Where do I start?

Also review your diet - I was told (rightly) that you cannot out run a bad diet.

Walking would al (risk pace) could be a good option and if you are wanting to go running again maybe try a park run (which is free) nearby? You will be less self conscious if there are lots of others running with you. Best of luck!

Do you have a decent park nearby? Depending on the size you could do a few laps to make up the 5k for a walk, for example

I regularly do a 6k walk - but refer to it as a March! I wear exercise kit, stick a podcast on, and go at a very brisk pace- which would make talking not too easy. I’ve also done C25k which was good, and do work outs at home. But I do enjoy my regular marches.

Do you have a friend with similar goals? My friend picks me up at 6am twice a week and we go to the gym together before work. We’re home by 7:30 so still have time to get ready.
Then at weekends we meet up for a walk and do our own bits in between, walks, extra classes, swimming or whatever.
The morning workout is a bit of Social time where we get fit in the process, and making that commitment to each other gets us out of bed!

To start with, there's nothing better than a stroll round the park in the fresh air. And it's free.

I go to a ‘cheap’ gym chain and I honestly wouldn’t bother paying more. It has everything I need, plus the staff are friendly and helpful. Always get a good morning when I go up the stairs.

Plus by going to a cheaper gym it means I can have PT sessions twice a week. If you can I would really recommend having the sessions. Having someone teach you correct form and also just a friendly face to help get over initial nerves is really great.

I’d definitely get a few sessions with a PT. It’s not just you- everyone feels self conscious when stating the gym! It will help with our confidence and weight training in particular will really build fitness. Plus when you’re ready to go it alone you can stick your headphones in and lift your weights.

You can also get cheap non fancy gyms to do it in.

Good luck!

Have a look at Anna of growingannanas. She has lots of different options, you can choose 20-30 min workouts or go for her month long ones.

www.youtube.com/c/growingannanas/playlists

There is also Caroline Girvan, there is a really good thread on this in Exercise - www.youtube.com/c/CarolineGirvan/playlists

i find both these really motivating. They also don't talk at all during the workouts!

Can t out request a standing desk at work?

The trick is to find something you enjoy and don't dread. I subscribe to Frame 'on demand' classes - they have lots that require very little space such as barre and dance classes. It's £28 per quarter which is enough to make me feel the need to do classes and not waste my money, but is doable for me. I found that once I'd got into the habit of doing the classes I became fit enough to enjoy running too.

Stepping into a gym first time for me was scary, but once you’ve done that it gets easier.

If your partner has a PT, would you be able to tag along with them (without the PT) so they can show you some exercise techniques? Even practising at home without weights to get the form right for deadlifts etc. Staff at gyms can show you how to use machines as well.

I’ve found people are focussed on their exercise so don’t pay attention to others.

The gym I go to has an app where you can check how busy it is before you go, I like it when it’s quieter.

Good luck!

I certainly recommend finding something that you enjoy. I actually hate the gym with a passion, I find it very boring. I don’t like running for the sake of running either.
However, I’ve recently (as in, the last two years) discovered that I love horse riding, kayaking and orienteering. We as a family also love a bit of geocaching if it’s a route we can walk around (not much point if it’s the park and cache variety).
Because I enjoy all these types of exercise I don’t feel it’s a slog. I’m starting to think I might have to do more trail running though between orienteering courses as my running fitness lets me down a bit at the moment…

When I was trying to do the PT / joe wicks type stuff I was always making up excuses why I couldn’t do it (my back hurts / I’ve a bit of a cold)

Sometimes a proper plan is overrated if you are just getting started - sometimes all you need is to do something then the rest will begin to fall into place. Find a workout on YouTube and do it once. Then try a different one a few days later. And so on until you find stuff you like. Then, once it's a routine, you can make proper long term goals.

For home workouts in a small space, Mr Motivator and walking workouts (Fit with Rick, Leslie Sansome) are good (youtube).
They have short videos that are good for doing it little and often.

The other important thing I'd say is to find something that you like doing. You're far more likely to stick at something you enjoy. I know, having tried very, very hard, that I hate running, and I''m never going to do it again!

Brilliant that you're keen to do this! Well done for that first of all. I really like the Good Body Project on YouTube. They have free workouts for a range of fitness - 25-45 mins so easy to fit in. It is worth trying a few online providers to see whose style you like (or to keep mixing things up). I love Adriene Yoga too for days I am stiff or tired.
As you already walk, can you add hills - that's great for building cardio and also will make you use your abs to keep balance.
Maybe aim for a daily brisk walk, two online csrdio class and one yoga? So not too much that you'll feel under pressure but enough for routine to develop.

I think you'll find, once you're actually in a gym, that no-one is remotely interested in you! They're all just focused on what they're doing (or in the case of a lot of the men in the weights area, what they look like in the mirror!)

Good idea to have a session with your DH's PT - they can help you work out a routine. Not all gyms are expensive these days - even in London! Places like Pure Gym are much cheaper, as well as being open 24 hours.

Good for you, OP. I do understand about feeling self conscious but honestly, get stuck in if you can. You will be so pleased you did. Try a few classes, try some PT - so much more efficient as a beginner than workouts out on your own, and the structure means you commit. I do a weekly park bootcamp that is great, cheap and has people at all fitness levels egging each other on (it and similar are on MeetUp as they are at least partly social). I think people always imagine everyone else is super fit but they aren't. If you can have an intro with the PT at the leisure centre, ask them if there are classes they can recommend - some may be aimed at people getting back after injuries, babies or just starting out, and you learn good form then. Running is great but it is hard and I think people get put off - they are easier, effective ways to start. Playing tennis together sounds great! Go for it, try different things (safely), be friendly and if people are not in return, then try something else.

I do most my workouts from YouTube videos, I've been doing 3 a week for a couple weeks and I can already feel like I keeping up with them more. Definitely going to join a class very soon :)

check if there is a tennis club near you OP. Now is off-season but generally they do special deals.

Well done OP for asking. In your shoes, I would do two things straight away. Firstly, I would start adding some speed to the walks so I get out breath and/or walk faster up hills. The key thing is to raise your heart rate.

The second thing I would do is go down to my local leisure centre or gym and make an appointment with a personal trainer. They will be able to suggest an effective and safe way for your to get fit. It doesn't cost the earth and crucially it will work. If you know anyone who is already a member, try to find out which PT they think you would like best.

Whatever exercise you chose I’d get a tracker of some description. So an Apple Watch for example. The Apple Watch tracks all your movement, your heart rate, your vo2 max, your general progress and gives you daily targets to try and keep up with,

It really really helps in becoming accountable and seeing your progress.

Good for you OP, everyone starts somewhere

So “toning up” really means “building muscle and dropping fat”. The best way to do this is to lift weight - body weight exercises are great and you can add in fast paced walking which is a great fat burner.

I’d check out Joe Wicks in the first instance - most of his workouts only need a very small space and he is very beginner friendly. He has some videos on his channel for ultimate beginners and they’re about 15 mins in length so really not intimidating.