemplate life, and the next thing I know, I'm an hour away (on foot) from my house. And, if you're talking to a friend while you're walking, you don't even know you're exercising.
4.) Exercise ball. I own one. it sits in front of my television. Do some balance exercises and sit-ups and stuff while watching your favorite shows. Passes the time, and again, you don't even realize you're doing something healthy.

This summer has been an activity heaven. I've been on two float trips (walking, swimming, lifting, all in one vacation). I've been walking more than my share at the Illinois State Fair. Summer is great for swimming, and I have several friends with pools. Bowled in a very competitive summer league. When I've gone out, I've been dancing. I'm a horrible dancer, but it's fun, and it's good exercise. Sand volleyball, playing catch, camping, all of it.

I think the moral of the story is to just get out there and do something. Exercise doesn't have to be strictly in the gym or strictly traditional. Get active, and you will see the results.

Good Luck!!! And have fun!

good luck on the exercising dilemma- it was really hard for me to break into it too. honestly, you gotta try to figure out what works for you and what doesn't, and then just go for it. i hated the gym cause i always felt so outta place and i avoided it, i also learned i dreaded exercising so the whole process of getting to it was bad [i.e. if i had to drive somewhere, or get someplace or wait for someone to start] no bueno. i started by playing ddr in my bedroom because no one could see me, it didn't feel like exercise, it was easy to tell when i improved, and i could do it whenever i wanted. now it's hard for me to get my heart pumping enough with just the ddr so i started running in my neighborhood... now that i'm lighter it feels awesome, and i'm less self conscious. just try to think about things like, will someone else with me keep me accountable or hold me back/ what are my excuses usually/ what parts don't i like/ what parts do i like/ and then just try, try, try. there's so many things out there, something will work for you1

I'm still pre-op, but I definitely recommend trying to find something that you enjoy.  For me, I actually love water aerobics.  Seems silly, but I like it!  And I reward myself with 10 minutes in the hot tub when class is over :) 

Definitely the stuff other people recommended is great (walking & such) but I do know that, though it might be intimidating, you should try out classes and stuff at a gym, or use the library to test out some DVD's to find one(s) you like, or find a part of town that's fun to walk (my husband and I like to walk and check out houses and talk about the ones that are the type we'd like to buy someday), or see if you could rent / borrow a Wii to try out Wii Fit or some of the more active Sports games, find some local rec leagues in the sport of your choice (anything from softball to basketball to rugby to frisbee golf!), etc... find something that you enjoy so that you'll stick with it. 

There's some level of just making yourself whether you want to or not, because your body needs it, but if you can find something you enjoy you are so much more likely to stick with it. 

I actually enjoy exercise but I'm so big that my body can't take it anymore- my feet and back and, as of today when the husband and I went for a walk, the right knee just can't take it.  Boo.  Can't wait to join you in sweat-land!