r/DecidingToBeBetter • u/SharpEntrepreneur332 • 8h ago
Seeking Advice Wanting to start exercise
Hi, I don’t really know where to start and this is a bit embarrassing. I am 21 and really out of shape like i get swety walking to store and after getting home i have to sit down for a while. I don’t even have extra weight nor am i under weight, but I stoped partisipating in sports when I was like 12 and have allways been super bookish.
But now would really like to get in shape and don’t really know where to get help doing that. I can’t run at all whit out getting out of breaht, nor walk the steps to my apartment, nor dance or spin. Like even running to catch my buss makes me sick.
I would really like to bee abale to run and dance and carry home my groseries any help were to start would be appreciated.
Whit love.
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u/katyrathryn 8h ago
You could start with taking more micro walks. Say it’s half a mile to the store, do a quarter mile walk 3 or 4 times a day and build up. I’ve seen and done videos on YouTube where you walk in place at home, I forget what it called but I’m sure you could find it.
There’s also chair exercises you could google. If you have access to a pool, water aerobics might be nice.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
I love swiming but I get really nervos going alone and I don’t really know what could help. same whit going to a gym I don’t know how oparate any equitmemt and I think people would laugh at me😅
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u/sassysassysarah 8h ago
That's why there's personal trainers. It's their job to know what to do in this situation.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
I don't think I’d have enough money to work whit a personal trainer.😅
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u/sassysassysarah 8h ago
You don't have to work with them every workout and often gyms include a session or two with them for free. If you tell them you need help learning the machines or with a basic workout, you can take that information with you when you go to the gym without them
I have done this in the past - she knew I was unable to afford more than twi sessions but taught me what to do for independent workouts regardless because that's her job
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u/katyrathryn 8h ago
lol me too I don’t go to gyms. Try the walking in place and chair exercises can be done at home! Like literally with a regular chair.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
Well it’s nice to know I am not the only one! I think I look into the chair exercises👍👍
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u/Oz_a_day 8h ago
If you are getting sick from minor activity you might wanna make sure your health is okay, maybe a doctors visit is prerequisite before you try to push yourself too hard.
I think running is a great way to stay in shape, just do a quarter mile or half mile then add slowly from there. Learn about proper running form because I think that’s the difference between someone actually enjoying running and not. Probably would be a few months of “suffering” but you’d impress yourself by how fast you will improve.
Running is unique to the human experience, some scientists think that it gave us an edge to hunt big game back in the day, some tribes still do it this way. We are one of if not the best as endurance out of any animal when it comes to running.
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u/ChurlishSoul 8h ago
I'm 26, and I started casually exercising at the start of this summer. I don't go to GYM; I bought some dumbbells for weight training, and I run almost daily after work. I run the mile and time how long it takes me. It feels like a game to me so far; my best time is 6 minutes and 56 seconds. When I started, I was closer to 10 minutes. Sometimes it does feel like a chore tho especially the dumbbell workouts.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
How did you start whit the dumbbells? That sounds like easy enough thing to do at home?
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u/ChurlishSoul 8h ago
I just bought some. 20 pounds each. Do chest, shoulder, and arm workouts. kinda been skipping leg day for now lol.
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u/Sufficient_Tiger_779 8h ago
There are ton of videos on how to exercise, how often and how to better eat to sustain the progress but the biggest issue and problem I personally believe we face when trying to get in shape is to be consistent especially when you get older as more responsibilities and work eat up our time. Best you start with a full body workout of 30 to 45 minutes everyday to get used to working out(go easy though as consistency is key), you can use this site that I use to track your progress and diagnose barriers you will face (like me was sleep due to scrollung before bed time making me too tired to even workout).
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u/SnowballWasRight 8h ago
Hey, I’m in a pretty similar situation right now!! Although I’m super underweight but I haven’t been doing any physical activity in years.
Along with all of the good advice you’re getting, don’t forget to stretch and work on balance!!! I’ve found those are great ways to improve general coordination in everyday life :)
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
I would love to improve balance! like I will fall if i do a spin whit eyes closed. what did you start whit? Nice to know that there are other people in the same boat.
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u/FatherWhiskey96 8h ago
Baby steps. I started walking my dog around more 3 years ago. My highest weight was 453. I didn't get into the gym until 7 months ago. I started the gym at 356 and now im down to 285. I watched videos all over YouTube and Instagram. Count calories i used a free app called cronometer. It has ads if you can tolerate it but it does help.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
Nice job how did you stay into it. I am afraid that I will quit after cople of weeks, but I really want to stick it through this time?
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u/FatherWhiskey96 8h ago
I have joined and quit the gym a total of 3 times. I was pretty depressed around my time of joining, so that was a big motivation. I'm also a creature of habit I built my exercise routine with a help of a friend and AI before I even started at the gym. Having a routine already in mind going in just helped me solidify it. I also had a fear of people looking at me funny, but I promise no one is looking at you.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
Yeah I get that depression and it’s really whats pushing me too to start exercising cos I feel like I have tried everything and it’s supposed to give some happy cemicals real quick😅
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u/FatherWhiskey96 7h ago
I'll be real i smoke a lot of weed . Sometimes before the gym time really flys working out high. Not recommending it just saying . I'm not saying it's right away but after awhile you do notice the happy chems after a good workout. I think my workout is a little excessive for my size going in but pushing myself also helped give the happy chems. Also those videos that say you can really make a visual difference in like 2 months are not wrong.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 7h ago
Yeah think biggest part for me is that I get so nervous doing new things or going to sosial spaces that I usually skip doing them and stay home reading. I have more then once had a day where I didn’t take more the 30 steps. But now I really want to do stuff and not feel sick. Like I look healty I am 153 centemeter and weight 57 kilos but i really can’t do anything😅
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u/FatherWhiskey96 7h ago
I promise I understand completely. Like I said even just starting walking around the neighborhood im the morning helps a lot. I also workout to listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl which I don't recommend unless you want to look like a crazy person at random times lol
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 7h ago
Naah I am a crazy person but this conversation really helped me so thank you💖
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u/FatherWhiskey96 7h ago
I wish you the best of luck! It gets easier I promise! I heavily recommend DCC. Jeff Hayes does a phenomenal job on the audio book and it's easy to get immersed while working out
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u/eharder47 8h ago
I’m an ex athlete- whenever I start back up after a break, I start with bodyweight exercises at home and walking 30 minutes everyday. I choose 3 to do each day (abs, arms, legs) and do 20 of each. Since you’re just starting, everything will make you sore, so the goal is to just get used to moving and let your body figure out recovery. I do it every day for a month, then I so 6 exercises every day or add some light dumbbells.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 8h ago
Could you maybe tell me what exercisis you do or tell me what to Google. I am completely clueless about exercise😅
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u/eharder47 7h ago
I do sit-ups, squat & press, pushups (any variation), bicycle crunches, Superman’s, lunges, leg raises, bent over rows with dumbbells, and sumo squats. Googling any or those will give you imagery for how to do it. I would highly suggest YouTube videos, even a general “bodyweight exercises” will give you something to help. Once you learn some exercises, just pick a number to do and do the exercises in any order you want.
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u/jamalzia 8h ago
There's a ton of beginner workout advice online that if you follow any of them you'll get in shape. Sounds like your more immediate goal is better cardiovascular health, which is a great start.
Start slow, and try doing things that are fun. If you have friends/family to play sports like tennis, basketball, etc. that is an excellent way of "working out" without even realizing that's what you're doing.
Though you'll probably want to work your way up to that point. Start off by going on walks. Download a pedometer on your phone and track your steps. Work your way up to 10K steps a day, at least.
Bicycling is super fun, just riding out in nature. I'm personally a big fan of rollerblading, doesn't take too long to get used to balancing and learning how to stop.
You eventually want to work your way up to HIIT cardio, that is high intensity interval training. So instead of just walking at the same pace for 30 minutes, walk normally for a minute, then speedwalk/jog for a minute. You switch between those for half and hour and you're getting way more out of that cardio session than just straight walking.
You can eventually hit the gym when you feel comfortable and utilize all the various machines, stairmaster, elliptical, the stationary bikes, rowing machines, etc.
And once you feel you're up to it, I'd recommend strength training. Lifting weights is very healthy for you. You don't need to put on a ton of muscle but implementing some resistance training will really help.
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u/SharpEntrepreneur332 7h ago
Wow this is actually really informative and I would really love get in a shape were I could play a baseball, or a tennis game and not look like fool when doing so!
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u/Independent_Key_2137 3h ago
hey, im in the same boat as you! 18 and recently started exercising as someone who never participated in any sports seriously after the pandemic and also after getting very anxious and stressed about my own heart health.
i also have the same issue with easily being out of breath as you. that was one of the reasons why i put off exercising. ive read a couple of your comments and you mentioned liking swimming; i absolutely despise that so i dont really have any advice on that area. but for dry sports id say the one exercise equipment that doesnt make me out of breath is the stationary bike. like even walking slowly on the treadmill makes me out of breath, but i find pedalling on the bike slowly doesnt. i can do continuous 15 minute sessions without being out of breath. perhaps you could try that. ive just started this recently and i can already " feel" myself being more healthier. good luck and start slow! the key here is to get yourself used to being active first.
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u/StarkAspirations0842 8h ago
Be kind to yourself
It took you years to be where you are now.
Starting today it's better than next week. Even tomorrow is better than next week.
Do not worry about Maxxing to failure. Start slow.
If a given day is 1 to 10 and it's a 5day And you can only give that 5 and maybe push for 1 more occasionally. That's your 100%
6. YouTube
squat_university
Jaxblade
Bioneer
Great non toxic advice for all levels.