What exercise gave you the most noticeable difference?

Jillian michaels 30 day shred, lost a size last time I did it, felt strong.

This time I’m a lot older so did beginner shred instead, didn’t lose a lot (an inch off each of my waist, belly and bum) BUT I felt a lot stronger fast and it’s 20 minutes a day. I do 5 a week and keep weekends for rest days so takes me 6 weeks to complete. I was also kinda watching my cals but not seriously (about 1600 cals but I started at almost 13st) and dropped half a stone.

I’ve just started 30 day shred and the beginner shred was a good base from which to start building back some fitness and strength.

Oh my god i just wrote an almost identical thread but am in my 40s. Am here if you need a motivational buddy xxx

Doing exercise that enjoy rather than what others enjoy! There’s no point in me deciding to go for a run because I won’t stick to it but I enjoy weights, Pilates, yoga, core, walking and dance. I show up week after week because I enjoy it.

Ashtanga yoga . it’s weight bearing, cardio, good for the soul all in one. I can’t recommend it enough!

This is a good free programme. 3 workouts a week 1x cardio, 1x core and 1x legs n tums. Set up like C25K where it gets progressively harder week on week.

couchtofitness.com/?ref=betterhealth

Running. I am a competitive runner and still dither and procrastinate before going out for a run, especially on cold and rainy days! But I never regret it after I've finished. I run approx 25-30k a week. Life is busy with 3 kids and FT work but I just shoehorn it in. Something has to give. Normally housework! Helps that I have a supportive husband who knows how important it is to me so gives me the time/space to bound out of the door (after a good 30mins of procrastinating).

And also... Weights. I bought myself a set of 3kg dumbbells back in the summer and started out doing a high number of reps with them. In the kitchen waiting for the pasta to boil. In the bathroom while the DC are in the bath. In front of the telly.

I then worked my way up to 8kg but with fewer reps. I have had compliments on my muscle tone from lots of people and feel strong and healthy and it has massively improved my running too! Who knew!

I've been skinny before but I was 'skinny fat'. The combination of running with weights has made me lean and defined.

Find a Les Mills Body Combat class - or, -as I call it, “Smashing Imaginary People In The Face” class. If is perfect on every level.

To add that having more muscle tone meant I got away with not watching my food too much. I really notice the difference since my muscle tone has gone down over a period of time as I lost my focus and I put on weight much quicker as a result if I'm not careful with food.

Weights and cycling

Running and yoga

I don't know what the word "difference" is supposed to mean here.

• lost weight?
• slept better?
• better mental health ?
• "toned" (the nebulous undefined state)
• more attractive to others ?
• faster?
• stronger?
• heavier weights?
• better numbers on strava or fitbit?
• stopping weight gain?
• ?

Spinning and weights all the way.

5 minute youtube videos. I searched and found one I liked. I started with an arm one the introduced an abs one. Quick and easy and no excuse not to so everyday.

Running changed my life - I was your typical overweight gym-class ditherer til I started running. I did spin, Body Pump, circuits etc most days but was stubbornly a size 12/14. Then I started running. I hated it at first but persevered up to regularly running 10ks, when it clicked into place and every run stopped being a battle.

Now I run marathons, I'm fitter than I've ever been, and I've maintained a size 8 for several years.

Can you stretch to some PT sessions? The right one can be transformative. You want someone encouraging who will work with you to your goals - you will then have a programme you can work through at home between visits. Doesn’t have to be at a gym either, you can have someone come to you. I work out with someone in my garden which is perfect for me.

Proper weight lifting with a personal trainer made the most difference to my physique. But it was hard work and I was really put off at the end of about 3 months when he said that he thought I'd be lifting heavier weights by then.

I've recently been losing a bit of weight by low carbing and cutting out sugar. I've actually cut down on the exercise if anything to allow me a bit more time to focus on meal prep and making sure I get enough rest. I try to get my 10000 steps most days and on top of that parkrun plus one other run a week and a couple of gym classes, one of which involves weights. If I did one more weights and abs session I think it would be just about right. I'm going to give reformer pilates a go next week as I've heard that's good.

Hula hooping, I do it of an evening while watching Emmerdale!

I despise running but, when my fitness levels have really dipped, doing C25K gets me in condition again.

For something actually enjoyable, I love my rebounder.

Thanks @EnjoythemoneyJane that's a very helpful reply! I will try (again)

Weight training is the only way really to get quick results. If you feel self conscious then firstly, don't worry. Everyone feels self conscious at the start. Maybe ask for an induction to show you how to use the machines etc?
But... walking lunges or just lunges but holding weights at either side (start small!) And squats but holding weights.
Just start with those two things and then maybe build up to using bigger bits of equipment.
Good luck.

Running.

But I would highly recommend you join a club as long as it's the right sort of club. Mine caters for everyone from couch to 5k right up to highly competitive running. Everyone is very supportive of each other.

Joining a club gives you accountability and encouragement. If they do group training too it will likely give you the variety that will help increase your fitness.

IME consistency is really the only way to go, unfortunately. If you don’t commit to a regular schedule and force yourself to stick to it, it can remain difficult to motivate yourself to go at all, because every random session feels equally hard and you don’t see much improvement in overall fitness.

If you try to have a regular-ish pattern it gets much easier, because you’ll eventually hit that magic turning point when you start to feel great after a good run (rather than ready for the knackers yard), and miss it when you don’t go - believe me I never thought I’d feel that way but I did. And I was super fit and extremely toned as a result, and probably had the best body of my life in my late 40s & early 50s.

Unfortunately an injury put a stop to that & I’m now a fully paid up member of the post menopausal, thick-around-the-middle-with-a-wobbly-arse brigade. Currently doing a big diet overhaul and thinking about starting weight training (“training” being throwing a few kettlebells around in the garage and trying not to spanner myself).

I’ll be starting any day now, when I’m not so fucking tired and in need of a biscuit … 😩

I agree finding something you enjoy is key, as sticking to it will be the biggest contributing factor.

Unfortunately diet / calories in v out will have the biggest impact though. Exercise won't tone you up if the muscles are covered in a thick enough layer of fat, as you won't see them. A calorie deficit will get rid of that then exercise can make your muscles bigger.

Good luck!

If you don't fancy the gym though it isn't necessary to go. Yoga, other than the most restorative, relaxing kind, is weight-bearing. Doing regular yoga and brisk walking with music or an audio book plus other activity built into life - decorating, gardening, housework - is more than enough for most people.

Body Pump is fab