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

@Munchy - that's super news! it's good Jessica caters for everyone.

@Kiki - I'm in a bit of a black hole (culturally and exercise-wise!) rurally. So, it's about 20 mins drive to the nearest town/gym. I do go to Pilates regularly at my physio which has helped with all sorts of issues though. It's just finding the time really...

@Dandelion So what happens in the walking DVDs exactly?

You're right @Kiki, the 40 mins does go quickly. The abs section just about finished me off (was hanging on well until that point!). Need to work on those lower ab exercises offline I think to perfect my technique; it's quite fast in the video.

@MustBeDue She has some here:

jessicasmithtv.com/videos/walking-workouts/

I find them imaginative, friendly, and energising. They are usually split into 5x15 minute sections on the DVDs, with one 15 min power walk, one 15 min dance based walk, one buns and thighs walk, and so on.

Looks good. I hadn't heard of her so glad you've brought her to my attention.

Thank you for posting! I'm late to the party but definitely going to start this. I'm desperate to lose weight and get healthy but I even find walking too much at times due to bad ankles (torn the ligaments many times and did gymnastics for about 15 years, i suspect I have osteoarthritis in them). I'm too self conscious to swim / gym so these low impact videos look perfect. Going to get up early and try and squeeze them in before work!

Thanks @Dandelion. I will take a look. I'd like to find something that doesn't feel too much of an 'effort', ie have to get out some equipment, and steel myself! I can just burn some calories/fat whilst the kids cause chaos.

Hello Dandelion Glad you've found Jessica's channel. A couple of us have used her videos for ages and have bought the DVDs so we feel as if we're giving back a bit

Hello Lisette Let us know if you one done - it always helps to share the (mild) pain.

Hi Raven come in, come in. Sorry to hear about ankle pain, it's a real bugger to deal with. Are you doing any physio type stuff to strengthen them?

BetterFeet That sounds like quite a trek, so maybe Jessica is best at the moment. I've just done a mash-up of these two and I didn't go right to the end of either of them, but FItBit says I did 45 minutes, which is getting me closer to the hour I want to do.

Those two have shaken off post-cold-funk nicely.

If you one done? Sorry, arms are clearly still shakey from second video

@MustBeDue I like that there is always a choice between keeping up with her, her mum, or her very energetic friend! No equipment needed at all.

@Kiki thanks - I am looking forward to finding out what or who 'Peanuts' is now!

Hi Dandelion Just for you

I just did this one Just grabbed an oldie or I would have stayed unworked-out. Still, it got me through 4,206 steps and 266 calories, so not a bad 40 minutes.

Hi @Kiki, that sounds like a killer. I have never heard of curtsey squats (nor do I wish to!). I might squirrel away for a future session though...

I had a horrid cold Friday - Sunday but feeling better today so I did the 30 minute strength for women workout you posted higher up. The problem was that I didn't have heavy enough weights (I felt, based on her guidance around how many reps you could do?). So I've ordered some 4KG weights to try again later in the week.

Given I didn't feel I'd pushed myself, I then did this one:

It was really interesting as a workout, and I was sweating it out! Coordination not my strong point but I'm sure all this will help! Now debating tomorrow's exercise. I'm thinking perhaps one of the walking ones @Dandelion directed me to.

BetterFeet it really wasn't that bad - I was super hot and grumpy and just thought I'd plod through something I didn't have to learn, but I got into it and actually enjoyed it (and over 4,000 steps done in under 40 minutes cheered me right up). Well done for getting both done, that's really inspiring. I just can't do the kickboxing ones so I'm super impressed by anyone who can do them. I might give one a go now you've said it's interesting.

Curtsey squats are brilliant for working all sorts of muscles around the hips, glutes and inner thighs - you feel like a goddess doing them (just me?).

I use 3kg and 5kg for that workout, but if you have lighter weights just fit in some more reps - heaviness isn't important, working the muscle to fatigue is.

In case you can't find one, I love this walk .

Kiki thank you so much - that was hilarious!

Good luck. Mustbedue and glad you are feeling better.

Just finished the walk you recommended @Kiki. Phew! I'm very hot! That was a good one.

Hello everyone! I've had a week off due to hol and then the heat ☀️, but I WILL be doing exercise this evening!

I'll run and then do a Jessica abs and arm I think.

Morning all Welcome back from rests and bank holiday fun.

BetterFeet It's a good one to keep the heart rate up isn't it

I managed to exercise in the heat, but it's really not my favourite thing. I just had to make sure I had enough to drink first. Saturday was fun - I went for a run with DH, got home and had breakfast but had a bit of a whitey in Homebase. I just wandered up to DH, told him I was going to Costa and managed to get a drink before I keeled over. And it's still better than the pain of sitting on the sofa

I went to a Pilates class yesterday, it's all 'weights' this and 'down facing dog press-ups' that. Feeling it today but I just found this in my favourites folder and it looks like fun - strength and cardio, what's not to love?

Where did you go ItsNice? My main exercising motivation is our summer holiday in terms of getting to an appropriate 'shape' for a bikini!! Hope the run goes well.

I went into the office today (90 mins commute each way) so am feeling a little jaded/head is full. Trying to debate a straightforward walk (as I'm now such a fan) but wondering about a yoga one. Kiki have you ever done one of her yoga vids?

Will add the cardio and strength one to my playlist!

I only went to Whitby 😂. But it was absolutely lovely!

I did my usual run which was pretty tough after a week's break. Then did my two favourite Jessica's - 15 min abs (flat and fab abs) and 12 min arm (arm sculpting) - both vids linked upthread. I'd been finding them fairly easy but last night was HARD! It's amazing how quickly the body forgets.

I'm back in the saddle now though!

Saw on my Jessica travels last night, so planning to give that a go this eve.

I've heard good things about Whitby. It's good you had nice weather.

I'll have a look at that 15 min abs one. Completely agree on how quickly you can lose it. I am trying to maintain momentum right now by having a plan of attack daily (when, what, where!).

Good luck with the 20 min abs!

BetterFeet that's a long day. I can't do yoga - I'm hypermobile and it messes me up badly. I tried Jessica yoga twice and it messed me up so I'm done with it forever. But DH loves her yoga for bad backs and does it when he's done too much sitting down and he seems to get a lot out of it.

Hello ItsNice Did you do it?

The value of this sort of exercise is paying off for me - so far this year I've had flu and a cold and exercise has had to take a back seat, but I'm back and as of this morning have got my waist back to how I like it - I'm definitely dropping inches in the places I want them to go. I love have my muscles back where I can see them

So I just did the Waistline Work vid I linked to this morning. Phew it's tough! Enjoyed it though, lots of exercises I'd never done before. They were challenging, but not in a punishing way.

Kiki I did the cardio yoga one, and it was challenging in parts as I had to have my head down, yet needed to look at the TV to see what I was supposed to be doing! They aren't moves I'm used to, that's for sure.

Just did the 1-Mile Turkey Trot, as had pilates earlier so thought best do something a bit different. Felt like a really worthwhile way to spend the time!

ItsNice That one looks interesting, lots of twisting fun.

BetterFeet You see, I love the sound of it and I think I'll have a go, but it's been 100% messed up so far. I love the short walks, they don't take long but they bang up your steps very nicely.

I did a Barre class this morning and it was very clear that I'd been away. I just couldn't do some stuff, but the teacher is lovely and as long as we're moving and putting the effort in she's happy. I'm going to sit and study this afternoon and I reckon I'll have totally stiffened up by about 3pm .

Kiki do you have a FitBit or similar? I don't ever track anything I'm doing, but I like the idea of maybe trying to track steps. I think DH has an old one I can 'borrow'.

I imagine a Barre class is actually quite tough going - not sure my body is as graceful as it could be!