I am not an exercise person. I am on my pre op journey and my doctor has asked me to up my cardio. It is cold, and I frequently find myself making excuses for not getting outside. I am not a gym person, I would feel too uncomfortable in front of so many people. I have been looking at work out videos online but have found them to be more advanced and I need baby steps. I want to set myself up for success. Any tips for a very overweight beginner??

So, silly questions. These videos you all speak of...do you have a VCR? Is that how you are watching? Or are you watching in on your computer? How does that work?

I have some DVD's I play on a DVD player connected to my tv. Leslie Samone sells DVD's, has a social media page, including a youtube channel. I will also occasionally use the exercise section OnDemand through my cable provider.

Thanks everyone! I have lots to look up. Hopefully I will find some that work for me. My kids and I have been making a game of exercising together so that is keeping me going. My youngest has even been begging me to exercise with her because she thinks it is fun. I just gotta keep the momentum going.

And I apparently am the only one who doesn't know how to use my DVD player! I forgot I had it and just assumed nobody used them anymore! Mine has never been hooked up properly or I just don't understand how to use it. Epic fail on my part!

Thanks for the reminder that these still exist and are useful. lol

You have to get over some of this mentality. I used to go to the gym religiously even at 318 pounds. No one cares that you are there.. no one is judging you.. I found my best friends through the gym and we encourage each other. I run outside. I bike outside.. You can work out at home too, but I find myself more motivated with fit friends.

@, I was at SparkPeople.com earlier. One of today's featured articles covers exercise tips for beginners and I thought of you. I haven't read the article, but it probably will give you at least some useful info. There are countless sources of info for people new to exercise That's cool, you don't have to read everything.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=743

These! I think they are called "walk away the pounds". They are awesome. and if I can do them, you can too!

Check out the Leslie Sansone dvd's (I think some of them also stream via Amazon Prime and possibly on YouTube). Very gentle. If you can walk, you can do her exercise series.

I love the old Jane Fonda tapes. A few of them were made into DVDs. If you go online you can can find a site that sells all kinds of exercise DVDs and often can watch a few minutes of the one you pick out to see if you think you would like it before you order.

Leslie Sansone's Walk Your Belly Flat is my favorite in my collection: Here are the rest with my critique:

MISS MAC’S EXERCISE VIDEO COLLECTION (With Reviews)

CHAIR EXERCISES

1. STRONGER SENIORS STRETCH AND STRENGTH (Anne P. Burnell)

It’s easy for people with mobility issues.

2. STRONGER SENIORS PILATES (Anne P. Burnell)

Pilates based exercises suitable for anyone with

limited ability or range of motion issues.

3. EASY CHAIR EXERCISES: PILATES AND CALISTHENICS (Sunshine)

Easy to follow beginning level.

4. CHAIR AEROBICS FOR EVERYONE – BEACH PARTY (Ronit Amaya)

Circuit training with ‘60’s beach music.

Very easy – may be too easy and not much of a

workout for some people, but if you have Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome, this might be perfect for you.

5. CHAIR EXERCISES (David Stamps)

a. Chair Salsa

b. Chair Aerobics

c. Chair Tai Chi

d. Chair Boxing

Trainer David Stamps is easy follow. I use these on “Bad Days” when I

can’t do my workouts standing up or sciatica is bothering me.

STRETCHES

1. STRETCH, FLEX, AND TONE (GAIM)

Slow and relaxed Pilates and Calisthenics that can be done

standing or in a sitting in a chair.

Helpful for a tight back.

2. CLASSICAL STRETCH (Miranda Esmonde)

As seen on her PBS show. Easy but effective. You really get a

thorough workout, but she’s so pleasant that you don’t care. It wore me out, but I knew I had put my work in for the day.

3. PILATES FOR WIMPS (Natural Journeys)

This is a good basic Pilates workout if you don’t feel like

going to the gym.

4. EASY YOGA FOR ARTHRITIS (Peggy Cappy)

Increases Mobility.

Gentle movements with modifications.

STRENGTH AND RESISTANCE

1. FUNCERCISE BOOMERS WORKOUT (with “Sunshine”)

Gentle and easy slow paced strength training with light weights.

Suitable for seniors and people with poor mobility

2. FIRMING AFTER 50 (Joel Harper) Full body workout – no equipment

Three levels of effort; He does the advanced level.

A pretty young thing does the medium level.

His own mother does the modified level.

*Easy to follow and works every muscle in your body. One of my

favorites and I use it often.

3. FUNCERCISE RESISTANCE BANDS (with “Sunshine”)

Twenty-five simple and easy to do resistance band exercises.

CARDIO

1. WALK YOUR BELLY FLAT (Leslie Sansone)

This is a calorie burner. Equivalent of three miles done in “one-mile” units that take about twelve minutes each to complete.

Can be done outside or even in the house or standing in place if you

don’t have much room to workout.

(I have only been able to get to one and a half, but my goal is to make it through all three units.) It is still one of my favorites that I use frequently.

2. WHOLE BODY RESISTANCE (former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page)

Intense Yoga that won’t compromise your masculinity. Remember he was a champion pro wrestler and used this method for his own training.

He demonstrates modifications that make it usable for everyone.

No lifting, no crunches, no running, no jumping, no equipment!

Length of videos vary from three minutes to ninety minutes.

a. Body weight resistance – 30 minutes

b. Core – 12 minutes

c. Balance – 30 minutes

d. Strength Builder – 38 minutes

for our body parts that break down first:

Shoulders, hips, knees, lower back

e. Thirteen key moves for body weight resistance – 30 minutes

f. Lats and Biceps – 15 minutes

g. Below the Belt – 30 minutes

h. Breathing – 3 short minutes

i. Diamond Cutter – 50 minutes

Uses the thirteen moves he utilizes in his own training

j. Double Diamond Cutter – 1 hour and 30 minutes – you need stamina

3. HIP HOP ABS (Shaun T)

Fast Pace Cardio with moves that can be used in the club.

Shaun T is easy to follow – makes this fun

4. CIZE (Shaun T)

I just tried it for the first time today (1/17/2016) and attempted the first and easiest routine in the set, and couldn’t keep up. It is for 25 minutes and I fizzled out at 7 minutes. I like Shaun T’s approach and actually had fun for those seven minutes, so I will consider this to be my personal mountain to climb. I am not giving up. This is the description on the Beach Body website:

“The End of Exercize^™ is coming! Shaun T’s brand new fitness program is not about doing push-ups or jumping, it’s about moving to the beat, and everyone can do it. You’re about to look forward to working out! Shaun T goes back to his dancing roots and makes losing weight an “experience,” with hot new moves and great music!

And if you think you can’t dance, don’t worry. Shaun breaks down the routines, step-by-step, move-by-move, and builds them into a full dance workout. And at the end, you’ll get to CIZE™ IT UP to songs from Shaun’s playlist. You’ll be so focused on mastering the moves that for 35–40 minutes you’ll forget you’re actually burning fat and calories, and getting in the best shape of your life.” “Don’t say you can’t dance, because anyone can dance.” —Shaun T

5. WEIGHTED CARDIO GLOVES (The Firm)

Fast paced interval training using boxing moves

Including kicks, punches, bob and weave

This is an aggressive workout

Remember, sweat is fat crying!

6. ZUMBA (Beto Perez)

Fun enough, but even more fun with somebody or in a group)

Latin steps and rhythms that you can use in the club

DANCE EXERCISES

1. DROP IT WITH DANCE (Prevention Magazine)

Brief ten-minute Fat-Blasting workouts

Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop, and 90’s jam for all levels of skill

2. SWEATIN’ TO THE OLDIES (Richard Simmons)

Good if you like 50’s and 60’s music

Incorporates aerobic movement with 50’s and 60’s dance moves

3. DANCE OFF THE BELLY FAT (Anchor Bay)

Easy enough, low impact, instructor is easy to follow

Even the “Belly Blast” section is not too harsh.

4. EXOTIC DANCE WORKOUT (Body Politics)

Sexy practice. Classic exotic dance moves taught step by step

5. PUSSYCAT DOLLS (Robin Antin & Nicole Scherzinger)

Sexy and fun.

Learn moves for “Don’tcha Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me”

6. BOLLYWOOD DANCE WORKOUT (Hemalayaa)

Sexy, saucy full-body workout

Shimmy and shake Bhangra style

This one is kind of fun

7. FAT BLASTING DANCE MIX (Jennifer Galardi)

Brief Ten Minute Work-outs

Fat burning calorie Meltdown

Effective and quick

8. ISLAND GIRL HULA ABS AND BUNS (Natural Journeys)

Hula is more of a workout than you would expect.

9. BELLY DANCE FOR BEGINNERS (Natural Journeys)

Hot fitness routines to stretch and tone, integrating Pilates

Sexy – Learn a new skill.

10. AFRICAN BEAT - LATIN HEAT (Natural Journeys)

fusion of Tribal and Latin style dancing

You will learn moves you can take to the club.

11. DANCE OFF THE INCHES – SIZZLING SALSA (Anchor Bay)

Ten uncomplicated dance moves

More fun than work - Fat burning fiesta – then you will want a siesta

OTHER

I had Mr. Gym’s COUCH POTATO exercise video, but was not impressed.

This one got thrown out.

I used to have Billy Blanks Tai Bo, but my doctor said it was too much impact on my arthritic joints. However, it is an intense way to exercise and learn self-defense at the same time.

If you can’t afford to buy videos, look online. There are so many on You Tube for free that I can’t even count that high.

Contents of Classical Stretch Season 8 Discs 1-4

DISC 1:

801 – Stretch All 600 Muscles

802 – Increase Your Energy

803 – Stress Relieving Workout

804 – Firm and Strengthen Your Butt

805 – Balance and Strength

806 – Lose a Pant Size

807 – Elongating Your Muscles

808 – Slenderizing Your Waist

DISC 2:

809 – Improve Posture and Energy

810 – Strengthen Hips and Core

811 – Unlock the Spine and Increase Energy

812 – Improve Your Balance

813 – Strengthen Feet and Fingers

814 – Unlock Your Hips

815 – Increase Your Energy

DISC 3:

816 – Tone Your Entire Body

817 – Strengthen and Shape Your Legs

818 – Burn Calories and Lose Weight

819 – Tone Abs and Strengthen Legs

820 – Full Body Posture Workout

821 – Strength and Flexibility to the Core

822 – Full Barre Workout to Loosen Hips

823 – Stretch and Strengthen Lower Body

DISC 4:

824 – Spine and Abs

825 – Feet and Ankles

826 – Weight Loss and Toning

827 – Stretch and Strengthen Your Hips

828 – Strengthen Your Bones

829 – Improve Posture and Flatten Abs

830 – Strength and Flexibility of the Hips