Has anyone been obese and got into regular exercise?

[BucketFacer]

I weigh about 16 stone, and I'm only 5 foot 3.

I want to become more active but I'm at a point where my size is a barrier. I'm unfit, self conscious, hate all the faff of swimming and don't know what to do. My boobs are also enormous - I couldn't easily run even in the best sports bra.

Has anyone been a similar size and managed to get into exercise? Not in a short term way but sustainably?

My goal is to be more active for health reasons, not to lose weight etc. although would be a welcome side effect.

I’ve just got down into overweight after being in the obese category for years. I exercise 4 or 5 days a week, mostly walking (better than running in many ways as less stress on your joints, but takes longer to get the distances) but - and this is my recommendation - I have a personal trainer who I work with on weights and other resistance exercise once a week 1-1.
Find a PT you feel comfortable with, it’ll give you confidence but also will strengthen you so you feel confident to do other exercise. I also do, at various times, yoga, spin and circuits. I wouldn’t feel right not getting an hour of exercise that makes me a bit sweaty and breathless at least 4 days a week now, and I hated it before.

Edit: my focus is also health and fitness, but weight does come off as a side effect of exercise and eating a healthy, whole food, minimal UPF diet!

I haven't but a friend has, starting at around your weight maybe a bit higher, she has used online exercise videos, starting with easy beginner ones and working her way up to advanced over about a year or so, alongside lifting weights, all done from home. She also walks a lot just as a way of getting about. She has also changed her diet and eats lower carb vegetarian mainly whole foods and very little sugar.

Yes. I started with strength training 2.5 years ago. With a PT at a gym. It’s brilliant. Now I’ve seen loads of obese people start at the gym, and every single one looks fitter and stronger each time I see them, if they keep turning up. A few are almost unrecognizable. I’m evangelical about this now.

Yes, I was a size 22 a couple of years ago. Then DS and DH both got into martial arts and persuaded me to have a go. I started with a basic, introductory class that was twice a week and mostly aimed at raising your fitness a bit and teaching you a few basic stances, punches and kicks. That gave me the motivation to want to improve my fitness a bit quicker, so I also started doing a couple of workouts from The Body Project on YouTube a week. The improved fitness motivated me to eat more healthily, and the weight loss made the exercise easier, which motivated me to do more, and so on. I've lost nearly 1/3 of my body weight and dropped to a size 14 (big bust and broad hips which don't go away with exercise 😆). Although I've recently had an injury that's stopped me doing the martial arts, I get so much from being fitter I've switched to a gym membership and I'll start strength training alongside the cardio and resistance work as soon as I'm allowed to.

Go for it! As soon as you start you'll be doing more than you are now, and as soon as you start doing something everything else will feel more in reach.

Yes, I did and I've kept up regular exercise for about 14/15 years after losing 25kg. I found what worked for me (running and spin) and healthy eating and kept up the good habits.

I'm obese but quite fit and exercise regularly. I do a high impact exercise class once a week, pilates once a week and run once or twice a week.

I also recommend walking. Have a pair of trainers by the door that you can slip on and a warm or waterproof layers by the door and just go whenever you have 10 mins. Build it in to other tasks of you can - walk to shops, school drop offs, to meet a friend.

Focus on time moving at first, not speed or anything else. Ideally though you'd get up to a brisk walk. For frequency - I recommend every second day at least at first. And stick to it for 3 weeks! Consistency beats everything - intensity, ability, motivation....

Good luck!

I started at size 24 and 118 kgs. Joined a gym, started off with Pilates for times a week and an aqua class. That was in Nov 23. I'm now five sizes down and 85 kgs. I do weights four times a week now too and the gym is like my second home. Just start and keep going, consistency is key, everything else follows.

For sports bras - Elomi Energise are great.