Consider keeping up the walking exercise. I'm an asthmatic, been on medication for it for over 30 years - ok, I know that asthma affects different sufferers differently, but walking shouldn't agitate your asthma anymore than a gym workout! Are you getting out of breathe because of your present weight and poor fitness? If this is the case, then walk within your abilities, and as you become fitter and lose weight, you should be able to go further and further. It does save expensive gym membership, and should be less intimidating. Don't push the exercise too far though - take care of yourself!

i don't know if working out at home is an option for you, but i would try richard simmons or leslie sansone workout. they really do help get you started and you can even pump them up a bit once you get going. i enjoy richard's b/c yes, he is a bit much sometimes, but the music is fun and it's enjoyable. i hope you find something that works for you. i wish you so much luck!

How can you see no results after 6 months if you're working out and eating right?

I've only been seriously dieting again for 9 days and I've lost 6lbs!

Here's a bit of advice - just because you're going to the gym doesn't necessarily mean that you're doing things right once you get there. Just the other day I was at the gym and two ladies came in (sisters I think). One was very overweight and the other was moderately overweight. They hopped on the elliptical for 5 minutes and then went and sat on the mats for 40 minutes and left. They can say that they've gone to the gym, but they haven't done anything!

If you want to see results you have to push yourself. Never be comfortable when you're working out - you don't get results that way. Workouts are not supposed to be a walk in the park.

I know you're probably thinking to yourself that I'm no authority in this area (only 6lbs lost)... but around 2 years ago I reached my all time biggest... so I started going to the gym and lost 80lbs. It wasn't easy I assure you, and to be honest... the first few weeks were excrutiating... I had a lot of pain in my ankles and thighs becuase I wasn't used to working out.

Anyways, my point is that anyone can do it if you follow a few simple rules. The biggest part of it is to accept the fact that it's going to take time... but that's something that you've got lots of! Next year and next christmas and your next vacation are going to come whether you lose the weight or not - just imagine how much better it would be if you felt good about yourself!!

Hang in there - we're all here for ya.

That's terrible that people would make it hard on you at the gym. There seems to be some expectation that only people who are already fit should show up, which is completely ridiculous.

Any movement is good for you. I personally think walking is the greatest thing ever. I feel self conscious about jogging, so I do it at night, but I'm a big guy so I'm not worried about physical safety. If you can get a friend to walk with you, it's much better.

I saw a segment on TV a while ago about a woman who had been very overweight, and was too embarrassed to go out and exercise. She started walking around her clothes line in her fairly small back yard. She would listen to music and walk one way for half an hour, then the other way. She lost a lot of weight and gained the confidence to get out on the street and to a gym.

My point is, there's nothing magical about a gym, just get moving. Every step you take burns off a little more energy. I love the dancing suggestion, even just walking on the spot to a good beat will help. Heck, if you have access to a Playstation 2, you can get games with dancing in them where you dance on a mat. They're a LOT of fun and the one I have tracks calories burned, progress etc. Good luck!

Oh, one last thing, are you getting treated for hypothyroidism?

I have also had a very difficult time in loosing weight/getting fit. I feel that I am on the right track now as I have already lost alot of inches and even a few pounds, feel more energetic and have a better self image. I started going to "Curves". It's a gym for women only and the staff there is phenomenal! They are very supportive and will do whatever it takes to get you on the right track.

I joined the gym and hated it. I didn't have anyone make fun of me or anything. It was just a hassle to go. In January I bought a treadmill. I can do it when I want and wear what I want. That's what I like.

GO TO THE GYM

Dont care for stares

they will change into OOHS and AAHS after some time

Morning,

I'd like to second whoever said Richard Simmons - I've found his workouts to be inspirational for many reasons! Not only does he exude support, but many of the folks on his videos are hugely overweight as well.

RS gave me the opportunity to dance for the first time in decades! They're really superb resources.

You can also visit his site at RichardSimmons.com . My husband got me a membership for Valentine's Day last year - it's well worth it for the motivation factor alone.

Enjoy,

Barbara

It's easy enought to say, but please just ignore the people at the gym.
Some people dont realise how hard it can be stepping out in public and working out.

I found it hard when i started going, surrounded by people 20years older than me, out pacing me on the treadmill etc..

But keep at it and you'll come out on top.

Considering the fact that it's been almost a year since the original poster started this thread.... I doubt she'll be coming back for advice.

eh- just because the original poster was a one-post-wonder and it's a year old -doesn't make it any less of a valid question... Some other person might have the same question and doesn't want to ask...

Touché.

I just hate old threads.

My answer to what are some exercises for the morbidly obese:

Anything that they can stick with. Honestly, anything that increases activity on a consistent basis does the trick for them. The playing field is a bit different than that of their leaner counterparts.

I'm working with an obese woman right now.

She is doing daily walks. Working with resistance bands and dumbbells from home. Walking up and down her stairs a handful of times each day. Flexibility work a handful of times each week. A few yoga-esque type movements a couple of times per week. Some calisthenics.

Really, it's anything.

Curves might work for some. Not really a fan.... but if it works for you, have at it.

I'd rather see old threads ressurected rather than 15 new threads started asking the same thing over and over again Studies have shown, that searching forums actually burns calories and forces brain cells to actually work..

Meh...

Searching is one thing.

Thinking is something totally different.

Hi there

There are a lot of good ideas here. I'd agree that doing the bare minimum of walking, even if it's 5 minutes around the house or walking in place, is a great start to an exercise program. You might even try turning on the radio or putting on some music for 5 minutes and walking in place to that. Don't worry about the gyms, they aren't for everyone, and as much as we can try to avoid it, there can be a lot of social pressure there. Ick lol So yeah, doing it at home can be a more comfortable place. You can start doing a few minutes of walking in place for a week or two and after that you may find you can do a little bit more and a little bit more until you may find yourself walking 10 minutes outside without being out of breath.

I also wonder if maybe you're skipping breakfast. Skipping meals can make the body gain weight from the meals you eat later in the day (don't ask me how I know this, I learned it from a nutrition expert called Covert Bailey in the early 90's) So maybe you can try eating a good breakfast that consists of high fiber cereals, scrambled eggs, or whole wheat toast, and try supplementing it with fruit like an orange. Then at lunch you might want to have a glass of 100% fruit juice and a sandwich, and at dinner you can have
some meat and potatoes.

One of the girls here said to start investing in fruits and vegetables. This is a very good point. Many of us don't get enough of the servings that we need, and since fruits and vegetables provide a lot of health benefits, it's worthwhile considering. But don't try them if they're too bland for you. Get fresh fruits and veggies that are in season-they will taste a lot better. You can also try buying 100% fruit juices, such as pineapple, guava, and pomegranate. These are all very delicious and easy to get used to.

My website below talks about how I've been doing on the raw food diet, which is just a diet that consists of eating only fruits and vegetables, or else making your diet up of 70-80% fruits and vegetables. It is a bit of an extreme diet that one would have to start out gradually on, and I still often slip from increasing my fruits/vegetable intake (like this weekend I had visitors over and ate more junk food and very little fruits or veggies at all lol) But it has a lot of other very useful health tips for people who don't want to eat raw food but just want some tips for losing weight. So, it's there if you want to take a peek.

Other than that, just be easy on yourself. Try eating more healthy food more often, try finding healthy foods that don't sacrifice on taste, and do little bouts of walking exercise throughout the day. Best of luck