You haven't exercised in a LONG time, and are overweight - where did you star to?

[RigglinJigglin]

Just that really, am very overweight and conscious of it. I need to be fitter for myself and DD.

I've done well with c25k got to week 6 last year before getting flu.

I hate the gym, and easily make excuses

Help! How did you start regularly exercising again?

[RigglinJigglin]

Should say 'where did you start' - stupid iPhone.

[HeeHiles]

Walking - Preferably up some hills and stairs but if you can fit in a brisk 20 minute walk a day as well as cutting down on portion size, don't stop eating anything (except rubbish like crisps, chocs etc) but cut down on the amount you eat will be a good start.

[Perfectlypurple]

Agree walking. Maybe pick a route, walk it slowly, trying and increase your speed until you are power walking. Then maybe add some short runs, say between two lampposts then walk. You could end up running the whole route eventually.

[cococandyfloss]

Walking ... got a fitbit and started aiming to hot 10k steps every day. Have a 6 miles walk near us too so once the lighter evenings came in would try and go once or twice a week with a friend on top of the daily steps.

Also started a Zumba class with friends as it was fun and didn't see too much of a thought to go.

Lost 3 stone last year and this year trying to lose another stone and a half-It is important to pick something that you can do regularly and something you will enjoy.

[RigglinJigglin]

I walk regularly already (spaniel) so about 45mins on most days and longer at weekends, I probably need to speed that up as it's quite slow leisurely.

Might pick a route and try and beat my time round it each time.

[dinkystinky]

Find something you enjoy and stick to it. If you're already walking lots, pick up the pace and try the C25k again. If you hate the gym, maybe try circuits or an outdoor bootcamp type class - lots of people who find the gym too boring/mundane like these. Or Zumba or a dance based class.

[Doodlekitty]

After Ive had my baby (28 weeks at the mo) Im planning on going to Zumba and trying crossfit. My brother is a crossfit instructor and it seems very flexible based on ability and a very encouraging and positive environment.
I probably have about 5/6 stone to lose and have not really exercised since my first pregnancy (hes 2.5!)

Im planning a complete life overhaul in August

[mummyrunnerbean]

I toyed with c25k until I got pregnant. I also did zumba and utterly loved it. Orher than sporadic swimming and cycling, those were my first forays into exercise in the six years since I last did avoided PE at school. Since DS was born I've tried to force myself to walk every day and now he's 9 months I'm two stone lighter and a lot fitter than when I got pregnant (still about four stone to go though). As of yesterday I've started the thirty day shred and have been surprised to find it's vaguely manageable. Twenty minutes a day seems possible to commit to - for you maybe as pps have suggested up your walking pace, and maybe try something else you can do at home? A short video or even just running up the stairs a few times?

[Rivercam]

Start by doing something simple, like going for a half an hour was every other day. When you feel comfortable doing this, either increase the pace, or duration of the walk.

Have a rule that you don't use the car for any. Journeys less than a mile from your house.

It's not a race to get fit, go at your own pace. However, it's useful to have goals. Ie. Get fitter by summer holiday.

[feedmyfrankenstein]

I was very overweight and unfit a year ago. I joined a gym and took advantage of the complimentary PT sessions to get me off on the right track. I am a big eater but try to a least cut out some of the junk food. I have been very strict with myself and treated my gym sessions like I would any other routine thing in my life like shopping, laundry etc. and made myself go. I really enjoy it now and get tetchy if I miss a session. I find if I don't go into something with full on gusto I just don't achieve anything. That's just me though and you may find a gentle start with swimming or walking a few times a week sets you off in the right direction. I have lost 5 stone so far and have 2 to go. Good luck :)

[velmadinkly]

Rigglin come and join us on the 'grab your tuna' thread. It is mainly for people doing the Davina 7 Minute exercise DVD, but we welcome all. It isn't competitive, more encouraging. We don't really talk about weight loss per se or massive achievements. We discuss the 'small differences', for example we will cheer on the person that did one proper push up, or the person that got through the a full section for the first time without stopping, or indeed the person that now realises that they can climb the stairs without requiring oxygen at the top!

You could do you walking and a bit of this DVD, the minimum time spent on doing a routine is 3 mins warm up and a 7 minute routine = 10 mins, but you can build it up as you wish. It honestly isn't hardcore, but it is good for allowing variety into your exercise routine. Davina recommends using the DVD alongside another exercise such as running.

My exercise routine is this DVD on 4 - 5 times per week and swimming 1 - 2 times per week and I cycle to and from work (10 mins each way) 4 x per week. I don't run because I really dislike it.

As others have said, start with your walking and increase the pace, maybe by walking at your normal speed, then every 5th minute of walking, power walk between lamposts. This can then develop into a run, then reduce the time of walking to running etc. That is, if you like running.

I think the key thing with exercise is finding something that you firstly enjoy, and secondly what you can feasibly fit into your normal day without it being a complete drag, requiring major reshuffling of your normal routine or engagements. Make the conscious decision to make and change and just get on with it and accept there might be hiccups on the way, but you will just return to what you were doing.

[Sazsmelik]

I hate the gym and find running a chore so the trick was to find something that I enjoyed that could make me move about and get me healthier. I love kitchen dancing to cheesy music and so I started dancing in my kitchen several mornings a week. It doesn't matter how fit/unfit you are as you can totally choose your own pace. I have made a few diffierent playlists (funky, rock, vintage etc) and do a different one each time. It really cheers me up, and the fact that no one can see my wobbly bits jiggling is a bonus! Sadly I had a foot operation yesterday which means I won't be dancing for a while and I will really miss it. Xx

[ditavonteesed]

I started with walking, got a fitbit, then prrogressed to c25k, joined the mumsnet fitit group which is bringing out a very competative side of me that I didnt even realise I had. It has taken me 2 months to lose 8lbs but it is coming off slowly. Also do myfitnesspal.

[YonicScrewdriver]

I am going to try the walking!

[MrsMook]

After the DCs, I started with walking, literally to the end of the cul de sac and back before crashing out in exhaustion at home. When I'd got a bit of basic fitness back, after a few months I did a gentle fitness class, then progressed to circuits when I needed the next gear. Originally it wasn't my favoured type of class, but the logistics suited my needs, but it's done a lot to improve my strength and fitness. Second time when my joints began to behave, I took up C25k and got the running bug as I really needed to blow the cobwebs off my cardiovascular system. One year after my first run, I'd done a half marathon. 18 months before , I was on crutches and crawling up the stairs!

[MrsMook]

Keeping a log of everything on a spreadsheet motivates me. I like collecting the entries and adding up the miles.

[Lucked]

I started with an outdoor bootcamp. I need to do more as once a week isn't enough but I am not scared by exercise at the moment and if I can maintain that until I have the time to do more that will do for now.

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I started walking a lot more day-to-day and dusted down a very old & basic mountain bike. Had to get off up a minor incline to the local shops the first time but now (3 stone lighter 1 to go) I cycle on average 100km -120km a week and absolutely bloody love it

[McPie]

I used to cut down on food and up the exercise and find that by about the 4 week mark I would end up coming down with something horrible and it would stop me dead as I was basically starving myself. I was going to bed hungry and not sleeping well. I honestly did not know what a healthy diet was or what a proper portion size was. I was referred to the nurse and given a nurse led programme called Counterweight, this weightwise plan is adapted from the Counterweight programme and is very similar to what I followed.
When I got the nutrition side of it sorted the exercise part of it was easier, I currently go to 11 classes each week which is the same as when I started out 2 1/2 years ago which helped me lose 4 1/2 stone (I did go up to an eye watering 19 classes a week but I was training for Tough Mudder and it was only for 2 months), I do love the exercise part of it though and would do more classes if ones I like were available. I've put on a stone due to not following the eating plan to the letter and allowing a few too many treats and booze to creep in which goes to show that you can't out exercise a bad diet as my activity levels are still the same. I am going to go back to basics after I get this sinus infection that decided to knock me for six last week under control.

[ItalianLemons]

Walking, fast, not a gentle amble or you might be disappointed, and definitely swimming.