Start with a 30 minute walk and see dumbbell exercises a few times a week. Make it simple go from there.

1. Set a step goal every day and meet it. Then gradually increase to at least 10k per day, but 15k is better.
2. Core Power protein shake for breakfast. Add Ultima electrolytes to your water in the morning.
3. Reduce snacking, but if you’re starving, have hard boiled egg whites.
4. Make protein and vegetables the main event of lunch and dinner.
5. Cut out alcohol.

Join a gym, get a personal trainer. They will hold you accountable. At your age you should be able to afford one at say a Gold's gym or a OneLife. They usually have a nutrionist on the staff who can help you meet goals there as well. Take classes that are somewhat low impact--again gym staff will help you.

Always remember: You cannot outrun the fork.

I started with going for walks to build leg muscles and stamina. Then I started cutting back on snacks and replacing them with fruit or veg or nuts or popcorn. Then I started reading serving sizes and cutting down carbs (a little pasta goes a long way, it turns out).

Walking is a great way to start the process but please remember...losing weight is all about calorie deficit. You can't out work a bad diet. So first is to reduce calories to lose weight. Walk for cardio fitness so you can keep up with family. Steadily progress as you improve. You can walk longer. Walk faster. Walk a bit, jog a bit, walk a bit, jog a bit. This will improve your fitness. Sure it will burn a few extra calories but not enough to even worry about. Focus on eating healthy and try to increase protein. As you start getting into the groove, add strength training. Do body weight squats. Body weight lunges. Elevated push ups until you can go flat. Walk steps. Do bear crawls, crab crawls. These will help with fitness and strength.

I started with OTF and I never worked out before but found I could manage these classes at my own comfort level and they were motivating and fun to me so I kept going. Same with walking as others mentioned. I don’t run and never will due to knee issues but I can walk, lift and row and do core just fine and have become stronger. Start out with walks or take a free fitness group class to start.

^The walking is great advice. That’s how I started out in my journey back after many years of horrendous health. Just a lot of walking. Then I started walk running. Lost more weight. Then I started running again non stop for the first time since undergrad. Now I’m lining up in the front/elite corrals for the local DC road races, and I don’t even exclusively run as my training. And I running overall and split times that’s correct for that.

OP, the main thing is find something that you can do consistently. Consistency is the key.

I always think long walks are a great first step. They are achievable, low risk of injury and you can burn a surprising amount of calories.

The key is consistent progress. Let’s say you can only do 15 minutes and then you are exhausted the next day.

So do that every other day for a few weeks. Then switch to 4-5 days a week. Then six. Then 20 minute walks, then 25 and so on.

Once you can do a brisk walk 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week consistently without soreness or fatigue - it’s just part of your lifestyle - come back and we can talk about running or lifting or something else.

I am a mid 50s woman, 25 pounds overweight and hopelessly out of shape.

I don’t even know where to begin.

I want to lose weight and get in better shape - not run a marathon but be able to keep up with my family on hikes and playing outdoor games, etc.

I would appreciate any advice, in particular with respect to fitness as with diet my goals are to cut all snacking and reduce portions, to start. I used to like group fitness, but feel too out of shape to join in.

I am thinking what might work well for me is a fitness video series that starts easy and builds as I gain stamina/strength. With set number of work outs per week so I can mentally have a sense of my expectations for the week. Does this make sense? If so, any Suggestions?

Thanks for suggestions and encouragement.