18 Year old female here. Never posted before but I hope to be able to make some changes. My brother had been here quite a while and made an incredible difference to his body so i'm hoping I can get somewhere!

The issue is I dont even know where to start. He told me told eat 4-5 small meals a day, involving vegetables, chicken etc, and to use fruit etc as "snacks". However, the eating I think i've got under control (im beginning this week). The problem I have is I dont incoporate exercise into my "daily routine". Im "the person that was in gym class in high school that finished last in the mile race". I'm horribly out of shape. Last year I decided to try and go running with my brother but found I could only make it half way up my street for 5 minutes, let alone run for an hour! So I gave up :S. I hope to try and change that.

I was hopign to get input from some of you girls on what you think I should do as far as starting out exercises.

Im 18, 5'3", and roughly 135-140lbs

Any help is appreciated!

I started with just walking. At first I couldn't do a mile without feeling like refried hell. Then I just added a little more every few days. Eventually you'll feel like doing more, but the important thing is just to begin.

Have fun. Don't let it become a source of distress.

I started with just walking. At first I couldn't do a mile without feeling like refried hell. Then I just added a little more every few days. Eventually you'll feel like doing more, but the important thing is just to begin.

Have fun. Don't let it become a source of distress.


That's how I started too!:tucool: (I used the phrase "refried crap" instead. :lol: )

Welcome Blaze018!

You have to walk before you can run, and you have to run a few minutes at a time before you run a few miles.:)

You can read the stickies, check out the forums, explore other sites, and like FerretNose says, have FUN.:tu: Look for activities that you'll love, because those you will stick with. You might find all kinds of stuff that interests you along the way, maybe some stuff that surprises you. I never figured I would have thought lunges and squats are fun. Now I'm all into the challenge of getting them right.:)

When I started walking, I was using a pedometer that counted steps, and I got into a program at work for that-- increasing the number of steps per day little by little. I keep walking because I love the changes in the weather and seeing the animals and just watching the neighborhood change.

Start with anything, because anything is a good start!:claplow:

Of course, if you have specific goals, you might want to talk about those, too...:nod:

oh gosh when I started I could barely walk for 20 minutes sad but true. I was so out of shape but I walked off 20 pounds and then I was ready to start some serious workouts. Hey I wish you the best on this journey :nod:

Thanks for the input!

As for goals, my main goal is to just achieve a flatter belly. Im not trying to go for anything outragious.

I should start out with walking. The only thing with walking is it never leaves me feeling tired or anything. Walking doesnt seem like it challenges me enough.

Thanks for the input!

As for goals, my main goal is to just achieve a flatter belly. Im not trying to go for anything outragious.

I should start out with walking. The only thing with walking is it never leaves me feeling tired or anything. Walking doesnt seem like it challenges me enough.

It doesn't have to tire you out-- but you can challenge yourself if you want by setting new distance or time targets all the time or going up the same steep hill a few times, if you have one.

If you want to challenge yourself with running, you can always start with walking a couple of minutes, running a minute, walking some more, and keep alternating until you're running continuously.

It's good to have activity you can do continuously for 20 to 30 minutes without collapsing, which is why walking is a pretty good way to start. You can start easy, and increase your effort over time. Walking for 30 minutes at a pace that keeps your heart rate elevated is quite beneficial.:tu:

I like this about.com article on walking (http://walking.about.com/library/weekly/aa033097.htm). It always seems amazing to me that you're supposed to burn more fat at a slower pace.

Well, and I still cant run LOL. I dont really like to run... when I did cardio I preffered treadmill on high incline and just walk fast.
Good one too!

Do what you like!

I really discovered that I like weight training and I also dicovered that with proper diet I dont even have to do cardio to be lean :tu:
This morning I got up, stepped on the scale and I'm pissed! I'm trying to stay at at least 150 lb and this morning I was 148.8!
Weight training and diet (I used to eat 1800, now about 2100-2200) really reved up my metabolism!

Try posting your diet, you will get some helpful suggestions.

Also what activity do you enjoy?
Maybe you like bike more? Maybe dance? Do something you enjoy, not drag doing ;)

Good luck!!! Keep posting!!

I'm horribly out of shape. Last year I decided to try and go running with my brother but found I could only make it half way up my street for 5 minutes, let alone run for an hour! So I gave up :S. I hope to try and change that.


Blaze, no one can just up and run with no preparation, trust me. If you think running is a form of cardio you'll like, try something like coolrunning.com's couch-to-5k program to ease yourself into the sport.

What people are saying about "just starting" with what you can do and eventually you can do more is ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

Walk 5 minutes. Then 10 minutes. Then faster. Then jog until you have to walk. Then jog until you can keep jogging. Then run until you ahve to jog. Then run until you can run. Then run longer.

*THIS TAKES TIME*

Also, the number one biggest mistake most beginners (Especially women) make, in my opinion, is to disregard weight training. Weight training is the BEST way to quickly achieve the results you want. If you don't weight train you will just end up with a smaller version of a shape you don't like. Weight training is what actually changes the SHAPE of your body -- everything else just changes the SIZE of your body.

This is an oversimplicifcation, but please don't ignore weight training. Lift heavy. Lift often. I promise you won't wake up one morning looking like arnold.

Allen

Weight training is the BEST way to quickly achieve the results you want. If you don't weight train you will just end up with a smaller version of a shape you don't like. Weight training is what actually changes the SHAPE of your body -- everything else just changes the SIZE of your body.
Allen

Well said, so true!!! :claplow:

Running: I started out just running ONE minute! That's it, added a minute every day, and sure enough, within a month, I could run for half an hour.... Try it twice a day to get there faster, but it is a skill you can learn, like any other.

Your best bet though is to find something cardio-wise that you LIKE to do! Try basketball, squash, kickboxing.... whatever... and take it from there.

You're so young, it's fantastic that you are making this change now, because it gets harder as you get older. Well done! And good luck.

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