The hardest step is always the first.
My journey started back in 1981 - as a recently married young man of 24, who had gradually been putting on weight over the preceeding couple of years following a knee injury playing local league football - requiring several weeks rehab, after which i never really got back into football - instead being a heavy smoker (40+ per day) who became the proverbial couch potato.
Long story short, after several months i vowed to stop smoking, and my first step was to try jogging - a 2 mile out and back route - which nearly killed me.
But on the basis of taking no smoking 1 day at a time - i persevered and gradually started to enjoy it. Fast forward a year or 2 i joined a running club (shelton striders) , and started entering the occasional race and running with others on club nights - which was great personal motivation.
It also turned out i was quite decent at this running lark, and progress was being made. Coming across the running term PB's (personal bests), was like a red rag to a bull and over the years ran to a level that led to qualification for the Derbyshire team for the Inter Counties Cross country a few times in the early 1990s (via a top 10 finish in the Derbyshire cross country championships).
Also once competed in the great north run (1988) and finished in the top 200.
Competed pretty much until 1998, when chronic OA of the knees forced retirement from competition - very soon after my last competitive race - as part of the Derby & County AC Vets team that finished 5th in that years National Vets 8 stage road race relays in Aldershot.
Even then its nor been the end of the story. I can no longer run (indoors or out), but am now a member at Springwood Gym Oakwood,and have been for the last 20+ years - which is a really friendly and welcoming place, and great value.
The adrenaline buzz from an aerobic cardio workout, is till a great lift and boost - and keeps me coming back for more.
Even now, as a 67 year old OAP , i can be found in the gym most days and concentrate mainly on aerobic / cardio workouts such as
Stairmaster Stepper - 1500-2300 steps - (5-6 days per week) in 16-22 mins at 98-99 steps per minute - 2200 steps is approx the number of steps at the World Trade Center in NY +
Xtrainer - 2.25-3.5 miles - (5-6 days per week) in 15-24 mins - in intervals of 1 min build/recovery 4 mins at twice the power of the recovery +
Concept 2 Rower - 1-2.5miles (5-6 days per week) - at 7 mins 15 secs per mile +
Stationary bike (Watt bike or Keiser) - 3-4 miles (3 times per week) at 3.15 per mile plus 2-3 spin classes per week (12.5-13.5 miles per class in 45 mins) +
These days as i still work part time, i have 3 x shorter gym days (60 mins) + 3 x longer ones (95 mins and which include the spin classes).
Compared to many i may overdo it - but it does give a great boost to mental health, as well as physical wellbeing. The
Just start gradually and try to get into a routine. Common problems that people face - particularly with jogging / running - is that they always start too fast , simply because they think they are going too slow. It always takes your heart several minutes (upto 10) before it gets used to what the body is demanding of it - so go as slow as you need to to get past that 10 minute mark - i guarantee that once you can do that, you get into rhythm that can actually feel quite enjoyable and which gets those endorphins flowing through your system.