Could someone critique my exercise regime please?

[FreckledLeopard]

So, I've run on and off for the last two years. Done a couple of half marathons. I generally tail off running over winter and have had injuries too which has meant there have been months when I've not run at all.

I desperately need to get fit and lose some weight. I feel so fat and sluggish and my clothes are too tight.

Obviously diet plays a crucial role and I'm trying to cut down on alcohol and general crap, eat more fruit and veg etc. But I'm also trying to find a viable fitness regime that I can stick to.

So - I cycle to and from work each day - only around 20 minutes of cycling a day but enough to get my heart rate up.

I aim to run twice a week - I ran 4.5 miles last night and will maybe do a 3.5 mile run over the weekend (interval training).

I'm planning to swim once a week (about a kilometre, alternating lengths between front crawl and breaststroke) and I'm going to an hour's Zumba class each week.

Is this enough? Should I be doing something else (and if so, what)? I don't like the gym, I enjoy Bikram yoga but it's too expensive.

Any feedback most welcome!

How about a DVD at home? Things like the 30 day shred by JM are great and only 20 min. I lost weight but more importantly lost inches using this for a few weeks. I then swapped to a mix of a bootcamp app and Davina's 15 min workouts and now I do running and occasional weights / abs. I like variety and get bored if the pattern is the same. What you have planned is a great starting place and more then I do now but just adding a few 15 / 20 min workouts in at home might help. Just make sure you have days off to recover and don't overdo it.

The obvious thing that's missing is strength work. So weights, or body weight exercises, ir a DVD like Shred done with quite heavy weights. Or even stuff that requires you to support your own body weight a lot, like climbing.

And something fun, unless running is your fun.

Zumba and swimming are fun. Running not so much!

I have the 30 day shred DVD at home - would I need to do it daily though?

Climbing - excellent idea. There's a climbing centre near my house. I might check it out!

Thank you!

To start with I did it daily but to be honest doing anything extra will help with your overall fitness. I found it boring after awhile and could quote it back to her... Very quickly put my one music on and muted her!

Definitely weights and stretching, all younarebcurrentlymdoing is cardio.

Sorry about that not sure what my iPads playing at...

That sounds like enough cardio. I'd give thought to strength training. If you get a running injury, fill in with more swimming. But definitely do weights (or machines or even bodyweight exercise).

Agree with the others, you need to look at strength training and weight lifting.

Definitely weights/strength.
Either find a body pump class or get a bodyweight exercise book to do at home.

Alternatively if you topk up.a martial art you'd get a mox of cardio and strength in the same class. Could replace one of your other sessions.