To ask for some advice from a personal trainer or fitness expert?

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m massively unfit but I’m very fat and trying to make changes.

I’ve lost 2 stone over lockdown and I feel much better for it. My knees don’t hurt now and all my clothes are more comfy and I’m ready to start exercising.

I know I need to go slowly but what kind of ratio of cardio to weights and resistance training should I be doing?

I’m aware diet is the most important element of weight loss but I want to be fit and healthy and this is a very long-term plan.

I’m 42. I detest walking/running but I like aerobics and dancing and have a beach body subscription as I like their dance programs but that doesn’t help with strength and resistance training.

I have the following equipment at home:

Skipping rope
Weights
Mats
Resistance bands
Smart TV so I can use YouTube on a big screen
I also have a garden with patio area and grass and a large living room with wooden floor.

I can probably fit in 30 mins per day

Can someone help give me some guidance please? Would it be worth looking at getting a personal trainer for a bit? I feel a bit stupid even thinking that given my size and unfitness.

You’ve made a great start, if it’s financially viable a good PT is worth their weight in gold...maybe message a few and have a chat, it’s important they understand what you want to achieve and that your goals align with their goals for you. You don’t necessarily need to see one frequently, if you have equipment and are motivated to workout alone you could do weekly for a month then have a monthly ‘check in’ session to keep you on track and up the intensity as you get fitter. Good luck!

Joe Wicks does some dumbbell HIITS on YouTube that you could try out. Les Mills On Demand also has 2 weeks free trial running at the moment and they have some training plans you can follow, including 6 week beginner plans.

Well done on the weight loss and good luck!

Well done you. Heather Robertson on you tube is great. She does 20, 30 and 40 minute hiit work outs. Most if them are no repeat so you don’t get bored. She also does focused work outs in arms, core etc. I really enjoy them 😊

Thank you everyone - should I be mixing stuff up a bit, say cardio one day, weights another, core another?

As I type that I think I do need to get a trainer to get me started.

Can I shamelessly follow please? I’m a size 24,now. The biggest I’ve ever been. I’m 41 at Christmas and terrified.

I can’t get on with YouTube videos so took a deep breath and got a PT in the new year.

It’s been a game changer for me. I now do something every day - running, weights, resistance. I see my PT once a week and he’ll give me exercises to do in between my visits. I can contact him anytime to check my workouts, or progress.

I’m naturally pretty idle so I benefit from that kick up the bum. Financially it’s a sting but I see it as an investment in me.

Not a fitness expert, but certainly a bit of a gym bunny here. I spent years not exercising but got into it in my mid thirties.

You've done brilliantly losing weight whilst others are gaining it!

IMO the best exercise is one you enjoy as that way you are likely to stick with it! If you love dance, then do dance. Doing resistance training (weights or body weight) is good for your health and bone health, that could be heavy lifting or small dumbbells. But whichever you choose make sure you like it and then it will be easier to pull on those gym clothes!!

Anyone who tells you that there is a 'perfect' exercise regime is usually pushing their own agenda. Just try lots of things until you find something that clicks for you. Focus on eating to nourish your body and moving to keep your mind and body active.

@Thehop

Can I shamelessly follow please? I’m a size 24,now. The biggest I’ve ever been. I’m 41 at Christmas and terrified.

Don’t be scared - I was a size 26 at the start of the year and I’m a 24 now.

Go slowly and make a plan.

@Sidge

I can’t get on with YouTube videos so took a deep breath and got a PT in the new year.

It’s been a game changer for me. I now do something every day - running, weights, resistance. I see my PT once a week and he’ll give me exercises to do in between my visits. I can contact him anytime to check my workouts, or progress.

I’m naturally pretty idle so I benefit from that kick up the bum. Financially it’s a sting but I see it as an investment in me.

I think I will look for one just to help me get started - I think if I could stick to something for a few months it might bed.

@Earslaps

Not a fitness expert, but certainly a bit of a gym bunny here. I spent years not exercising but got into it in my mid thirties.

You've done brilliantly losing weight whilst others are gaining it!

IMO the best exercise is one you enjoy as that way you are likely to stick with it! If you love dance, then do dance. Doing resistance training (weights or body weight) is good for your health and bone health, that could be heavy lifting or small dumbbells. But whichever you choose make sure you like it and then it will be easier to pull on those gym clothes!!

Anyone who tells you that there is a 'perfect' exercise regime is usually pushing their own agenda. Just try lots of things until you find something that clicks for you. Focus on eating to nourish your body and moving to keep your mind and body active.

I do love dancing, it’s the only thing that I really push through with.

I second Les Mills on Demand. There are lots to choose between including dance ones and hybrids that include a selection. There are training plans too if you want to just follow a routine.

Not an expert but HIIT mixed with free weight work is good for me.
Joe Wickes has loads of stuff on YouTube that mixes it up a bit or local charity shops always have random DVD's for variety

I really like Fitness Blender (website + YouTube). Lots of free videos of lots of different types of exercise. You can also buy programs which takes all the guess work out of what to do when (this sounds like it could be helpful for you?). I'm doing one of the low impact ones at the moment because of a dodgy knee and it's really good (only requires dumbbells and a mat).

All your sessions appear in a calendar and you get to tick them off as you do them (motivating!), and you can reschedule days if you feel like an extra rest day, or want to fit around other types of exercise you like.

I also like the fact that it's very no frills - plain white studio and no music. Also they won't tell you to cut out food groups or buy any strange weight loss teas

Hi OP! Congrats on your weight loss!
I was in a similar boat to you (and still am)—very sedentary but took up a good bit of walking over a few weeks so fitness was slightly better than before but still not great. Also very overweight.
I decided maybe 6 weeks ago that I really wanted to start getting serious about weight loss and fitness, but wasn’t confident that I would be able to do it well by myself. I also felt that if I gave it a real go but didn’t see results, that could be a major setback for me (so demotivating!). I had lost around a half stone by myself but it feels often like the start bit comes off fairly easy when you start making a change, then it gets harder.
I hired a PT around 6 weeks ago and it’s the best decision of my life!!! She is brilliant, really nice and motivoating, holds you to account and pushes you while always knowing your limits. I’ve lost a stone in a month with her but the fat loss has been way bigger than that as there has also been a lot of muscle gain—my back looks smoother, I’ve grown a bum (!), my arms and legs look way more toned. 100% could not have achieved 10% of that without my PT, I don’t think I would have pushed myself as hard, I would have binged when not held to account, I would have given up when it got too hard, and I wouldn’t have actually done many of the exercises in the most impactful way. PTs save you so much time too as they give you what is effective for you, and cut out anything that isn’t. So if an exercise is too hard they find something with similar results that is more straightforward, and as soon as you get on top of an exercise they make it harder.
My PT sets me “homework” that is usually cardio, but when we are together (x2 per week) we do strength with a bit of cardio thrown in. However her exercises make me sweat even more than the cardio! And if I ever look comfortable doing one, it gets instantly made harder!
I started with a PT origianlly with the thought of doing 1 month until I learnt how to do it myself (money is a bit tight) but now I’m going to cut back on other outgoings because it’s just so great! I also am normally someone who is very self conscious exercising so I really need the support (first time I tried to work out in a park without my PT I got really panicky, cried and left, had to force myself to go back). Losing weight is hard, but having someone just as motivated in your journey is irreplaceable.
I also suffer a lot from seriously disordered eating, bingeing, self sabotage and some past with purging too. Having a PT has helped so much with this—so when I get in a bad place mentally, I have someone who I know I am accountable to and it almost helps me stop internalising and lessens the bad spell, if that makes sense? I eat way less than I used to (like literally 1/2 the portions, unable to finish things now as I get genuinely full!) and have not binged at all for over a month (a new record for me). A PT really changes your mindset, as you’re not alone with the issues.
If you can make it work financially, do it! If you find the right person, I can guarantee you won’t regret it.

Another vote for Les Mills on Demand! So much variety, and really motivating.

Thank you! I have found a couple of local PTs who have been recommended so hopefully I’ll be able to find one who is a good fit