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

This is such a lovely thread - you’re all being so supportive!

I have chronic fatigue, and am just coming out of a massive crash. I’m managing at least a half hour walk every day, which I’m amazingly proud of given that a couple of months ago I could hardly get out of bed!

Could anyone here recommend one of these videos that might be suitable for me to start building strength? I don’t think I should push the cardio any more than the walking that I’m doing, but I’d love to build some muscle tone and stop feeling quite so weak!

Baffled - excellent user name.

when I was recovering from a major injury I had to be careful too. One thing about Jess is she is excellent at combining workouts e.g. walk with resistance bands or light weights, but that can be way too much if you are not in good health.

so would a 10 min workout be better but with a light weight? I won't put in links because there'd be so many and I guess if you're recovering you will need to miss out planks and so on.

would you feel up to this? I did this one as part of my walk - you can just use your hands and no bands. You don't even need shoes for this one.

I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks so much Spring!

That looks like a great one. Tbh - I was sold as soon as I saw the dog! I’ll try it soon.

Do you happen to know of any that are floor based or seated? Just for the days when I’m not up to all the marching?

baffled, if you look for her seated workouts there are a couple for resistance, but I didn't use any.

I just did a few weights exercises, seated, that I was already familiar with from the gym, and started out with really light weights.

You might not need light weights though but the injury I had meant I couldn't carry shopping for a while - in fact when I first started venturing out my friends tried to carry my handbag, bless them, even though I only had phone, purse, inhaler in there!

so you might be okay to start with 5lb in the first place, I don't know. I had to build up slowly. Her vast array of workouts was really good for that. Plus also Peanut cheers me up!

Baffled wow you've done so well!

I'm by no means an expert but I like this 12 min arm workout. I only use 1.5 weights (each arm) so I found it easy-ish but still felt the results the next day. I think there's a 6 min one knocking about too.

Hello All! I've been away for a couple of days and it's lovely to see that everything is completely under control here

Baffled You're doing brilliantly I'm going to suggest a couple of really, really gentle videos, just so that you've got somewhere to go if you're having a tired day or just don't feel up to it. Don't worry too much about the titles, they're just designed to get you moving. Once you're moving more then we can start getting some dumbbells involved. When you're doing the moves could you try and imagine how it would feel to have a weight in your hand? There's no point in giving you weights until you're sure that you know how it feels when the muscle contracts, so you're less likely to hurt yourself when you use an actual weight (in fact, when you're sitting down, could you try and feel what it would feel like to contract your muscles, one at a time).

Spring You're brilliant What are you up to now?

Itsnice How are your knees? Have you searched for "knee-friendly"?

Hi kiwi thanks so much for these! Will save to my folder, the knee one will be especially helpful. I can still feel that they're not right if I bend down/climb stairs etc, but the exercise I'm doing at the moment isn't aggravating them at all.

Itsnice That's great Lack of pain is such a wonderful thing, isn't it?

I'm fighting off the cold DH is suffering with, so I went to an hour long Barre class on Sunday - that heated me up enough to kill off a cold virus (and my legs were so knackered that I had to stand still in the street for a moment as it felt as if they'd been filleted).

Glad you're feeling better!

They've started a barre class nearby, I was wondering whether to give it a go.

Give it a go! (Then I can have someone to talk to who understands the feeling the day after )

Thanks for starting this thread and introducing me to Jessica Smith OP!

I love the workouts; I can choose a super quick one if I need to, I can use a teeny space in between all the kids’ toys in the living room and all the moves bring back fond memories of all the step aerobics I used to do in my 20s.

I was a big fan of the 30 Day Shred but post-childbirth I just find the lying abs section very uncomfortable. However JS seems to work the abs without any of that discomfort.

It’s given me a new interest in exercise!

Thanks again

Hello TheEagle That's such a wonderful thing to hear Yes, some of it does have a retro feel - even Jessica jokes about throwing in a grapevine. Keep going

Hi, just been directed here by Kiki so place marking. I’m looking for a toning workout to do on rest days from running. I’ve been doing 30 day shred but I find the cardio/knee abuse combo really unnecessary as I’m running good distances now. I need abs and arms though! So any suggestions very welcome!

Sorry Jillian, I still love you, but you’re too mean

I was put off by my usual run last night by the rain, so decided to do a 20 min Jessica interval/cardio video. I really loved it! She was so good at modifying the higher impact moves (loads of variations on jumping jacks, plus lunges + squats), and my knees don't feel like they're playing up at all.

Thenewaverage hello! I'm a complete Jessica convert thanks to Kiki. I RUINED my knees doing Jillian!

I use one of Jessica's 12 min arm toning workouts a few times a week after cardio - s*

Also here are some ab specific ones I do after cardio, again a few times a week: s / e / h*

I tried a longer length interval workout last night but there were a fair few squats etc so probably not what you're looking for.

I've tried a couple of her standing ab workouts but I'm not a big fan of them, it just doesn't feel like I'm targeting my abs. I'm probably doing them wrong in that case to be honest!

Marking spot definitely going to try this

Hello thenewaveragebear1983 Welcome I'd get started with the quick video ItsNice posted, but once you've found the channel have a wander around it yourself, there are loads of videos and there's usually something that fits into mood/fitness/time. Do a search for "arms" and some will pop up - this one is fun

ItsNice Hmm, I love the walking abs ones, so maybe give them a go but do them slowly so that you can feel your abs engage - it might not happen automatically and you might need to make them engage. I'm really glad to hear that your knees are getting sorted.

I've had a rotten cold so I'm completely out of action. I'm starting to be able to actually breathe again so I'm going to jump back in - something in the barre line so get me all stretched again.

Thanks everyone, are these all on YouTube videos then? Are they free to use?

Yes and yes - although some of us have bought a couple of DVDs as we’ve felt guilty about having free use of her videos for years.

www.youtube.com/user/jessicasmithtv This is the link to the front page.

Hello NumberFrame Let us know how you get on - there are so many videos that it's really useful when someone finds one they love.

Hello,

On @Kiki's recommendation, I decided to try Jessica Smith today with the Total Body Chisel & Burn exercise. At the beginning I felt bad about only having 1kg weights, but by the end I was so glad I had such lightweight ones! My legs and arms are like jelly!

I love how many different exercises she has on the Youtube channel and looking forward to trying some out. Think I might try the belly fat one on Tues!

Well done! I love that one - it’s not an easy choice though 😀 When I’m better I’ll have a go at one.

I’m still stuck with my cold and feel completely wiped out. I should take my own advice and do the under the weather workout but I feel horrible (moan, moan).

Has anyone else found any videos they love yet (I say ‘love’, tolerate might work too).

Oh no! I thought all colds would be over by now. I often get ill when I start trying to get fit and it just derails me... Hope you feel better soon!

Definitely feeling the Chisel & Burn today!

Thank you. I thought they would be too. DH has it and his has lasted for three weeks, I'm a couple of days behind him so I'm not too hopeful for the rest of this week :-( If I could just get fit enough to get a nice heating workout done I know I'd feel better (moan, moan again).

It's an all-body one, isn't it? I love those, I feel as if I'm being super efficient.

OK, like a crazy person I thought I'd try the Total Abs Belly Blast

It's short at 20 mins BUT, i would say it's pretty high impact (I adjusted) and you have to be super-fit to do these moves. Some of them I think you'd do better on a hard floor for the scooting about also. Expecting to keel over later...!