I have just walked 0.5 miles and I'm about to collapse

[LudoBear]

I weigh 16 stone. Do zero exercise. I am desperate to lose weight. I have just made myself go for a 10 minute walk. I walked 0.5 miles. I am breathing like an asthmatic heavy smoking whale, my back hips bum and feet are hurting and I'm sweating like a pig 🐖

That's brilliant. You didn't just walk half a mile. You walked half a mile carrying an 80lb load which is the excess weight. If I walked half a mile with 10 kettle bells strapped to my body I'd feel mighty.

That's a really powerful, strong thing you've done and every time you do it, you will find it gets easier and you get stronger. And the load gets lighter.

Hi OP , I put on over 2 stone in lockdown and weighed over 16 stone. I started going back to the office for my mental health in mid January and started doing lunchtime walks with a colleague for a change of scene.
Every day gets easier: go a little faster or a little further. A little over 2 months later I'm managing over 10k steps a day and have taken my eating in hand too. I've started doing half an hour of Nordic walking with a friend a few nights a week as it uses more calories per step and it's getting me out more often as we can have a good chat as we walk.

You've done 10 minutes today which is more than I could do in January so you're off to a flying start. When you set up your Fitbit make it prompt you to do 250 steps every hour: it's a great start to get you more energised. Then you'll find that you want to improve day on day.
If you're anything like me you'll start feeling better as soon as you have taken back control and see the first pound drop! Good luck!!

🥳 well done. I also recommend a Fitbit and Map my Walk app.
Keep us posted for the rest of the week.
Have you got anyone you can walk with ? If you're chatting you'll do more without realising.

I'm sure people on here will walk with you, I would.

You’re fitter than me. My heart rate hits 120 if I stand up sorting socks!

Well done OP I'm trying to get back into walking as I have 2 stone to lose and the only exercise I can stand to do is walking.

Try to incorporate walking into a regular routine. Are there places you could go to within half a mile: library (opening soon), shops, market/farm shop etc. Then pick a daily chore and leave the car at home. The more the car stays at home the fitter you become.

Well done LudoBear 😊. You have made a fabulous start!

Aww you guys are ace. I never expected so much support! Yesterday I consciously made decisions whilst I was doing things, to make myself walk more. So I went morrisons and parked as far away from the shop as I could. Then instead of just sitting in the car waiting to pick my niece up from school, I went for a walk around the cemetery next door to school (school is awful for parking, you have to get there early to be able to park).

Great.
Once you get a fitbit set yourself a target and try and increase a bit every day
How far away is your niece’s school? Could you walk there and back (not necessarily this week b it something to aim for during the summer?)

Amazing attitude @LudoBear

May I suggest alternating the walls with some HIIT/strength work too?

I started doing Joe Wicks at the start of the year and alternate his videos with yoga and walking/jogging.

Started at 16st3 and the combination of those exercises and the Fast800 diet means I'm nearly 3 stone lighter and so much fitter.

You got this. Xxx

You've done the hardest part which is making a start. Really well done. I remember walking for about 15 mins and trying to pretend not to be puffing and panting when people walked past me. Walking is the only exercise I can do but it surprised me how quickly it started to get a bit easier to do more. Just doing the extra bits when doing the school run will all make a difference too. Keep going and you will soon find you are doing the same distance and aren't getting so out of puff. I hope you are proud of yourself for making that first effort because you should be 👍

@LudoBear - that's brilliant again - the churchyard walk sounds lovely and peaceful too. All those small decisions add up. I used to ask DC to run and get me a glass of water or put on the wrong coat because I couldn't be bothered fetching the one I actually wanted to wear from upstairs if we were heading out. Now I always do those trips for myself and they add up to several more flights of stairs and step counts each day.

You'll be dancing while the kettle boils next!

We all have to start somewhere. I'm 16 stone, too, and I've lost nearly 2 stone now. I walk everyday. Not 10000 steps yet, but I got a smart watch, and started myself at 3000 steps a day, and every 3 or 4 weeks, I've upped the target. I'm now at 6500 steps, and I do achieve that most days.

If the school is too far away from you to walk, you could try just parking further away and walking from there. That would get a bit of extra walking in and might be good for your niece too.

Well done Keep in mind that every good choice like that will make a difference over time. Bet you feel Great!

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

If the school is too far away from you to walk, you could try just parking further away and walking from there. That would get a bit of extra walking in and might be good for your niece too.

Yes this is what we do. The walk has become a really nice part of the day

Well done! As someone said, it’s better than what you did yesterday. I’m very similar. I’m nearly 15 stone and at 5 fr 3 it’s really not good. I’ve started walking for half an hour a day for the month of march. I started off really tired (there’s lots of hills) but now I’m doing it fairly easily. Even the killer hill that I hate. Cant say I’ve lost any weight tho but need to look at my diet. The way I see it is am carrying 4.5 stone of extra weight around. The same weight as my 9 year old so I imagine how much harder it is with the extra weight.

Well done OP! And other PPs! Amazing stories here.

I am overweight too and started going for a daily walk in February. I'm not about to run a marathon or rival @vivariumvivariumsvivaria 's C25K but I can now enjoy my daily walk of about 40 minutes (even up and down a hill!) without feeling at death's door. I wouldn't have thought that possible a few weeks ago. Keep at it!

I've started walking the little one to school, so half an hour. The first few times was awful but the more you do it the less painful it is. I hate exercise too but will be gradually increasing once lockdown is over.

Today's walk. All round this lake.

That looks beautiful!

Make sure you keep a note of how you were feeling after that first walk OP, then compare it with next month, six months time, a years time, and you will be able to see how much progress you have made, and (hopefully!) how much fitter you are and how much better you feel!

Well done 0.5miles is a realy good start. Just push yourself a little further each day and it will all add. Everyone starts somewhere. Good luck.