Exercise ideas for.. me?

Looking to get exercise.. I don't really know hwere to begin and have a lot of things limiting me..

Currently, the most I do is 2 sets of 10 minutes of weighted hula hoop maybe 4 times a week.. and some weeks i walk about 3 miles..

Problems: I am very very prone to getting blisters, no matter what sort of prevention i provide (you name it, i've tried it). So, I develop huge blisters and then can't wear anything but sandals for 2 weeks while everything heels.. this limits the walking I can do.

I don't have a gym membership/cannot afford one.

I live in texas, and it gets really really hot in the daytime..

Small house with limited floorspace.

I have social anxiety and its hard for me to even go walking at 10pm at night for fear that people will see me exercising (don't really want to go into this.. but basically, it's hard for me to exercise when anyone else is around)

So.. does anyone have any ideas? I'm just looking for good cardio exercises.. Thanks!

i'm assuming that it's your shoes/socks that give you blisters?  let me know if i'm wrong on this.  i used to get them when i was a kid, for some reason i don't anymore.  i remember that they were painful though.

first, i just want to give you my support in dealing with your SAD - i know that it can be a painful and debilitating condition that can interfere with just about all aspects of life.    I never had it, and i don't know it you're taking benzodiazepines for it, but i used to be prescribed them for other reasons (xanax, klonopin, valium, and tranxene - not all at the same time!) and i know that they can contribute to appetite instability, so it's good that you want to start exercising and improving your help.

you can also do a lot of other things without shoes - jumping rope in just socks/barefoot.  i've seen people doing the elliptical/treadmill/exercise bike in just socks (never seen anyone do it barefoot, but no reason why not - i think it would be more comfortable with socks than barefoot and less likely to lead to blisters). 

circuit training actually burns tons of calories - all you'd need would be a pair of 10lb dumbbells.  not sure if that qualifies as 'cardio' though.

best of luck.  hope that helps!

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you can get videos from the library, since you said your short on money. i got to the gym, but we i cant i get the videos from the library.

Thanks for your replies!

Erinzz: Yes, my shoes and socks give me blisters.. unfortunately, any kind does it. I even splurged on a pair of Mephistos because apparently they never hurt -ever- but after wearing them for a while I developed blisters.. I think I have really sensitive or thin skin around my feet. And I would think with all the blisters that I've had I'd have tough and rough feet.. but I don't. :(

And thank you for understanding about SAD. So many people don't! I am not currently taking medication for it.. I wanted to try the therapy route first, but I couldn't even deal with that.. and now everything is on hold. Depression has unfortunately been added into the mix and pushes me to think more about meds but I am hesitant for so many reasons..

That is a great idea about walking like you're going somewhere! And my purse would definitely act as a weight--I keep everything in it. There is a shopping center about a mile from me, too..

And, along with skinnyjordan about exercise tapes.. I'm smacking my forehead! Can't believe I forgot that was an option.

Thanks :)

Erinzz: I actually do that too! Exercise acting like I am going somewhere. I live in MD so EVERYONE drives here so when I'm walking in my neighborhood they look at me like I'm an alien cus everyone drives and no one exercises but we have a grocery store near by so I walk over there by some fruits or something for dinner and then walk back. I love it!

about the SAD..i have aslight case of it myself..the only way i feel comfortable is to be around other over weight ppl who are exercising..i was fortunate to find a small park with a mile long walking area around it and ppl were always walking there so i started also..but as for the blisters i cant help u there..my gma keeps her feet well lubricated ..i really dnt know tho--good luck and i have heard of ppl who exercise from chairs

Have you tried Body Glide for your blisters?  I've used it for charing/blisters when running and it works well.  It's sold at sporting goods stores and it looks like a stick of deodorant- you basically apply it like deodorant on your feet before you run/walk.

Hope it helps!