Ok so I'm down 36lbs and six weeks out so I figure now's as good of a time as any to start exercising/weight lifting. I'm horribly out of shape though (as I'm sure a lot of us here are). I'm looking for tips from those of you who hadn't been an overweight but in great shape person prior to surgery (if that makes sense - you know a big guy that's even bigger b/c he lift a ton of weights and works out). Someone recommended insanity, but I think I'll fall out from a heart attack lol the name alone scares me. I'm going to the gym tonight for the first time in a while to start on cardio and some weights... for motivation I've already signed up and paid for a "Run for your Lives" Zombie 5k that's coming here in June (You should seriously check it out - the youtube videos are insane). I've never run except to chase an ice cream truck as a kid so this should be interesting. I have the C25K app but I can't even handle the day one routine of jog 90 sec, walk 60, for 30 mins...

So.. tips... How should I start this process? I DO have a bad knee... but everything else is fine. I need to build up endurance for the run and strength/muscle too for some of the obstacles (and to tighten up/prevent loose skin in the process).

Would love to hear what you guys/girls did!

101 with any exercise regime for beginners. Start slow....don't run out and do P90x or Insanity especially if you are really out of shape. You may do more damage than good. Mix it up with free weights, full body type movements....gauge where your at. Once you find a regime that you can COMFORTABLY do, then you've found a good baseline...keep a log and slowly increase weight, reps, or decrease time between sets. You may find out a simple program that sounds "easy" can be adjusted infinitely as you continue through it. Always log everything...every exercise and amounts. Now, once you stop seeing results from whatever route you choose...then you change up the entire program. Our bodies only react to stress to build muscle and you must shock the body occasionally to wake it up. There is no time frame or perfect workout regardless of what you read on forums or internet sites...we're built different and need to listen to our own bodies. I just pass this along in attempt to prevent you from setting yourself up for failure or injury at the begining. Also, just start walking, no worries....you don't need to dive into a 5k or 1/2 marathon at this stage. Consistent walking + weightloss -= cardiovascular capacity to start jogging/running. Slow and steady is key. This is a life long journey....the weight loss is just a nice side effect to our new stomach Best of luck.

If I did INSANITY, I would have a stroke. They have a guys yoga - strength training video by Diamond Dallas Page (the old wrestling guy). Seems like yoga would be kind to your knees while helping build up strength. I saw this video about a guy who could barely walk and what it did for him...pretty inspiring, so I thought I would share. GOOD LUCK!

I joined Planet Fitness for 10 bucks a month and they have people that will help you for free. They go around and teach you about the machines and help you make a program. I love the circuit training and they also have tons of cardio machines!

Love planet fitness!

I hope i get to the point of loving exercise but right now it is forced. I am changing it up to try to getmore interested. I walk' date=' i have a zumba dvd, a core workout dvd done with a big ball, and i just ordered a yoga dvd. I also do some bat wing exercises with weights and crunches on an ab lounger. I also have a wii but do not have it set up yet. Oh, i also ordered the inside out program fiddleman talks about. Good luck and i hope you are more driven to workout than i am right now![/quote']

I find having good music is key for me.

I would suggest like everyone SLOWLY! I too have a bum knee and in no way will I be overdoing it. Right now I'm walking on the treadmill in the mornings for 30mins and in the evenings for 30mins. In the morning after do my routine on the treadmill I walk the dog for 1/2 hour. During the day I try to get up and walk several times and ALWAYS take the stairs (I know it is bad on the knees, but not as bad when the pounds are dropping off). When I come home from work I walk the dog for 1/2 hour and back on the treadmill. I also park the furthest from the store/mall, etc. so that I have to walk.

I also mix in situps, squats, resistance band exercises and stability ball exercises at home. Slow and steady.

Running is not really good for you anyway. Walking up an incline makes me feel just as good as running. So just keep on adding to that incline. Rowing. Cycling. Swimming. All much better than running.

When I started I could hardly walk long distances, & couldn't do 2 minutes on the elliptical. i was the biggest woman at the gym.

I didn't know HOW to exercise.

I started slow with swimming & Water aerobics. I have 2 disks bulged in my back.

Slowly I started adding in an extra 5 minutes at a time to my cardio. Then added in a 30 minute Zumba or kickboxing class. Then I started hitting the weights. Low weight. 10-15 reps. 3 sets. (I don't want to look like a body builder, just sculpt.)

Now I can do an hour on the elliptical. an hour at Zumba. Sometimes i do both back to back. One particularly insane day I did 1 1/2 hours on the elliptical. O_o

I am working on week 4 of couch to 5k. I'm slow. Running sucks. But somehow I like it in a twisted kind of way.

I started my journey at 338. I'm now at 197. From a size 30 jeans to a 12.

Getting skinny is awesome! But knowing that I'm healthy, that I might have a chance to survive if I was chased by a tiger.......ok. I might survive a three legged turtle attack. Lol.

But you CAN do this! And I'm happy to help any way that I can.

Kristie