What kind of exercise does everyone do? How do you try to tone up all this flab? :faint: This is how I feel when I try anything that those skinny people demonstrate! Is there hope for us severely out of shape people, I know exercise is the key to keep the weght coming off, but I just can't do all that jumping around. I'd appreciate any suggestions:help:

I started out walking (very slowly) on a treadmill for 30 minutes. It's one month later and I'm up to 25 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the elliptical.

I don't have a pool nearby, but the exercise specialist suggested Water aerobics for people who are just starting a workout regime. Good luck!

I like classes but can never make them at the scheduled time, so I tend to do about 40 minutes on the elliptical, bike or rower (I use my Cardio Coach Volumes on my Mp3 to make it fun and the time flies) and then I do about half an hour of weight work. Anyone could do that, no matter how overweight, just by adjusting the time you spend and speed at which you do your cardio etc. It doesnt take coordination or special knowledge.

Ideally, during the year I do this 3-4 times a week, at the moment, its our long school holidays here, the kids are off school till February so I'm having a lot of trouble getting to the gym. I cant do much at home becuase I dont have any equipment, and I cant do anythign weight bearing like walking or exercise DVD's because of my ankle.

water aerobics kicks butt (in more ways than one) and is easy on the joints, etc. i LOVE it, and if you're afraid of the bathing suit, just let me tell you, i'm never the largest one in the class, and that's saying something. the group that is in my class is very diverse... older folks, men, women, "skinnies", "chubbies" (like me), and all kinds of people. it's fun, and you can go at your own pace. i wish you luck and hope it's something you'll enjoy if you try it.

I agree, Water aerobics is awesome. I love it. I have been going 2X a week but am thinking of going more often. The strange part is that the nutritionist I just saw told me that water aerobics isn't enough! She said it doesn't get your heart rate up. I didn't disagree with her, but I work up a sweat and come out of there red-faced (that's how I know if I've gotten my heart rate up in addition to sweating and a feeling it pump harder).

Other than walking outside, I find land-based exercise boring. I have done the elliptical but overall it's just no fun. That's why I stick to the water and walking outside when it's nice.

I'm not banded yet, and intend on doing water workouts afterwards as well.

I was going to the gym and then i stopped so i bought myself a treadmill from Walmart.com..I love it, I just got it about two weeks ago. I have to start myself slow. So i have been doing about 10-25min each day and i try to do @ least .5-1 mile a night when i do exercise. I will work my way up to a half hour but for now i have noticed that any exercise is better then nothing.Kristen

I don't mean to hijack this post, but what time of day does everyone exercise? morning or evening / before or after eating? Thanks C.

Its generally a morning thing for me, I drop the boys off at school, Eliza to daycare and then I go to the gym. Get home, showered and dressed and my day starts around 11.30 am. I cant exercise in the afternoon because there's no creche at the gym, and I couldnt leave Eliza home with the boy as she's not quite 3. Doug doesnt get home from work till 7.30, 8pm and if I went then, I wouldnt be able to get to sleep. Exercising at night keeps me wide awake for hours.

It's my goal to eventually invest in a home set up, when we have a house that will accommodate it, say a treadmill, a bike and a home gym weight station. I know when I go full time with my study and when I'm working, there is going to be no time for the gym. I'm going to have to get up at 5.30 in the morning to do it. At present I cant do that because Doug leaves for work at about 6.45, and the gym only opens at 6.

I have the option of doing the Water workouts at 7am on MW and at 12:30 Tue/Thurs during my lunch at work. It depends on the weather, if the roads aren't snowy I like the morning workout. Otherwise I'll do the lunchtime routine.

The sad part is....I have a complete weight system that we had to take down (it was in our bedroom) because we put up sheetrock, new carpet etc. in our bedroom. I didn't want that huge thing in our room, so my husband hasn't put it back up. I also have a Tony Little gazelle which I bought and used about 5 times. I really didn't like it after I tried the elliptical machine. Our house is much too small for all this stuff and we have a damp basement so we can't put it down there. We're thinking of getting another shed and putting up the weight machine out in the bigger garage. It's too bad to have the equipment and not be able to use it.

I also have a Tony Little gazelle which I bought and used about 5 times. I really didn't like it after I tried the elliptical machine.

I wanted to try the gazelle but I hadn't heard of anyone else who has worked out on it. so you think the elliptical is better?

I also love Water aerobics. I have a spinal fusion due to a car accident injury, and my orthopedic surgeon said it's a perfect exercise. My sister and I have gone 3 times a week for almost 3 years, and I htink we get a great workout. The water really gives you resistance yet also suupport. And you can work at your own level, which is great. If you work harder, you get a higher level of exertion. I can't wait until I can resume after surgery. I also am thinking that I'll join a fitness club so I can use the treadmill the days I don't do water aerobics...but I"ll have to see if my budget can stretch to that.

Speaking of treadmills, has anyone found one that can support people our size that is a reasonable price? Any suggestions would be welcome.

Emily

I find the trouble with water workouts (I do go to deep water running once a week when I can) is that I cant go anywhere in public without a shampoo, conditioning treatment and blow dry afterwards, lol. My hair if left to dry naturally is a big fluffy ball of cotton wool, I have to spend half an hour pulling it straight. So a 50 minute water aerobics class is a 3 hour ordeal for me, once I've driven there, and driven home and showered etc.

As cheesy as most people find it, I am a huge tae bo fan. Billy Blanks is a great motivator, has great faithful messages during the workout, and you can do any variation of the workout depending on your ability level.

There is no way you could get my whale of a butt in a bathing suit where others can see me LOL

Amy

I go to the local gym and do as much as I can on the Eliptical (until my heart rate gets over the limit) usually about 15 minutes. Then I go to the bike. I can only sit on that horrid little seat for so long - so it's usually another 15 on the bike. Then I move to the treadmill for another 10-15 - with the last 5 minutes being cool down to be sure my heart won't explode when I stop.

I try to throw in some crunches on an ab machine every so often to keep my back happy.

All of the machinery is adjustable to my very low exertion level - and the price is very reasonable in comparison with spending $2000 on a treadmill that will take the abuse of TWO people in the house over 300 lbs...

Speaking of treadmills, has anyone found one that can support people our size that is a reasonable price? Any suggestions would be welcome.

Emily

*The very cheapest I have seen - at the lowest recommended horsepower for someone over 350 is $1600. I think I saw that one on e-bay. Express Fitness is charging DH & me $288 per year for BOTH of us - so since we could use all the equipment for over 5 yrs and not have to worry about maintenance/repair it made more sense for us to just join the gym. (we got a "new location special" but it is still pretty reasonable to join)

Cissy - The gazelle I have has 3 levels of resistance, I've only been able to get up to the 1st level and within 20 minutes I'm sweating. I feel the elliptical is better for your rearend and legs, you can really feel it. The gazelle just doesn't compare. I find that my feet get cramps in them, I don't know why. It's too bad, I spent $450.00 on this machine and now I can't sell it, nobody is interested in it. It's brand new. I've talked to people on other websites who absolutely love it. So I guess it's either something you like or you don't.

Anyone here interested in a Gazelle?

Jachut - I know what you mean about the hair...I absolutely cannot let my hair dry on it's own. I don't get frizzy, but it just dries in the strangest styles!! :rofl: I have a fitness center at my work (I work for a university) and have a basket and padlock to keep all my stuff there. It takes me at least 45 minutes to get showered afterwards and do my makeup and hair, then I can go to work. My hair is very thick and it takes forever for it to dry even with a dryer. I hated having to tote all my stuff so I recently got myself stocked up on what I need. The only thing I can't bring with and keep there is a towel and the ones the gym provides would wrap around one leg!! I almost forgot it the other day, I would have been mortified to discover I had nothing to cover myself with after my shower. The girls in the locker room would have gouged their eyes out! :omg:

Hey FunnyDuddies - I felt the same as you at first. Then I realized that we're all there for the same reason and some women that go are as large as me. First I had a suit that had a skirt on it and I found the skirt would float up and get wrapped around my hands. So I bought a 1 piece and a pair of cover up shorts. That works great because there is no way anyone, even my family, would see me wearing a one piece suit!!! Not with the fat in my lower stomach hanging down!!! The shorts hide that and I feel good wearing what I have.

The part that makes me laugh the most is when you're jumping around in the Water your fat bobs up and down I told my friend one day that I was afraid I was going to start a tsunami :omg: in the pool. At least I can laugh at myself!!

I actually think I would try Billy Blanks when I get some of this weight off. Just watching his workouts makes me tired!

I just started an exercise routine after New Year's. I kept putting it off and putting it off :rofl:

I started off on my exercise bike (similar to this one, but mine is a few years old http://www.proform.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product2_10851_10151_12908_-1_11614) I did 1 mile the first night, then 1.5, then 2.5, 3, 4, and Thursday I did 5 miles in 20:10. Last night, I did my 5 miles in 19:50. Last night was the first time I've felt at all winded.

My goal with this first is to do 10 miles/40 minutes. Then 15 miles/60 minutes. 5 times a week.

I'm looking for some kind of activity I can do that will also work my upper body. I'm also considering trading the bike in for a treadmill when I either move, or hit 230 pounds. Whichever comes first

I'm currently exercising at night, because I shower at night. My hair is down to my butt, and if I shower in the morning, I have to go to work with wet hair - which in a Wisconsin Winter is a horrible idea. Also, my hair would stay wet til after Noon and it's not a very professional appearance. I get home from work around 6, eat dinner, relax until 7 or 7:30, then get on the bike.

I had an elliptical machine but I always felt off balance on that thing. I couldn't get into a good swing with it, because I felt off-kilter.

The bike isn't much for burning calories, so I hear, but the point for me right now is to exercise, get moving, get my heart rate up, build the strength up in my legs, make them sexy *grin*, and feel good because I'm up off the couch and *moving*.

Is anyone doing any sort of toning exercises that seem to be working, and are easy for people of size? I'd love to find some.