When the beginner plan is too advanced

There's a lot of advice out there for how to start exercising.... The type that sticks out to me and sticks with me are:

1) Just go outside and walk. A few minutes in on direction and then come back. Keep going further and faster as you build up your endurance. 

2) Follow the beginner calendar they give you with those DVD programs. 

Well, these don't work for me!

(Please note I do not delve into the many gym facility based views and options because I am not comfortable in that type on environment so it's not something I would ever consider.)

Walking outside issues:

 - seasonal allergies

 - burn easily on body and scalp. (Hard to justify tons of prep to be covered to only be outside for 10 minutes)

 - sensitive to heat and cold. My body can end up overheated or extremely chilled very quickly and takes a long time to regulate back to normal 

 - places around my house have a very uneven terrain and I have weak ankles. So I end up walking very slowly to be careful so my cardio walk becomes aleisurely  stroll. Not the best for calorie burning. 

All of those issues are why I much prefer doing DVDs at home. 

However…..

Some of these DVD systems have you working out 5 or more days a week for an hour at a time as a beginner. To me that is like going from 0 to 1,000mph! Right now the idea of doing 10 minute workouts 3 times a week seems overwhelming... 

(Now I also have some anxiety issues especially when it comes to change and trying to create routines/habits so I know that is a huge factor in this as well.).
For a beginner exerciser who is out of shape, and overweight, why you you try to recommend they start with really long workouts? Now I know I can't handle it, but what about those who try and can't finish? They may get so discouraged that they don't try again. How does that help them or anyone else?


My Super Beginner Plan:
 - I've identified some mini workouts that do not overwhelm me as concepts and that I can realistically accomplish:

1. A 10 minute stress relief yoga workout
2. The Beginner Cardio Stretch workout from the WeightWatchers PointsPlus Fitness Series DVDs
3. The warm up + cool down walks from two different Leslie Sansone walking DVDs - these are closer to 20 minutes when the warm up and cool down are combined

 - I am going to start trying to do the walking combos on non-work days and alternating the Stretch and Yoga workouts on work days. The logic is that since I am on my feet while working I'm hoping that the stretching will help my body recover and I should move around more on my days off. I am giving myself the option to do any of the 4 routines on any given day; the important thing being to just do something.

I am trying to view the stretching/yoga routines not really as workouts, but as post-work self care to help me de-stress and relax after I get home. With this plan I would ideally be doing something 6-7 days a week. I think this will help me create a consistent daily/weekly routine (which I crave), and give me a good foundation to build on over time. 

Welcome!

Welcome to Finding Dani!

I've thought over and over again about how to best approach this first post and the conclusion I reached was that I just needed to start writing and posting. 

I am starting this blog as a way to hold myself accountable and to share my journey. I've definitely struggled to get healthy. Started and stopped and gone backwards with my weight and with my healthy habits. But if it was easy it wouldn't be a journey, it would be a destination; and we would all be there already.

Getting healthy is not something I can do while living in a bubble, as much as I wish I could. I have to figure out how to do this while continuing to live my life as it is now, and as it will become in the future. I have to figure out what I'm willing to give up/let go, where there is room for compromise, and what things I just have to work around.