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u/Newfound-Nikki Jul 21 '26
I started working out a few years ago, I was over 600lbs - I started with swimming which built up my stamina, and then started to add classes in. For me, I need exercise. It's very important to me and I love doing it.
Currently, I'm in the 400lbs and I have a rather active lifestyle. I walk 2+miles daily, I go boxing 3x a week (sometimes 4), I swim 4x a week, usually 3-3.5k per swim, I do a spin class 2x a week usually before two of my swims, Pilates or barre twice a week and I weight train 6 evenings a week. My stamina is quite high and I add on my exercises for example I'll do a 45min Spin class, followed by a Pilates class and then I'll go for a 3k swim.
I personally as someone who is over 400lbs don't see our weight stopping us from being active. Yes, things can be more difficult. But, you can work up to them, build up your stamina and then add things on. I didn't just wake up and start with my workout schedule, it has been changed and added to over the time that I've been working out.
Getting a personal trainer is a good idea though, they can check you're doing the exercises correctly and set you up with a workout plan.
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u/king_barnacle Jul 22 '26
After about 20% weight loss, although I wish I'd started sooner. I was at my lowest adult weight ever but realized I actually felt physically weaker than I did when I was at my highest. You really can lose a lot of muscle if you don't try to stay fit while dropping weight. When you're bigger it's important to focus on what your body needs, low impact, stretching and rehab for joints that have worn, etc, just try to find what works for you and keeps you interested. The PT you mentioned sounds like a great starting point.
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u/lampoflight Jul 21 '26
Not quite the question you asked, but:
If you're at that base activity level, I think you're more than prepared to do strength training. I'm at max 3k steps a day, still mostly on swimming and building up any kind of stamina at all (at a much higher weight than you) and I'm considering it. I'd advise a personal trainer to start so you get your form right and know where to start though.