Easy programme to build muscle at home?

[EmmaGracemum]

Hi,

I am ‘skinny- fat’ … well sort of. I’m not actually skinny at all, but I’m not overweight either. I look okay with clothes on but underneath I am super flabby and have NO muscle. I am super sedentary and have been for the past 8 years since leaving teaching and getting an office job, even though prior to that I was quite fit and healthy. Now I cannot do a single pushup.

I am 37 and I know that I need to build up muscle in order to be healthy and keep the weight from piling on, just dieting won’t be enough.

I HATE the gym though and those horrid machines. I have a set of 0.5 dumbbells at home but don’t know what to do with them and researching exercises to do at home is just too much effort (and boring)

So can anyone recommend an engaging youtube series or DVD with muscle-toning exercises for women who want to get stronger, fitter, more flexible and toned - but who don’t want to be bodybuilders or weightlifters? And it needs to be beginner level or I’ll just give up or maybe injure myself!

Many thanks in advance!

For free at home workouts try Caroline Girvan ( series) or Sydney Cummings ( series).

Sydney would be the easier one to start training with, as a beginner, but be prepared that you will need to invest in some heavier dumbells, unless you're in rehab for something 0.5 kg isn't going to do much!

Definitely recommend HEAT series for beginners on you tube Caroline Girvan!

Another Caroline Girvan recommendation from me! She has loads of (free) videos on YouTube!

I should have said EPIC programme! But I’m doing HEAT at the moment so it’s ingrained! Love it!

@sunshineonasunnyday I loved heat- on end game atm. I think I will mix it up with heat going forward though🙂

I’m finishing up week 7 of heat but will be doing end game after week 10!!

I also do Les Mills on demand at home. They do the same program as fitness classes in many gyms. I used to go to the gym to do them! You can do body pump, but there is also core and balance. Balance is a mix of tai chi, yoga and Pilates and I love it. Most of the cardio workouts also include some weights track in them. They are very good and I rate them much more than Davina or YouTube. (I tried many DVDs and YouTube before getting Les Mills during lock down).

I third Fitnessblender.com.

They really are a great gateway into home fitness with tonnes of variety and sensible advice.

Those Caroline Girvan workouts look brilliant so will give those a try. I love Les Mills on Demand, especially the BodyPump classes

I would invest in resistance bands or some free weights. Stick to compound movements with a bit of isolation work if you want to.
We have a rack, bars & plates at home. I do deadlifts, squats, rows, bench press, military press with barbell. Tricep extensions, front raises and lateral raises with dumbbels. I'm a lot stronger than when I started and still rebuilding after pregnancy/c-section atm so have been stronger. I used Mark Rippetoe videos on YouTube to get my form right.

Yy to les mills on demand either their tone classes, body pump classes or body balance. They also do a beginning and stronger program that's worth a look at. The music keeps you going and the instructors are fun

Other I agree fitness blender is awesome. One of their 5 day challenges