Very overweight and unfit exercise advice please

[magicalmollie]

Hi
I am about 5 stone overweight, had an eating disorder and am doing therapy to help. However I want to start doing some kind of exercise as I hate how unfit and uncomfortable I am. Can anyone give me some advice? Is there something on YouTube I could follow maybe? I want to start of slowly so I do not give up as it is too much. I do not want to go to the gym as I am too embarrassed same with walking as I do not want people to comment. Sorry all sounds a bit pathetic doesn’t it.

Another one saying well done OP.

I started exercising properly (in a gym) when overweight too and about to turn 50 (2 years ago) - no comments other than encouraging and friendly ones! I understand you are anxious and agree - try lots of things and find those that you enjoy. I lift weights now and yes I am smaller and stronger but more importantly perhaps I like my body more and enjoy using it. I did lots of walking (with a fitbit) before I upped my gym efforts and really recommend that - it gets you into the fresh air, can be built up slowly as you get fitter, is safe without any help/expertise. I still walk masses. If you want to do some weights, I'd recommend getting some PT or doing classes if you want to try weights, when you feel ready. Good luck!

Well done I think the Fitbit is a good motivator. As I would suggest a walk on an evening if I hadn’t got my steps in or even walk round the house. I know I start to feel better when I’ve been out in the fresh air so I want to do more.

I agree with the others about getting a Fitbit - it’s an amazing motivator.

I used to teach people how to exercise and the most simple piece of advice I gave out was that being breathless is your body’s normal response to exercise. So it’s ok to be breathless at first but if you stick at it you’ll find you can walk further/faster before you’re breathless. You should still be able to have a conversation.

And agree with the PP about finding the exercise that suits you - I hate running so would never do it. But I love walking and get at least 10000 steps every day doing it and it’s done wonders for my mental health

I have a Fitbit. I’m around 2 1/2st overweight. Had my daughter 3 years ago but since then have had sepsis, had my appendix removed and also had a blood clot on my lung causing some of it to die off, so I’m very unfit and can sometimes be breathless just climbing stairs to bed.

I’m just starting the couch25k and I’m going out around 10pm for a few reasons; it’s cooler, no one can see me so I feel a bit more confident and I can do it when dd is asleep. I’m on week two now and last week I was 16min/ mile and this week is 14 min/ mile. Still bad but less bad than last week and although I’m still breathless I feel a lot better than last week. I find running the same route helps as I can remember where I was swapping between the run/walk and can see how much better I’m getting on a daily basis so it motivates me to push harder.