Can I get toned and muscular without going to the gym

[CocoChunnel]

Ive had great results previously when using strength machines at gym but the only gym in my new town is rammed 😒

Ive downloaded the Fiit app on my phone and done 2 workouts with that so far but just wondering - will that be enough to get sculpted?

Are you doing weighted exercises? I find that’s what works best for me!

I've worked out exclusively from home from the past 18 months and have built myself a toned body using dumbells and kettlebells only ( did also invest in a weights bench)

Do you mean with dumbbells? If so then yes, I also have resistance bands.
Its weird though because I actually found using the gym equipment easier. Like it was more pleasant doing leg presses than it is squats for some reason!

@CocoChunnel yes! Either free weights or body weight I find works well. Gym equipment always feels easier to me too, I think normally because it encourages the correct form but with free weights I have to do more of it myself in terms of doing it right.

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things!

The gym equipment holds your form for you. Free weights take more effort.

Tbh if you're training at home then you would be better off with kettlebells. They're the fastest way to get the shape you want I think.

Pilates!! 5 minutes a day. Lots of vids on YouTube

Of course you can. Pick a price of equipment. Let's say a kettlebell. Pick a body part. Let's say legs. Of the top of my head, you could do:
KB swings
KB Single leg RDL (one foot on sofa)
KB squat (plus sumo squat or sissy squat for quad focus)
KB deadlift
KB lunges (forward, back, curtsy)

Grab some thick glute bands from Amazon and do:
Banded bridges (pop KB in lap for added resistance)
Monster walks
Banded squats
Banded hip abductions
You can do these banded moves for high reps until you feel a good pump and burn.

Just some quick examples

I trained with a couple of dumbbells and a kettlebell all through lockdown using FIIT type classes (having been a gym fiend) and I stayed really fit - so yes totally doable!

The weight needs to be challenging though and you need to push yourself, which is harder without anyone watching.

I never go to the gym. I do a mixture of ballet barre, pilates, yoga and treadmill running and I'm really toned. People automatically i assume i lift weights, which I don't. I'm 55.

Second this!!

Yes. I've built a lot if muscle doing Caroline Girvan. I've also spent a hideous amount on weights but at least no monthly gym costs.

Yes. I won’t go to the gym because I find them incredibly frustrating environments. They’re always rammed, you end up wasting time waiting around for people to finish on equipment, most people seem to be sitting around idly on their phones or gossiping with their friends and I also find the majority have no natural light. There’s two gyms I have attempted to go to where the treadmills face a wall, I just can’t run on the spot looking at a wall.

I now run 3 times a week regardless of weather (only time I won’t if it’s icy for obvious reasons) and I have dumbbells so follow a routine 3 x a week with those. Saving money and just feel better about it.

Any you can recommend please? A Youtuber name to have a look at. I have been told Pilates would be great for me but it's just not something I've "got into" as I don't really know a good person to follow.

I like Tracey Mallett

Source: YouTube https://share.google/mMRxsY1QrESEDolbZ

Machines are more pleasant cos they are easier which is not what you want when building muscle. You want time under tension and for the last few reps to feel really difficult.

They often do not encourage correct form because they aren’t adjustable enough for all bodies and are largely designed for men. The weight increments are often too high to easily progress.

Learn to do free weights and you’ll never look back. A set of dumbbells and ideally some kettlebells and a pull up bar would be great at home. That’s what I had in the pandemic with gyms closed

Go an ask your most local farmer / horse yard if you can help them out. You’ll be absolutely hench in no time. My back and shoulders are ridiculous from having horses and I don’t really go near the gym.

You won't look sculpted if you have excess body fat and exercise won't help with that. Just saying.

Yeah, I'd largely agree with this. Sounds a bit paradoxical but I tend to recommend previously untrained people avoid the machines to begin with. It's really important to learn proper form when carrying out key movement patterns ie (full depth) squat, hinge, push, pull and press. The leg press definitely will feel more pleasant than a squat in many ways as the squat is pretty much a full body exercise. I use the leg press machine if I really want to blast my quads by loading up the weight and manipulating angles and foot placement but I know how to do this safely and use it as an accessory move alongside other bigger lifts.

This is true. Abs are made in the kitchen and all that.

Nothing will get you sculpted in five minutes a day

You do see a lot of people cheating a leg press by doing a really partial range of motion. I have been amazed myself when I thought a weight was easy but my PT came along and adjusted the seat a bit and suddenly it got much harder! Free weight exercises are much more functional as well ie they mimic stuff you do in real life like picking up shopping bags and kids

Yes, I think you can. I used to be a member of a couple of gyms over the years. A couple of years ago, I bought myself a small set of dumbells and have been very pleased with the result, as I'm now very well toned and got some good muscles. I also walk at least 10k steps per day which helps the lower body of course. It's amazing what exercises you can make up with just dumbells - I have managed to recreate most of the exercises I used to do in the gym using their purpose built weight machines.

Do you have any park gyms in your local area? Some of our local parks have a free outdoor equipment area, or a circuit of outdoor equipment around the park.

You can just keep buying bigger weights to progress if it gets too easy. The limitation in the end is often grip strength so get some straps. I think that if people don’t get the results they want with at home work outs it’s often poor diet, lack of consistency or not progressing the weights. I prefer the gym myself because I oddly find it easier to motivate myself to go somewhere to work out than to fit it in at home but many people feel the exact opposite