No ripping, tearing or shreding, it's Jessica Smith!

[KikiMadeMeDoIt]

Welcome to the Jessica Smith fitness thread, which came about after conversations about a more gentle way to get fit.

Jessica is a fitness instructor who has had her own problems with starting exercise, but thankfully she did get started and kept going. I found her videos when I was desperate to exercise but didn't have a clue how to start, so I feel a special affection for her.

Jessica has videos on her YouTube channel for everyone - she has sections for beginners, pre-natal mothers and those who want to sweat like crazy for 50 minutes, it's all there.

I thought we could share favourite videos here, encourage each other, or join in with our own Peanuts (well, you'll just have to watch!).

To get us started, here's one of my favourites

I'm popping this one here for any beginners who don't want to be shouted at by an exercise video. Jessica has her mum with her - you don't get much safer than that

30 day shred done ✅ so I will be jessica smith-ing from tomorrow.

Where should I start??

beela Well done! Getting through the whole 30 must have been tough

I’d start with the last one I posted. You’re moving from very different styles and Jessica might feel less dynamic, so that one is a good transition.

For the next ones - it depends on what you want to concentrate on - we can aim for cardio or resistance depending on where you want to get.

First jessica workout completed! You are right, I'm used to a very different style - by the end of a Jillian workout (I've done others, not just shred) I am usually fit to drop. Ditto body coach, and also the spin class I go to. This felt more like a warm up, but I was sweating a bit by the end so it must have done something

I might try an abs one next.

Hi can I join you?

I love Jessica Smith, have used her video's on and off for the last year or so, love her chatty relaxed style but she always get's me sweating and moving.
I recently had an injury so have gone back to her lower impact walking videos to ease back into it, and adapting them as needed.

I feel like I've found my people haha

beela which one did you do?

Hi llynnnn Welcome, come in, make yourself at home Sorry to hear about the injury, but well done for keeping going. It can be difficult to get started again, so the trick is to never really stop.

I had a full-on day yesterday, so I've taken today off of all stress-y things. I should do some exercise, but I seem to have got too comfortable.

The one above, with her mum.

I love that one, it’s so happy and always cheers me right up. Well done for getting started 🏅

While I’m here... It’s a good idea to create a folder on YouTube so that you know where the workouts you love can be found. Jessica has a massive list of workouts and trying to find one could possibly slow you down - you need to walk to your workout space without breaking stride, so having a list of ready-to-go workouts can be really useful.

Has everyone stopped? Would a lovely workout help at all?

I did an abs and arms one this morning! I enjoyed it but it felt a bit gentle.

It may be doing just as much as a more intense workout but I have such limited time available for exercise that I want to feel I've got my money's worth!

beela Which one did you do?

kiki this one (if the link works):
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCc-2vTZwLA

My arms ache a bit this morning so it obviously worked some muscles! But, like shred, I thought the stretches at the end were too brief. I probably should have spent a few minutes doing some of my own.

beela that's a nice one, but it might be too gentle for you - it's only 20 minutes and you might do better with 30 minutes or something that adds more cardio in. Good news that you're feeling some soreness - I don't think there should be any pain stronger than "some soreness" as it won't help.

It's not bad news that you're too fit and strong for the short ones

I posted this up-thread because it's one of my favourites Could you have a go and see how this one feels. I'll have a go at it this afternoon too - I use 3k for the light ones and 4.5k for the heavier reps. Let me know how it goes

Righto thanks.

Today was spin class, tomorrow is swimming and Thursday is rest day - so I'll give it a go on Friday, to burn off some calories before I start inhaling hot cross buns

Gosh, you're fit No wonder you need something challenging. Hope you enjoy the heavier weights one.

You haven't seen me at the end of a spin session ... But getting fitter.

So I did the one you recommended this morning. It didn't feel like half an hour. Not sure whether that is a good or bad thing! I like the way she talks about form a lot, it's sometimes hard at home without the instructor in the room (and all those horrible gym mirrors) to know whether you are doing it right, so I liked all those pointers.

Does she have any with more cardio in? I think I need to get out of breath to feel like I've really done a work out!

I did this one a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it - it isn’t hardcore cardio, but it keeps the heart rate up.

If this one doesn’t cut it, then have a search for dumbbells in Jessica’s channel and choose a cardio with dumbbells - might as well get some toning in while you’re getting your cardio hit.

Hi Kiki we spoke a few weeks ago on the shred thread, I was having trouble with my knees and thinking of switching to Jessica. Well I have, and I love it! I've started going for a run for 15-20 mins and then coming straight in to do a Jessica arms or abs workout, so I'm sort of working on the shred principle of cardio + strength. Really like Jessica though, she explains the moves so much better than shred. I'm still avoiding anything with squats or lunges in until I feel my knees are 100% again.

Thanks so much for suggesting her!

Hello Itsnice I’m really pleased for you. It isn’t fun when you get an injury and it can be tough to get back into exercise. Also, if you’re running more than 3 times a week than you will need to do some sort of strength work, so Jessica should sort that nicely. She does some workouts that avoid any lunge-type work and she has knee-friendly workouts. for you

Thanks for linking me to this thread. Will have a look and try and get started.

Thanks for these, they look good! 😀

Welcome, welcome, come in, have a look around, pop a video on and get started

Thanks for this! Did my first short one. Not sure which but it was one she does with her mum. Going to try and keep at it.

Posters with knee issues, there's a few kick boxing workouts, 20 mins to 40mins, they might be good?

I find them really good for kind of stretching you out, more dynamic than gym stuff I guess. That said, the kick boxing with pads and monkey crawl drills at the gym finished me off so I like to stick with Jess for that!

Oh thank you spring I hadn't even thought of kick boxing! I'll add it to my folder.