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Original poster

How do you exercise if you have no space or money?

78 replies

JammyGem · 06/09/2020 22:28

I've hit a low point and have realised I desperately need to lose weight. The diet bit I can do (sort of) but I'm so unfit and struggle with any exercise. DH works late hours so I cannot leave the house after putting DD to bed until he gets home at about midnight. We walk home from nursery and I try to take detours so it's a longer walk, but as I pick her up pretty late after work this often backfores because she gets overtired. I am massively in debt and cannot afford to pay out for any equipment, clothes/shoes or memberships. Our house is tiny and there is no space to really exercise either, other than the metre square in front of the hob/oven in the kitchen.

Can anyone recommend any form of exercise I would be able to do? I'm fed up of being this fat ugly useless lump but I have no idea how to get fit. I looked into exercise I can do in a confined space and the only thing that really came up was a book by Charles Bronson (!) but I know Mumsnetters often have brilliant ideas so I'm hoping you can help!

OP posts:
jewel1968 · 07/09/2020 01:11

I know it's true that you can't outrun a bad diet but what people don't understand about exercise is that it's not the calories you burn (it isn't as much as you might think) it's the facts that you don't eat when you exercise and it improves your mood so less likely to reach for the carbs.

That's why it's so important to do something you enjoy so that you get the feel good effect. Walking is a good place to start.

MinesAPintOfTea · 07/09/2020 01:24

I've been known to do press ups and sir ups on the bed.

And nursery drop off 15 mins earlier can give you 15 mins to make the walk back into a jog.

caringcarer · 07/09/2020 01:24

Buy a step for about a tenner and go on YouTube and see the step workouts. For arms use two tins of baked beans, one in each hand and use as arm weights. Find arm weight workout on YouTube. Bend over and touch toes ten times. Hula hula hoop for waist. Walk up and down stairs five times on three occasions each day. Try to walk more and drink 2 litres of water. You are not useless lump. You care about and give love to your family which makes you very important.

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Exercise & fitness Fitness
WingingWonder · 07/09/2020 01:27

Download the nhs free couch 2 5k app, it’s 30 min 3 days a week. Get up early and go..... it’s transformed my life no joke

nachthexe · 07/09/2020 01:44

Another vote for get up earlier and let dh get dd up and breakfasted while you get outside and back for a shower. Presumably if he doesn’t get in until midnight he is around to take charge of the morning routine while you get some time.

Kisforkaylied · 07/09/2020 06:36

Couch to 5k app is free and running is free - you can start in leggings & t-shirt so you don't need all the gear straightaway.

Walking is also free.

PETRONELLAS · 07/09/2020 06:42

Search ‘walk a mile’ on You Tube. You don’t leave the tv room - just walk. So good for anyone who can’t get out and gets your heart rate up.

WhatamessIgotinto · 07/09/2020 06:44

If the OP is working I'm assuming that she goes straight to work after dropping her DD at nursery so perhaps can't do a long walk home afterwards or to pick her up again.

OP you tube is great - you don't need lots of space and you can work out which exercises you can do in the space you have when you've tried a couple of sessions? Good luck and you are most definitely not useless.

toomanyspiderplants · 07/09/2020 06:49

Look up jessica smith you tube .if you look at her barre workouts she does many barefoot and you won't need much space.

BikeRunSki · 07/09/2020 07:03

I used to walk/run on my lunchtimes at work when my dc were small.

ChanceChanceChance · 07/09/2020 07:06

You can stand up to watch telly and just march on the spot. It's just about moving.

JonHammIsMyJamm · 07/09/2020 07:10

Fitness blender on YouTube

Do you have available hours whilst she is at nursery? Could you fit in a walk or a 30 min run 3x a week? All you need are supportive trainers, they don’t need to cost the earth.

rosy71 · 07/09/2020 07:11

Walk everywhere. Get up early and run before nursery/work. Skip - someone I knew lost weight by doing 100 skips every night. Running on the spot at home. Joe Wicks workouts. Run at the weekend.

How old is dd? Does she have a bike? I have run in the past with the kids cycling alongside.

Redbirds · 07/09/2020 07:11

Yoga lots of workouts on you tube; I love Adrienne. Good luck!

horseymum · 07/09/2020 07:12

If you are massively in debt, look up CAP ( Christians against poverty). You don't have to be a Christian or any religion to access their services. Tackling the debt will help you feel better too. Good luck with your new regime.

WitchesGlove · 07/09/2020 07:16

@WingingWonder

Download the nhs free couch 2 5k app, it’s 30 min 3 days a week. Get up early and go..... it’s transformed my life no joke
How do you manage to listen to it whilst running?
YouStupidBoy · 07/09/2020 07:20

Some areas have schemes where GPs prescribe free gym memberships / exercise classes for people who need to exercise for health reasons but cannot afford to - might be worth talking to your GP to see whether you meet the criteria.

Theredjellybean · 07/09/2020 07:22

If you own a pair of trainers and a sports bra..and leggings and tshirt You can go running.. Its outside, it's free, and it's really good for fitness and mental health
Couch to 5km can be downloaded free.
I did no exercise ever... Until I did couch to five km... Now training for a marathon.

Indoctro · 07/09/2020 07:28

I run with my child in a buggy , 10 miles is my maximum as I think any longer is unfair to my child

Buggy running is a great form of exercise

BikeRunSki · 07/09/2020 07:29

WingingWonder
Download the nhs free couch 2 5k app, it’s 30 min 3 days a week. Get up early and go..... it’s transformed my life no joke
How do you manage to listen to it whilst running?

Headphones?

Indoctro · 07/09/2020 07:30

Also should of added

Exercise doesn't do much for weight loss

You can't outrun a bad diet

I run 25/30 miles a week and have done for the last 2.5 years and I'm still 2 stone over weight because my diet is dreadful

So if weight loss is your main aim you need to focus on cutting calories

autumngold6 · 07/09/2020 07:52

If you have stairs you can use the bottom few steps for exercise - I saw a video online recently demonstrating it (can't remember where so you could Google it) - she was doing press-ups; push ups from sitting; stepping on and off the bottom step; putting toes on the edge of bottom step and holding rail whilst raising heels up and down etc.

CatherineMaitland · 07/09/2020 07:53

XBX program - free on the internet, no equipment needed, just some floor space. It's more for getting fit than losing weight but it does get you fit.

veryvery · 07/09/2020 07:59

You might not be ready to hear this but weight loss really happens in the kitchen. Calorie reduction. Exercise can help but ok it’s own it’s pretty useless in terms of weight loss.

So wrong! I do a run and a walk everyday which means I burn 1000 more calories than I normally would. If I were completely sedentary I would only be able to eat about 1500 calories for weight maintenance, my exercise means that the maintenance calories are over 2000. Now that makes a big difference, a whole meals worth of difference in fact! And before you ask, no I am not over estimating because it works! I have lost 3 stone in the past 2 years and am still losing the last few pounds. Have gone from a size 16 to a size 10.

veryvery · 07/09/2020 08:00

Yes, cut calories but those extra calories burnt really do help when maintenance calories aren't very much!