Please come tell me your tried and tested gym routine!

[Pumpkinspicewhatever]

I’m feeling rubbish post Xmas and have re joined my local gym in an attempt to get myself feeling a bit better (both physically and mentally!) Because of dd5 I am only going to be able to hit the gym for max 1 hour about 4 times per week. I’ve done basic yoga and dance classes before but I enjoy running and HIIT. I’m not so into weights or strength training.: I know it’s meant to be good for weight loss but I prefer the feeling I get after running/cardio.

Can anyone share a good routine involving treadmill/elliptical/stair climber that doesn’t take longer than 45-60 mins but leaves you feeling good and keeps you fit? And/or what classes do you swear by?

1hr x 4 is more than fine, you don't need to go for hours (unless you want to).

Shorter bursts of more intensive cardio are better than long periods at a slower speed. So maybe mix it up - 10 mins running fast (if you can, or 10 mins of 1min intervals, fast/slow), then a round of weights or squats/lunges or core exercises or similar for 5 mins, then 10 mins fast on the elliptical etc. Try to keep going with minimum breaks.

In an hour you can still pack in a good 40 mins cardio if you mix it up.
I wouldn't neglect core/muscle strengthening exercises, especially if you continue doing high impact cardio.

HIIT classes are great for burning calories, increasing cardio fitness etc but be wary of injuries. Because the exercises are done quickly, technique sometimes suffers. I've known lots of fellow HIIT goers who gave up after one injury too many.

Maybe try pilates for core strength too.

What works for one person won't necessarily work for you.

You need to find the thing that makes you tick and then you will enjoy it a lot more and get more out of it.

So if you like running, what about (for example) fartlek intervals rather than just aimless pounding away on the treadmill? Or fell/trail runs outside instead? Set up bleep tests with fellow runners in your gym? Join a running club and go off with them in your free hours? Use bungees attached to you for short sprints (I've done this and it was really good fun!)

Try 2 minutes running quickly / 1 minute walking, then lengthen the running times by 30 seconds to a minute when you can comfortably complete the two minute run. Keep increasing until you’re up to 10 minutes.

45-60 mins, is more than enough to get a full work out, as long as its structured correctly, in fact as you get healthier and fitter you dont need to extend the time allowed at all, you can increase the intensity, cut down the rest periods, etc, its a constituent in what is known as progressive overload.

You say you dont fancy weight bearing exercise but it is incredibly beneficial, especially for females, giving lifelong benefits, light versions of total body compound exercises such as deadlifts can be used as a warm up for aerobic exercise.

There are lots of good programmes on YouTube, there is rubbish as well, so do a little research on the trainers credentials, but in the beginning a common sense approach will see improvements, I would generally start with the exercise you find the hardest working up to the finishing with the easiest, then look at getting a structured programme either from the gym's PT, if you trust them, or elsewhere as there are lots of sources
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I’m a personal trainer and would recommend Lucy Mountains nobs guide for some direction about what to do. Focus on weights, not cardio.