Best cardio for 48 year old newbie

[Orangesandbananas]

I've never had a regular fitness routine, but I'd like to try and change that. I used to walk or cycle to work.

I've just had a depressing, confidence knocking experience with Figure 8 fitness. Bought it but it's way too difficult for me. I saw all the testimonials and thought it'd ease you into it, but it went straight into athletic level intensity - I don't see how anyone unfit could do it!

Also the incredibly skinny young women are so off putting - I just feel like a decrepit wrinkled uncoordinated hippo in comparison.

I can't keep up with 20 year olds, so Figure 8 isn't right for me, but I don't feel quite ready for over 50s classes just yet, especially as I used to do a lot of dance classes when I was younger so I'm not new to dance.

Anyone got any suggestions for online classes that will ease me into it at first but challenge me once my fitness is improving?

My main goals are overall fitness for health, plus wanting a toned belly and arms.

Anyone?

How about Jessica Smith? She has a whole range of workouts covering everything.

She’s on YouTube. There’s walking, intervals etc etc.

Oh and you used to do dance, so if you’re happy to pay, would Sleek Technique be any good?

Thanks LilacTree1, I'll take a look at both of those, thanks for posting.

I’ll be interested to know how you get on

I find Sleek Technique really hard!

The Sweat app has a free trial and several programs to choose from including a beginner one

Fitness Blender is fab. It's free, they have loads of work outs and they explain everything really well

Lucy Wyndham-read on youtube. Shes fab

I can recommend Jessica Smith on YouTube too. I mainly do her strength workouts as I run for cardio but she does do some low impact cardio stuff which would be worth a try. Alternatively have you considered starting running and doing C25K?

Loads of exercise videos on youtube for free. I'm trying a new one every day, but I keep coming back to Joe Wicks - loads of fun and if you do it at 9am ( Mon - Fri) feels like you're participating in a live class. Other ideas - increase the duration of your once a day outdoor exercise. I am doing an online medal challenge this month and need to do over 10k each day to get it. Buy a weighted hula hoop - I've just dusted mine off after asking here if I should get a slendertone - answer no use the hula hoop.

If you have a Switch, I swear by Ring Fit Adventure. It's a pretty decent video game, which as a byproduct has resulted in my entire family becoming the fittest they have ever been during lockdown. It's not just cardio, but by the end of a 20 minute session, my "sweat is so shiny and beautiful" as Ring keeps telling me.

I go to Jazzercise classes in my local area. I'm now using their app. You do need to pay for it though. You might find some on you tube.
I tried Joe Wicks out the other day. I thought I was quite fit.....My legs have been killing me ever since. I will try him agsin today. He keeps his live classes on. I'm 56 by the way.

Thanks for the ideas, I'll have a look at them all.

I decided to start doing the 0-5k with my 13 year old just to get me started doing something. I'm not a natural runner though, so once I get further along and can introduce other exercise I'll come back to this thread and have a proper look at all the suggestions.

I'm at least feeling a bit more confident now as I can manage week 1 of 0-5k unlike the first workout of Figure 8 fitness (which made me feel like such a failure)

Zumba is fabulous.

I second the suggestions of Joe Wicks and Lucy Wyndham Read. I particularly like her leg workout ideal for pear shaped women. Rebecca Louise is my favourite though; thanks to her best exercises for lower abs I now have abs! But also try this for cardio :