No time, no money (can't run) but really want to get fit - please help!

[Bugsy2]

I want to get fit & I desperately need some pointers! I'm not particularly fat (5ft7 & a size 14 or 16) but I am so unfit. I have 2 DCs & work full-time & I sit on my bottom for hours & hours every day. Sometimes, I am surprised I can still stand up, given how long I spend sitting each day.
Before anyone suggests running / jogging - I can't. I have badly damaged ligaments in one knee that mean high impact sport is not possible.
I am also very time challenged. I get up at 6.30am every day & nothing is going to persuade me I want to get up earlier to exercise. I get home from work at 6pm & do homework with DCs, feed them & get them to bed. I usually have them all sorted by 8.30pm. I'm also a single parent, which means I am a bit housebound. What can I do? What exercise programmes, DVDs etc have you used & enjoyed that have actually kept your attention & got you fit.
ALL SUGGESTIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!

[pocketandsweet]

Interested in the suggestions.... I am in somewhat of the same boat but I am able to run and have been doing that for a few months....

[worldgonecrazy]

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Dont do the lunges though, swap exercises around to make it easy on your knees. I can do a static lunge but not the moving ones, otherwise I'm crippled.

It takes 20 minutes out of your day.

I can't advise on what time to get up - I get up at 5.15 a.m. to fit it in before I go to work. If you do your exercise routine in the morning then you burn more calories all day - you don't get this extra benefit in the evening. I'm a morning person though. You could probably fit it in during the evening.

[Cyclebump]

Three years ago I bought a bike through my company's ride to work scheme (you get money off and pay monthly) and within a year I was doing 100 miles a week just commuting to and from work and going to the shops etc on it. I lost two and a half stone and it was the fittest I've ever been.

Worth checking if your company has a similar scheme.

[Bugsy2]

Shall investigate the Shred it DVD thank you worldgonecrazy. Cyclebump, I would love to cycle more but have two problems, firstly the company I work don't do cycle to work scheme (they say it is too difficult to administer) & the second thing is I do the school run on my way to work & pick up from after school clubs 3 days a week. I could do a bit at the weekends with the DCs but would have to get myself a 2nd hand bike as don't have much cash.

[sweetheart]

Hi Bugsy,
I understand your frustrations, I work full time and also had a ruptured ACL which I had reconstructed earlier this year. If you want to exercise the most honest thing I can say to you is that you have to make time - like an appointment otherwise any free time you do have will be filled up with other things.

I mostly exercise during my lunch hour - with getting changed and stuff I can get a 40 min workout in. I find it really helps refresh me during the day actually - it's a bit of me time and I use it to think about lots of things that are playing on my mind.

I have used this time to do a variety of things, running, dvd's, local gym, swimming, lunch time aerobics classes - anything is possible if you WANT to do it badly enough.

Also FYI it has taken me a while but with physio I am back runnning just as well as before my acl injury.

I've also used the shred DVD and think it's ok - I also like the Billy Blanks Tae Bo stuff, 10 min pilates DVD and Davina mcall DVD's.

Do you have any firends that you can share babysitting with to each get out to a class on alternative nights of the week?

In the summer I also like to pack up a healthy picnic and take ths kids for a bike ride - or taking them swimming would also get you a bit of physical activity.

[Bugsy2]

I'm not bad at the weekend sweetheart - I go ice-skating, swimming, bowling, for walks with the DCs. I am thinking on the bike idea too, as the DCs have bikes, so if I could get one then we could do that too. It is just during the week, when I do nothing. In a few years the DCs will be old enough for me to leave them when I go to an evening fitness class, I'm just scared I'll be stuck in a permanently seated position by then!!!! [hgrin]
Going to check out Davina's DVD.

[HazleNutt]

I would not recommend Shred, all the cardio exercises require jogging/jumping. Pilates, if your knee is really bad. Or maybe Zumba, if you take it easy, but there can also be a lot of twisting there. Do finances stretch to an elliptical trainer?

[Bugsy2]

Finances don't really stretch to anything Hazle. I've do about 15 mins of Pilates before I go to bed each night, as on top of the very dodgy knee I also have a dodgy back. I love Pilates but it doesn't make me feel fit. A couple of friends have recommended Zumba - I'll have a look at that.

[DooinMeCleanin]

I've just finished the Shred a few minutes ago. It's defininately not low impact. My ipod flew out of my sports bra at one point .

Swimming is good exercise and easy on the joints. In your position I'd probably save up for a personal training session and/or an elliptical trainer (Try E-Bay, Freecycle, your local paper's for sale section).

[slug]

I second the lunchtime session. It's the only thing that works for me. The funny thing is, since I got serious about it, it's now a given at work that I'm in the pool at lunchtime. People don't even attempt to contact me during that time any more.

[Bugsy2]

Ok, swimming at lunchtime might just be possible. Silly question, do you lunch time swimmers wear a swimming hat?

[slug]

I did. Until I cut all my hair off. Now I don't bother.

I also use these as they produce a lot more resistence in the water making your swim even more of a workout. Plus they are doing wonders for the bingo wings

[Bugsy2]

slug, did you wear a rubber / neoprene type cap & did it keep your hair dry without making it look like you had been dragged through a bush backwards?

[PerryCombover]

unless actually decent at it and v committed I'm unsure that swimming will get you fit
it'll tone you up but not get you fit
do a step aerobics dvd but don't use a step...40 mins of that a day 6 days a week and you'll see a massive difference in 4 weeks

tbh though...going out for a walk for 30-40mins a day during your lunchhour or whatever will do much the same..make sure you walk briskly

[Popbiscuit]

I sometimes get up at 4:30 to run before the day starts. I know, I know--it sounds horrible but you get used to it and it gives you tons of energy for the rest of the day so it sort of becomes something you look forward to. I know you can't run but brisk walking on a treadmill or elliptical-ing are both good too if you have room in the house for one.
My main point was to say that a few years ago I could not have imagined getting up that early but you get used to it and then you sort of enjoy it and it's not as bad as it first seems. And you feel all accomplished because you don't have to think about it for the rest of the day.

[Bugsy2]

Popbiscuit - I am full of admiration, but I also know my limitations!
Perry - do you really think that brisk walking would be enough? I could easily do that at lunchtime.

[TracyK]

Ask on freecycle for an adults bike - I see them on offer there all the time.

Get yourself a swiss ball - then bounce on it instead of sitting down all the time. If you bounce down and up then try and stop yourself from bouncing down - this will strengthen your leg muscles. It also gets your heart rate up which in turn will strengthen your cardio system.

Or get a kettlebell - they really get your heart going but your feet won't leave the ground - so no impact at all.

[Bugsy2]

TracyK, good thought on freecycle for the bike - I'll look into that. I mostly sit for my 9 hours in the office - do you reckon they'd be ok with a swiss ball? Would it be the kind of thing you could use at work? No idea what a kettlebell is - but shall go & google. I can see I'm very out of touch!

[TracyK]

Prob not at work for the swiss ball - health and safety and all that.
What kind of environment do you work in?
Could you organise something that everyone else could join in with? A group power walk or group workout? Get an office jump around - a buzzer sounds on the hour and everyone has to stand up and jump up and down for 60 secs? It can't be good for everyones circulation ie DVT's etc that it would be a good company move to start an initiative??

[akaemwahahahafrost]

Have you got money and space for a cross trainer? Get them second hand on ebay or gum tree. I have one and its brilliant, I recently injured myself running so can't anymore but still get on the stepper every day an burn 500 cals in an hour.

[ameliagrey]

can you get out at lumchtime and walk very fast for 30 minutes?

That would be great.

I am not pushed for time like you but my regime consists of 45-50 mins very fast waslking up hill , then every other day- usually evenings- I try to do a workout- lunges, squats, plank, press ups, and tricep dips. Put music on to help!

[TracyK]

Which city are you in? My dh has just joined Pure Gym which is open 24/7 and is only 16.99 a month for unlimited use.

[Bugsy2]

TracyK, I can't believe it is good for anyone to spend as long on their backside each day as I do. I make an effort to get up and move around every 20 minutes because I have a bad back - but everyone spends the whole time at their desk.
I am really liking the idea of a brisk walk at lunchtime, although I'm not convinced it will lead to great fitness.
Akaem - I can't really justify the space or the money for a cross training - but I'll have a look on ebay.

[mummyosaurus]

I would say cycling, can you do bike rides at the weekend?

My kids are 4 and 6 and now they are both off stabilisers, we go for it. Everyone loves it.

Today we all packed rucksacks, went to a friends house for play, then cycled about a mile to the park for a picnic, then home. A sort of biking safari.

[Bugsy2]

Fellow MNers you would be proud of me. I don't know why I havent thought of it before, but I live in a tall thin house & there are 3 flights of stairs. DCs haven't got homework as its half-term, so, I thought I might as well do my own stairmaster! I have just done 10 sets of 3 flights of stairs. By 3 sets I was really puffing, by the 7th set I was snorting a bit & sweating (DCs were laughing) and when I'd done 10, my legs were shaking, I was the colour of a screaming baby & I was snorting like a buffalo. So, I am a disgrace to fitness, but I have found a free way to get started!!!!
I'm going to look into some DVDs too & try and find a cheap bike. You have all inspired me, thank you.