Hugely unfit, need an indoor workout - advice please!

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I'm late 50s, weigh about 20st, have high blood pressure and a dodgy knee. So I'm starting a diet, but I'm not going to be doing any running!

Starting 1st Jan, I'll be doing a daily 'constitutional' walk, down a nearby street and back up again. It's quite a long street on a very steep hill - I am so incredibly unfit that I need to stop for a rest on the way DOWN, never mind the UP!

I'd like to do some kind of short, very easy indoor exercise or workout to supplement this. More like stretching than press-ups. Any suggestions for a suitable CD or YouTube, please?

I second Team Body Project. There's loads of free workouts on YouTube or you can sign up to their website for free. Just look for their beginner workouts.

@Yourownpersonaljesus thank you for that recommendation... Just had a quick look at a Body Project workout on YouTube and it looks right up my street I was toying with paying for Team RH but am put off by his reputation for being shouty and sweary. This guy seems lovely. Will try a workout soon

Blogilates does some good workouts (10-12 mins low impact cardio)
Workout Woman has chair exercises, and ones just for arms, or legs (on the floor that start at just 5 mins)
Both are apps and both have lots of free workouts.
Good luck

I just cannot keep up Joe Wicks and I'm relatively fit! Instead I've been doing the Lazy Dancer Tips videos on YouTube. The no jumps one is perfect to start with but most of them are quite short so good to try. I lost my balance a lot at first but have got so much better. I can really see the difference in my posture and my body shape.

You're welcome SatsumaFan. I started doing their workouts back in August (after not exercising for 20 years) and have really noticed a difference in my fitness. I have lost over 2 stone and gone down two dress sizes. I am eating less too. I recently recommended them to my sister and she is loving them too.

Another one here to recommend Walk at Home with Leslie. I'm overweight with dodgy knees and a bad back but I find her YouTube videos easy to follow and not painful on my knees

Yoga with Adrienne can be tricky as it's often hard to hear the explanations and see her demos whilst doing the moves, so maybe watch once then have a go. I've taught and practised yoga for years and struggle with her sometimes! If you have a local teacher who offers Zoom classes and can afford it, maybe sign up for a couple. I always think if you are a beginner it's better to get proper instruction from someone who can see your postures and offer proper feedback and support.

I think the Well + Good Pilates vids are a bit easier to grasp than Adrienne and there's a good range with different body areas to choose from and some nice stretching sequences. Some are just 10 mins but you can really feel it, just using your own body weight, and go easier whenever you need to.

...and if you want a real laugh (which is a good workout) , try prancercise prancercise.com

I'd recommend logging your walks on a free app like strava using your phone. Will nicely show your improvent over time and give you an incentive to do it every day. You can also manually log activities like yoga. I find this log makes a huge difference to my motivation. I hate it when I have a gap in my log

@PurpleDandelions I agree. I just downloaded the Strava app yesterday and am just getting to grips with it. Used to use Map my Walk. Seems more of my friends use Strava so more of a community spirit on there?

Any exercise would be good but if you could pair it with a new eating plan too, you will really see results and ease stress to your joints. Exercise doesn’t burn that many calories on its own, even if you’re really going for it but can cause lots of niggles if you overdo it.

The Joe Wicks for seniors workouts are quite easy, and he has a knee sparing one as well.
The Girl on a Pilates mat has some good workouts with stretches.
Also I have used Jonathan Martin's (rehab and run) Hip and Knee exercises from you tube. He specialises in various types of rehab and does really good warm ups and cool down.

I would recommend Walking Online Workouts as a starting place, they are shorter and a bit easier for a beginner (I only do the free ones on YouTube). My knee started to feel better quite quickly after starting and then I moved onto the Linda Sansone ones, which again I would recommend.

I did these regularly in the first lockdown but have not done them for a while and I can definitely tell the difference in my knees. In fact, your post has prompted me to start again. If you need an online buddy to keep each other motivated, let me know.

I use a girl called Sam... She has a YouTube channel with dance routines and a FB group with strength and weight workouts.
Energise with sam on FB/insta/YouTube

Have you had a look at the NHS 5 week plan?
www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flex-exercise-plan/
It’s free, needs no specialist equipment and starts very gently.
You can use it to build your strength and flexibility - after 5 weeks you will definitely feel fitter. Thoroughly recommend it.

Marking for ideas, thanks for all suggestions

There is a 15 min daily full body stretch routine I recently added to my YouTube channel.. suitable for everyone & nice & gentle & relaxing :) Feel free to try to see if it suits you!
My channel is ‘Yoga & Pilates with jenny marie’
Good luck & happy stretching x

I like HASfit on youtube - they have lots of variety and a whole load of workouts without equipment needed, and a pile of chair sessions for when your knee is really bothering you. Also Yoga with Adrienne is recommended. She's a great teacher.

I came on to say leslie sansone. ....perfect if you are very unfit. she also does some with light weights resistant bands.perfect for beginners