Ah! I need to exercise but what to do?

[FreestylePup]

If you run or walk how much or how long do you do it for?

[greensgood]

i run about 4-5 times a week, it ranges from at least 2 miles up to 8 miles. i usually get one long run in a week, the rest just depend on how much time i have. i do 2 miles in about 15 minutes.

[DoctorB2B]

If you run or walk how much or how long do you do it for?

If you're a beginner, which I am assuming you are, then start off slow. Start off with a medium pace walk for a mile. FYI, a medium paced walk equals out to about 3.5-3.7mph, which is a 16-17 min mile. Do that for a couple of workouts and then up the time or the pace. I recommend time before pace.
After a couple of weeks, start to incorporate a slow jog in for 5 minutes of your alloted time and then build from there.

It's about building up pace and time. Before you know it, you will be running for 30 minutes straight.

My words of wisdom would be to avoid going all out in the very beginning. You do that and you will hate yourself and give up. Slow and steady is the course.

[AussieShane]

freestylePup,
before exercising, what is your goal / objective?

Are you looking to lose fat? gain muscle? improve strength? improve fitness? maintain the way you are?

if a person walked 10 miles today and then did a 200m sprint tomorrow and the day after, tried to benchpress as heavy as possible, it doesn't make much sense. That's to say that the person is not working toward getting a particular result.

so i think the most important thing is having a goal and then tackling it.

[SobeVegChick]

Ugh, I am in this boat. It is not a fun boat ride. I plan to start walking after the holidays are over.

[fatdogs12]

When I run I'll try to go for about an hour, but it depends on what your goals are. If you are going for weight loss I'd really advocate trying to find something you are interested in by trying a lot of things out or possibly someone to do it with you, especially if that person is in better shape than you are.

About a year ago I was getting really heavy but by being with people who were in much better shape than I was I got pushed to do better and had to work hard to get to their level.

[kraftykraft]

I try to walk for about 50-55 minutes and I usually go for about 3 - 3.5 miles depending on my energy leve. One of my 2009 goals is to increase the distance a bit so we'll see. If I am using the other machines (ellipitical, stair climber, bike) I go for 45 minutes.

[keepitlow]

If you run or walk how much or how long do you do it for?

Running or walking is only part of it. Stay balanced.

Weight / strength training
Aerobics
Nutrition
Balance training
Yoga / flexibility training

[andyxcore]

I usually go running about 3-4 times a week, always 8 km, which takes me around 40 mins.

[sally429]

I was going to post the sam question until I saw yours. I am heavyish I am 5'5" and I bounce between 165-175. :down: I am obviously in it for weight loss. I don't want to work out with other people ..I don't even wanna work out in day light lol. I saw that someone posted to start out walking, which I have been doing for about 6 months, and then incorporate 5 minutes of jogging. HAHAHA. I feel like such a wimp, but I can barely do 1.5 minutes with out feeliing like I am gonna die! I started to add the jogging part about 2 weeks ago. Am I doing something wrong or am I just a slow starter?

[chryssiie718]

My husband and I have embarked on a fitness program of walking. We go to a beautiful park and walk the bike trail. Right now we are walking between 2.25-2.5 miles in 45-50 minutes. We will gradually build up to 4 or 5 miles. This is for weight loss and general fitness. A few months back, he was walking 5 miles 4 or 5 times a week and losing weight steadily but then things happened and we "fell off the wagon." We are aiming for 5 days a week but its been hard. Start slow and build up. I already seem to have more energy after only 2 weeks. Good luck!! :)

[codemonkey]

Walking is a good start but I really enjoy exercise videos. There are a lot of really good ones out there for every level. They're nice because you can embarrass yourself in the comfort of your own home. I like the ones that incorporate cardio and weight training so you get a nice well rounded workout. I lost 50 pounds doing workout videos at home.

[chryssiie718]

Walking is a good start but I really enjoy exercise videos. There are a lot of really good ones out there for every level. They're nice because you can embarrass yourself in the comfort of your own home. I like the ones that incorporate cardio and weight training so you get a nice well rounded workout. I lost 50 pounds doing workout videos at home.

I would like to incorporate some weight training and toning with the stability ball which I finally got around to buying. We are going to do some furniture shifting about to make some room in our Florida room for exercising. I hope to buy a set of dumbbell weights as well. Spark People has some good videos for workouts too.

[Digger]

To the OP: It all depends on where you are starting out from and what your restrictions are. I have a rare congenital heart defect and I'm not permitted to lift over 50 pounds or engage in any strenuous exercise because of the risk of arrhythmia. So... I walk at a brisk pace for an hour a day and lift light dumbells to keep my muscles toned. It would be helpful to have more information before we can advise you. :)

[evelinadatta]

I was going to post the sam question until I saw yours. I am heavyish I am 5'5" and I bounce between 165-175. :down: I am obviously in it for weight loss. I don't want to work out with other people ..I don't even wanna work out in day light lol. I saw that someone posted to start out walking, which I have been doing for about 6 months, and then incorporate 5 minutes of jogging. HAHAHA. I feel like such a wimp, but I can barely do 1.5 minutes with out feeliing like I am gonna die! I started to add the jogging part about 2 weeks ago. Am I doing something wrong or am I just a slow starter?

Hey good for you that you are exercising! If you are just starting with the jogging and find 5 minutes difficult, instead of doing the 5 minutes of jogging at once, I would do this: walk 5 mins, jog for 1, then walk for 5, then jog for one, walk 5, jog 1, etc. Then the following week walk 5, jog 2, walk 5, jog 2, etc. All the way until you get down to just jogging! and then try alternating between joggign and speed running. Imagine the possibilities! Good luck.