Okay,

I have a psycological aversion to exercise. I really believe it's all the taunting I got growing up at school sports carnivals and the like.

I cannot seem to make the connection.

That's something I have to work on!

What exercise should someone over 300 pounds do? How much etc?

P.S. No swimming or water aerobics. There is no way I am going near a pool until I'm at goal.

The absolute best thing you can do Dave is walk. If you are ambulatory, just walk. Do as much as you can, even if it means you can only walk to the end of the driveway. Each day, add a little more. Don't set time or distance requirements on you to begin with. Just do what you can. You don't want to discourage yourself with unrealistic goals.

When I began, I was 382 pounds and extremely sedentary. I wouldn't walk in the neighborhood, because I knew people were going to make fun of me. So I got the Walk Away The Pounds dvd's by Leslie Sansone. They are done, at home, in front of the television. I couldn't even do 5 minutes of the warm up the first day. The next day, I pushed myself to do 7 minutes. Each day, I pushed myself a little harder. Before I knew it, I was up to completing the one mile dvd. I think it was about 18 minutes long. And then it was on to the 2 mile.

Ya gotta start somewhere. One foot in front of the other. You can do it Dave. Remember, the hardest step is the very first one.

Thanks Carey!

I love the idea of not setting a time limit!!

That suits me just find!

I'm a guy who hates counting and time limits!

I hate watches too! LOL

I would think walking too.
Get a MP3 player and find some music and go walking.......even 5 minutes for a week or so then 6 for another week.......so on and so on.

walk with your future wife, and talk about what a nice future you two will have.
Your summer is coming right?
sandi

Whatever you can do that's fun, Dave! I LOVE LOVE LOVE volleyball and play it as hard as I can. Walking, as Carey said, is always an option. But above all have FUN with it and make it as engaging as you can so you don't look at it as a chore.

I bought a Hip Hop Video...to learn! Ahahaha....shaking my jiggly skin and groove thing makes me happy but wears me out VERY quickly.

I started over 300lbs and I would seriously walk around my house (in circles INSIDE - I HATE the heat and humidity) for 5 minutes bursts every 2-4 hrs.

Even walking now, I can't go any longer than 12 minutes or I start getting this weird lethargy due to my Fibro. This summer we went to a state park and I walked ALLLLL the way down (it was over a mile DOWN) to this cave. Walked to the cave and took about a gazillion breaks coming back up, but it was SURE FUN!!! One day I hope to be able to bike ride again!

I have an aversion to exercise. Even though I can use the really nice exercise center at the college where I work I cannot get myself to go there at my current weight. Plus the idea of using a gym doesn't hold much appeal to me. I hope that changes.

For now what I'm doing isn't much, but I feel it's a start. I've always loved belly dancing, so I bought an instructional video and use that at least 4 times per week. It's really fun for me. I started at only 10 minutes or so and have gone a bit farther eat time.

I also try to walk for 20 minutes or so each day (M-F) on my lunch break.

~Susan

PS. School sports were really traumatizing for me, too. But what is a "school sports carnival "? Must be an Australia thing.

Started out with "The Gazelle", you know the one promoted by the annoying Tony Little guy. The machine was actually a big help when I first started woorking out. I starrted with 10 minutes, then when I could do that easily opped it, eventually getting to 45 minutes before I began other things and put it away. Then I bought a variety of exercise videos. This has kept me from getting bored. I have an aversion to people seeing me sweat, so this is ideal for me. i still pick up new videos if I see an interesting one. I do Tae Bo, Yoga, Pilates, cardio, and toning.

Dave:

I hate to be contrary, but I think you should start with weight training. Weight training will build muscle which will in turn burn more fat. It will get you to your weight loss goals much faster than just walking or some other aerobic workout. Plus, at 300 pounds, you may not feel much like moving but you can get started lifting some heavy weights and start building muscle.

Plus, weight lifting burns muscle when you're at rest because your muscles will be repairing themselves and benefiting from all the good protein that you're eating.

Make sure you keep plenty of fat and protein in your diet. Lay off those vegetables somewhat. Don't be afraid to eat. Your body will handle fat and protein very effectively once the sugar is removed. At 300 pounds, you simply require much more protein than a person who is 160, so make sure you eat like you weigh 300 pounds in order to see the best results. It's not the amount of food that matters, it's the quality of that food and the ability of that food to feed your metabolism.

You've probably been starving your metabolism with the wrong kinds of food and not enough fat and protein. You're not fat because you eat too much! You are fat because you have not yet learned the correct ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrate that your metabolism needs to get jump-started. I believe you can do it and we are all here to help!

If you want studies or proof, let me know and I'll round 'em up for you.

All the best,

Charles

Dave, Like some others above, I started walking. I spent over 45 minutes walking less than 1 mile the first time. I did it. I just stopped where I was and sat down until I could walk more. Dr. Atkins and others had discussed how exercise can unlock the insulin receptor cells in the muscles and I have found that walking does the most for my hunger levels. Since I weighed 312 when I started, I believe that the walking did provide resistance training for the lower body. Actually I still do. We have thread in the Slimming Down forum that talks about this abit. While Charles has a great point about resistence training, the most important part for me was just doing something, anything, and walking was easy. Well, actually it was hard, very hard, but it was easier than the other alternatives. Good luck.

Hi Dave!! I agree with Charles...Increase your muscle and then burn more fats!! I started this WOE with absolutely no desire to even get off the couch! I have lost 70 lbs and now have been able to include minimal strength training in my own home! You can use anything to start increasing your muscles. Usually your legs and arms are the eaisiest to begin with. I am still 250 lbs and friends really question my motives for increasing muscle mass! Try standing with your back against the wall with a medium size ball in the small of your back...tense your abdomin and buttocks and with feet shoulder width apart and knees pointed to the front...squat as if trying to sit in a chair...hold for three then back up...remember to keep your abs flexed and your buttocks tight! Repeat 10 times!! For your arms, if you have no weights you can use a 2L pop bottle filled with water! Sit on the edge of your chair with your elbow on your knee and lift the weight towards your shoulder...all the time keeping your abs and buttocks flexed...repeat 10 times with each arm! This is just a couple of exercises that I have learned that I can do in my own home!! Now on to my next journey...I joined an adult skating club!!

Take Care
Alison

Go Alison! I love to rollerskate!!!!