To want to exercise for a decent body?

[usedtogotomars]

So what is the best exercise to be slim? Have read swimming isn’t the best if this is the aim.

mari I’m a single mum and am out of the house 7:30 till 6:30. I manage to fit some time in the gym most days if I finish earlier or get a long break. I also walk the 20 minutes back to the car park instead of getting the bus and I run with toddler in three wheeler. I also do blogilates at home in the evenings if I’m not studying.

Try everything and see what suits you and your body type.

I've just come out of a period where I could only make lots of body pump and circuit classes and I was getting stocky. I've stretched out now I'm back to combat, swimming, outdoor gym and running.

Currently doing the Bikini Body Guide by Kayla Itsiness. It’s basically loads of resistance training which you mix up with a bit of cardio. I can definitely see results and I really enjoy it (you different exercises every week which makes it interesting) but it's quite difficult to start with - I’d suggest doing some running/cross trainer +abs + light weight lifting for a couple of weeks before starting.

I was thinking of starting weights at home, just because I might have to stop my gym membership but want to do weights for bone density because I'm over 40. Any recommendations?

Yes it's tough. You could do a class at lunchtime.
You could walk some of your journey.
Davina DVDs are supposed to be pretty good.
You could get a PT to come to your house.
You could squeeze in a few sets as and when you have the time.

(I'm exhausted just looking at that)

Cycling made the most difference to my figure - toned up my legs and lower abs and really helped maintain my weight.
(I was doing between 10-18 mile round commutes 3-5 days at this time)

I quite fancy ski-ing - only problem is I doubt I could do it with sufficient frequency to actually burn off some of this ass lard.

I work out with a personal trainer twice a week (compound moves, HIIT, heavy weights) once by myself, and two vinyasa yoga classes. I also walk miles with my dogs.

I try and stick to a Paleo diet, though not when I eat out or in other social situations.

I’m 5’7, just under 9 stone, but my body fat is only 17 percent.

When I was 5’7 and 8 stone, I had nowhere near as much muscle definition. Ten years ago I was just into running.

Adding weights and keeping an eye on your diet is the way to go.

romansrevenge I can’t fit the gym in anywhere on a normal day- I drop my dd off at 8 (no earlier option) have a half hour lunch break with no gym nearby or facilities to change shower if I was to attempt a run and then have to pick dd up at 6pm. I don’t finish earlier or get longer breaks- my working day is fixed.
Guess I need to embrace exercise at home the majority of the time and see what I can manage on my free weekends.

Will look up blogilates though

It may be that running or weight training will give you the best results, but you need to find something you enjoy or you won't stick to it. I do a combination of swimming, yoga and Pilates which keeps me toned.

I do Chalean extreme weights I really enjoy it I have power block flex weights which makes it much easier to change weights. Kettle bells are supposed to be excellent too.

Weight training definitely! Bret Contreras is my go to guy.

Raised by guineapigs, if you do it alone at home, get a few sessions with a trainer first. You need good technique with weights and ideally a mirror or friend to check your technique.
You need to do all your body or you will end up with good bits and bad bits. ( I used to have a vain fella - hunky top and skinny weedy legs. )
There are cheats that you can do. Rowing works a lot of muscles. If you do triceps you can do a lot less biceps because you use your biceps more in normal activities...
Abs will firm up with crunches but running or pilates will make them toned too.

Is there any way to resculpt your body on your own without weights? I really want to be more hourglass but don’t have the money for a PT or gym membership.

Secret using your own body weight can be very effective. There’s an excellent app called SWORKIT that offers body weight exercises, and puts them together into an easy-to-follow program.

Abdominal crunches and planks are your best mates Secret.
Get the technique right and it's quick and effective.

Bicep dips for arms.
Squats and lunges for legs no bum.

You can make weights very easily to see if you think you would need them. Empty plastic bottle filled with tap water. 500 ml = .5 kg.

and not no.

Thanks both, very helpful. I have 1kg weights but thought you had to lift heavy to change shape (would love a waist but tend towards too skinny)? Sorry to highjack thread.

Heavy weights have totally changed my body shape.

I can neither run nor lift weights following prolapse surgery (gynae told me to do neither for life or I risked it returning), I swim and attend spin classes. I do find I need to spend much longer at it though than when I lifted, but cold water swimming (I swam the Channel in a relay team in the Summer), seemed to burn a lot of calories from having to keep warm in the water.

90% diet

10% Yoga

usedtogotomars, I used to think similarly about running. Hated it, so dull and tedious and didn’t understand how anyone could find it enjoyable. I felt that way for the first 30 odd years of my life.

Then last year I decided I ought to start running (couldn’t afford gym membership or classes) so quickly entered myself in to a 10k race as I needed a reason to force myself to do it. The race experience was amazing and addictive! Did my first 10k in Nov 2016 and in the year since I’ve done 8x10k races and 3xhalf marathons. It’s honestly changed my life. I absolutely adore running now. I put in my headphones and I go. No nagging children, no chores, just one foot in front of the other. It’s my freedom. I’ve become one of the weirdos I never used to understand!

Strengthening your core will improve your posture. Maybe you have perfect posture but most people don't esp if they have a desk job.

Chest exercises (e.g. Flyes and presses, pressups) will lift the bosom.
Squats will strengthen glutes and give you a more toned bum.
lunges will give you shapely thighs.
Shoulder exercises will give you nicer shoulders.

All achievable in about 20 mins a day. Weights help. Ikg is heavy enough for toning.