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

Hi - I have recently injured my ankle and am now just walking again. I think JS might be just what I need.

I normally run and do HIIT but am looking for something I can start doing now while I continue to recover. Can anyone recommend some of the videos that might be suitable - I am feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the number of videos!

Morning all.

Anjelika Let us know how it goes. It's amazing how quickly your muscles will perk up once you've got started, you'll be standing in the kitchen doing your flat ab practice in no time (that isn't just me, is it?).

Hi ThreeSocks I too love Ash Morgan You could do some sitting down work to start, just to make sure your ankle is safe. The page on YouTube has a search thingy so you could try 'sitting' and see what it comes back with. If you're confident with your walking, then have a look at anything with 'walk' in the title. Also, it might be worth searching for 'gentle' to get you started - Jessica does HIIT and long, intense videos too, so there's lots of scope for building up.

I did a search with 'ankle' and these came up Gentle on the joints videos

Thank you - I will have a search and see what I can find!!

Good luck - let us know if you get stuck.

Ooh! I had a hip replacement in my 30s so have to be careful. Jessica sounds great. I do love Davina too and do one most days.

Hi Stpancras I’ve had a quick look and Davina seems to have squats and all sorts of cardio, so I’m guessing you can do a lot even though you need to be careful. You could always try the “gentle” search and see if anything looks okay. Would love to know how you get on.

Hi Kiki. I did the Fitness challenge Day one video you recommended. I liked the slow weights and the variations she gave. I used to do Bodypump and had forgotten how much I actually enjoy weights. I run a couple of times a week but need to supplement that with some toning work so am finding the Jessica videos really useful.

Anjelika Really glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s helpful to have ready made lists so just don’t have to think about what to do. And I get the weights thing, there’s something incredibly satisfying about picking something up and putting it back down again! And it helps to build stronger bones which is a pretty good deal. I think the barre classes would be particularly good for running support as there’s lots of balance work and lots of 360 degree leg strengthening work.

Haven’t heard of her! Intrigued!

She does handweights too?

Brilliant I've been looking for something like this... Thanks for sharing

Hi CalledYou Yes, she does lots of weights workouts. My most common search on her channel is for dumbbells (I'm actually really lazy and love the idea of cardio+weights, or two-for-one exercises). Here are two of my favourites, and

Hi Lego Let us know what you do and how it goes.

One of my favourite moments is when she stops in the middle of a workout and just has a think about what's coming next. It's very relatable to me (during workouts, in the kitchen, in Sainsbury's, etc.)

Gaah, having got back into it - and probably pushed a bit too hard - after my cold, my knees are now killing me! I did an interval walk which involved a bit of jogging. Probably shouldn't have done it!

I did a couple of knee-friendly routines today but Kiki if you can think of anything which is quite floor-based/minimal squatting/lunging, that'd be great!

Glad to see some new recruits!

BetterFeet Try the 'gentle' search, or do a walking one being very carefulto just step it out and not do any twisting. Why does your knee keep going bang? Could you do a squat in front of a mirror and watch what happens to your knees - are they in a straight line or is there some sideways movement? When you plant your feet, do your arches fall in at all?

I tried the 30 minute Strength training recommended upthread by Kiki. I enjoyed it but definitely needed some heavier weights as recommended by Jessica. Out of interest has anyone bought a set of weights? I'm using the barbell discs I've got for Bodypump but they are not that easy to grip.

Angelina, I bought some weights on Amazon and quite like the soft touch ones. I've just been buying them in pairs whilst I develop my strength although I do like the lovely shiny ones Jessica has!

Kiki the only thing I've really done differently this week is to do some light jogging to take it up a level in one routine. I'm confident my squat technique is very good. Lunges, I'm certainly less balanced in and of course I can't see what my rear knee is doing (my front knee struggles to stay aligned whilst I'm pumping weights/pulsing/etc!). I'm wearing my orthotics to prevent overpronation as much as poss as have no arches, but it's a constant battle!

I did Day 2 of the getting back to fitness routine - steady state cardio - and it was mostly OK. I didn't 'get low' and did find some of the sideways moves a bit twingy. Otherwise the knees are improving.

I then did Cardio Pilates which was great.

Thank you for this post...I don't think I'd have found Jessica without it, and I'm absolutely delighted I have.

I'm really out of shape after a traumatic decade, and now my life has calmed down and I can focus on me, I need to prioritise my fitness. Currently it's non existant. These are the first youtube videos I've looked at that haven't made me want to cry before I even begin, as I'm starting from total blobbiness.

This morning I've done the "How to Start Ecercising 20 min workout" and I feel so happy that it was achievable. Hard, but achievable.

Thank you Kiri, I think it was you who started the thread, for sharing Jessica with us.

Quick question - I'm utterly clueless. How many times a week should I work out, bearing in mind that I have very little muscle tone, I'm 4 stone overweight, I've got asthma and epilepsy (neither of which should cause any problems but hey ho, you might as well know) and I'm keen on forming a sustainable, effective weight loss and toning lifestyle, without fads.

Hello All I've sent off my dissertation and sat my exam - fingers crossed I'll have a degree in Psychology and Sport Science this time next month. I'm just starting to breathe out a bit.

Anjelika I still use some Davina dumbbells I bought from Argos years and years ago. I'd go for the cheapest you find - I'd love some pretty ones, but I can't justify spending money on them so I'm stuck with my old peeling ones.

BetterFeet I think I know why your kees are hurting. I think it's because of a bit of laxity in your feet and ankles and hips and they're not supporting your knees. I've got some exercises that could help if you're interested. I think we've both got the same bendy flat feet thing going on - there are ways to help and support your knees.

Hello Socio Welcome, it's lovely to have you here. Well done on getting started I'm really glad Jessica doesn't make you cry (completely understand what you mean, I've had that feeling of being completely overwhelmed about getting started). Eventually, we should plan to get you doing some form of exercise every day - but we can work up to that. I'd start with a gentle walking video, then trying a gentle toning one and swapping each time - so cardio for one video, then toning for the next one - if you put those into the search function something useful will come up. Have a look at these two and let me know what you think.

DH came to Cardio Barre with me today. I think he enjoyed it, he loves a challenge and this one was pretty good fun.

Me: This time last week you didn't even know what a jetté was.
DH: Yes I do, it's where you leave your boat.

Thanks for those two videos.

I was expecting to be sore today, as I'm literally starting from scratch, but I'm actually okay. A little bit achy around my chest and waist but my legs are surprisingly fine. I think it's because we decided to go out for the afternoon and walked around the city's Botanic Gardens. Two hours of walking and 8k steps later, I must have walked off any soreness, without even noticing. I was too busy enjoying the flowers to notice the steps.

That's brilliant - a little bit achy is exactly what you should be aiming for. Just enough to know your muscles have worked, but nothing more - no pain, no pain. Walking is really good to work soreness out of the legs, I find it really helpful. Keep going

Kiki well done on completing your dissertation and your exam. How exciting! I keep planning on a degree but think it'll be a few years before I can start.

On knees, over the past few days, the things that have caused pain have been lunges and plies (sp?). I suppose these are things where I struggle with alignment. I wouldn't mind those knee exercises if you wouldn't mind sharing?

Welcome socio - when I first started out with Jessica, I'd do them every other day or so but I quickly caught the bug and now I'm on 2 a day (so 40 mins to an hour's exercise per day). It's been a revelation to enjoy exercise again, and be motivated to improve (the results have been fairly quick). I also just bought a fitbit and that's been a good encouragement to slip the odd walking video in where I can!!

Like Kiki has suggested, I do try and plan my videos by creating dated playlists in advance so I know what I'm aiming to do each day. But also, it means I can identify whether I did toning the day before, so might do strength or cardio the following day. Keeps it interesting.

Thanks Feet.
Question - how do you create a playlist on youtube? I've just been putting the ones I'm doing in my browser favourites, but if there's a better way, I'm all for it. I'm a bit of a youtube beginner...

I can't say I'm enjoying it yet, but there is a certain pleasure in being aware of muscles again. I did a body weight session yesterday so today I think I'll walk with one of her videos. I'd normally do it outside but it's blowing a total hoolie here right now (we're on the shore) and I'd either get blown off my feet or struggle to breathe (asthma) so indoors stuff it is.....

Hey socio, so if I'm on the laptop: I see a video I like, click on it and you get to a page such as .

Just below the video, below the title, is thumbs up, thumbs down, Share, then a button which looks like three lines and a plus. That's the 'Add to...' button.

Click on this and you can add to an existing playlist or to the default Watch Later, OR at the bottom of that popup you have the option to Create a new playlist. When you click on this, you can give your playlist a name, and also select if it's Public, Private or Unlisted. Unlisted means anyone can have access but only if you provide them the link. Public, someone can search and find. Private is obvious.

Hello everyone. Just a minor rib subluxation to report, nothing major DH popped it back in and I'm back to my barre classes.

Socio How's it going? Don't worry about enjoying it yet, you're making a lot of new nerve connections so it takes a lot of concentration at this stage, the enjoyment comes when you don't have to think so hard.

BetterFeet Thank you, just another month of waiting to see how I did I've sent you a message, brace yourself.

Oh gosh! I'll take a look later (am mid-bidding on a school silent auction!).

Glad your rib is back in place Kiki - sounds painful!

Just did the heavy weights workout you posted upthread. I've done it a month or so back and was pleased that I didn't have to trade out my heavy set (only 4kg) this time and actually, in some of the moves I could have had a slightly heavier set I think. My small muscles around the shoulder are still so very weak though!

Then did this one which was super. Lots and lots of steps tracked, and great cardio and fat burning (says I, knowing very little about the subject!!). Not too much coordination involved, low impact, sweaty!