Exercise help please

[Pineapplemonkey]

Hello

So I’m trying to improve my fitness levels and have been doing daily walks every day for the past few weeks, making them further each day and I can definitely feel the difference, it’s getting easier! I would love to keep going however I have just had the dreaded shielding text which means I am stuck in the house for the next 12 weeks. I have a garden however it is small.
I should add that I am in fact healthy despite the shielding thing, it’s to do with an immune system problem that is well controlled by immuno suppressants.

I tried Les Mills on demand today for the first time (free trial) is however I don’t think it’s right for me (bear in mind I have fairly poor fitness currently and despite having lost over 3 stone, I have a significant amount more to lose).
I gave body combat a go but it involved press ups for starters which really aren’t going to happen - I’d break my wrists! I gave Sh’bam a go which I quite liked but the dance moves where a bit too difficult for me due to lack of coordination, kept tripping over my own feet, I loved the music though. I don’t have the equipment to do rpm, combat etc and after this current nightmare, I’d prefer to go back outside so don’t want to spend money on stuff to take up space in my fairly small home.

So can anyone recommend me so kind of online exercise class that will immeasurably improve my fitness over the next 3 months, would be lovely to return to work a million times fitter and healthier!

Thank you 😊

Have you looked into yoga? It's not crazy weight loss obvs but will really build strength very quickly and often can be easily adapted to start from very little fitness levels.

For press ups, have you tried the modified version where you kneel instead?

And I know this sounds silly, but the Joe Wicks PE workouts are brilliant for your level I think. He often shows an easy and hard option plus it's aimed at kids so is very easy to follow. YouTube at 9am live or recorded on his channel to watch whenever you fancy.

fitness blender have workouts on YouTube - if you search that plus “low impact” you get gentler ones.

Also “yoga for bigger bodies” or that sort of thing brings up more accessible workouts so maybe if you used similar search terms with the type of exercise you want like dance/boxing or whatever you’d get similar?

Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with just skipping bits of a workout that you can’t do or that you know will cause you pain later! I have to avoid particular yoga poses for example (my wrists are crazy weak so downward dog is a nope) but even in the regular class the teacher doesn’t bat an eye and will often suggest easier alternatives.

What’s better - doing 75% of a workout or doing none :) just do the bits you can and experiment, it’s still progress and you should be proud you’re doing it :)

Oh but if you do Joe Wicks it's a good idea to have some music playing either if you've got a speaker or on a phone as he doesn't have any - something to do with licensing I think.

Was also going to say fitness blender. Build up gradually. You can search by difficulty/training type/equipment/length of workout. It’s free too. Well done on getting into excercise. That’s the hardest part.

Maybe I’ll give Joe Wicks a go then (I thought it was for kids so dismissed it) at least having music on might counteract his annoyingness?!
I’ll look up some yoga too, maybe I’ll try body balance, I’m just slightly suspect of exercise that doesn’t make you out of breath and sweaty. I could do both, I have time on my hands!

Just looked up fitness blender, that looks a bit more realistic and achievable, thanks for the recommendation

Definitely fitness blender. Dont worry if you cant do all the moves or dont feel confident. Most of the exercises are timed so as long as you keep moving fastish while the exercise u cant do is on then slow for the rest periods then you are still exercising. Remember that any movement is better than no movement

Another vote for Fitness blender. Especially one of their 5 day progressive programmes

While you've got the free trial of Les Mills have a go at Bodybalance - it's a mix of thai chi, yoga and pilates.

For very low impact lesley sansone is good for walking workouts.....with the sound off!

Do you have an Instagram account? There are so many live and free workouts on there. Accounts to follow

Courtneydblack
Lisafiit
My coach school
HannaOeberg
Stephanie sanzo
Erin Mcnaught

These will lead you on to the others. Courtney's is the best 3k people do it most mornings which might inspire you. Or you can watch later.

There are levels of push up OP. The starter level is stood up and pressing off a wall, called a 'wall push up' - lots of how-to videos on YouTube.You can really adjust any exercise to most ability levels.

I'm using Les Mills as these are the classes I normally do at the gym. Body Attack is a high intensity workout but options are always given for lower intensity. Combat is easier (IMO) and you don't have to do the press ups, just fast forward. Balance is yoga based and suitable for anyone. I highly rate any Les Mills, stick with it.

Have you considered yoga or Pilates? YouTube have lots of exercise videos you could also watch during lunchtime for example. Or you could try chair based/gentle exercise as well. If you have any equipment like a ball or a exercise bike you may also want to use them too. There is also a lunchtime online street dance class for adults and you may wish to look at that. If you have a Instagram account, you can use the search bar to look at accounts that promote exercise and fitness.

I’ve just started doing YouTube videos this week. There really is something for everyone on there!

I think I’m right in saying if you look for one labelled ‘low impact’ then it won’t be lots of jumps etc. I prefer ones like that because I hate doing things like burpees where I feel I don’t have control over my body but sometimes I’ll just switch something up completely if I don’t like the move. Eg when the person in the video is doing some crazy press up position move I’ll just do squats because my wrists can’t handle it at all.

So far I’m thoroughly enjoy it. It feels great to properly sweat for half an hour and see those calories burned!

Joe wicks has a beginners programme on YouTube and also low impact options. Make sure you do the warm up and cool downs too.

I wasn’t sure about doing them as I too find him annoying but to be honest they’re fine because he doesn’t chat and I now tolerate him more!