lol
For one thing, I bet you weren't as heavy as me.
For another, I bet you were able to be more active. I was in bed for nearly two years ... and now I'm up more but not all the time by any means.
I think the trick is to do three minutes more than you were doing before.
And I think it's ridiculous to push to the limits in the beginning and that way the body sets that as the norm...
I like my body having a low norm for exercise... and I'm glad it works.
Now... to read the rest of your post.