Which exercise has changed your body?

[DarkDarkNight]

I'm just getting back in to exercise and am currently doing DVDs at home. I am alternating between 30 Day shred, some Davina (15 Minute Fit and Intense) and Charlotte Crosby 3 Minute Belly Blitz. I'm enjoying them and want to stick to HIIT type training but would lie to incorporate something new.

I'm mostly limited to exercise DVDs but my mum has offered to babysit if I find a class I want to do. I'm thinking of Kettlebells as I want to do some weight training and think it might be better to do a class. I would love some kind of Yoga or Pilates, would I need a class for this or would a beginners DVD be ok?

How about going bouldering? Not a class so you don't need to do it at a certain time, and it made a really big difference to me. The climbing community is really friendly too and there are loads of centres about.

Weights have changed my life. Totally addictive, such a thrill to lift heavier and heavier weights, just fantastic

I have to agree.

I have been skint my entire life and had to walk everywhere including lugging heavy shopping. I got married to a man and started driving everywhere with my husband and my arse and arms got all flabby almost immediately.

So for me, just walking as much as possible, preferably while carrying heavy bags.

A mixture of kick boxing, yoga, gym, pump and running. Personally one type of exercise just unbalances my body, a variety made it strong.

Rowing. Truly amazing for stomach/abs, legs/arse but you have to do it properly. 95% of people I see on rowing machines are doing it wrong & risking damage to their back.

Have swam for last 15 years and that helps with diet when i upped it to 3 or 4 miles a week.
Now also doing egym, aqua and fitball pilates and lost inches all over without really dieting

egym

I do half an hour every week day morning running on a trampette. It has been amazing for weight loss/maintenance. Has also improved my pelvic floor. I hold weights at same time so arms a bit toned...but cld do better!

Kettlebell for me & long distance cycling :)

Maxi Climber . Like doing all over weights really, I have never had such muscle definition.

A mixture of kick boxing, yoga, gym, pump and running. Personally one type of exercise just unbalances my body, a variety made it strong

That's why I love Crossfit. It has a bit of everything in it.

Lots of great suggestions here - I'll be stealing some of them!

I've had the flattest tummy I've ever had since I took up running.

But not much waist definition, so I'm just adding Pilates to see if that helps.

Free weights, the heavier the better.

Powerhoop is good for toning the midsection too

To the posters mentioning weightlifting - should we start a wee thread of our own?

there's an entire topic for this:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_weights_room

Thank you, I didnt know about that.

Pilates absolutely changed my shape. Sculpted me, gave me long lean muscles, toned my stomach and arms and lifted my arse. Spinning gave my legs strength and tone.

Swimming has also had an impact.

Before starting all of the above, I was 4 stones heavier and a size 18. Combined with a low carb / good fat and protein diet, I am now a size 10-12 at 5'8. So, not skinny but toned and lean.

That's why I love Crossfit. It has a bit of everything in it.

I think would love crossfit. It's so bloody expensive though, i just cannot afford it.

Ashtanga yoga completely changed my body.

Running, yoga and Pilates have made the biggest difference to me.

I'm trialling the les Mills on demand atm and I'm loving the bodybalance class

Running, but make sure you do a mixture of longer distances and sprints.

CrossFit has totally transformed the bodies of everyone I know who has done it. I'd love to do it, I just don't have the time.

I'm with Caulkhead, bouldering works wonders. I've found a single day a week, pushing myself, for about an hour, has made a huge difference.

And it's fun :-)

For toned arms, try kayaking