What would be the best cardio to do at home?

[Bogggle]

I really want to get fitter and healthier. I used to go to the gym and do bodypump, kettle bells and spinning but last year I was in a car crash on the way home and I'm not mentally ready to start driving there again yet so want to work out at home instead

I live in a 1st floor flat so can't really have a treadmill, but could have a small spinning bike or something. Or is something like hiit videos better? I really don't know where to start

Try the peloton app - I think you can try it free for 60 days. They have hit cardio workouts that need minimal equipment, plus yoga, barre and even outdoor walks. If you enjoy it you could then buy a spin bike to do their classes on (you can use any spin bike, not just the peloton one) but if you don't want equipment there is still loads you can do

Wouldn't HIIT be noisy for your neighbour downstairs? If not, then I recommend Les Mills on Demand. I do body combat and body attack for cardio mainly. But they have the Les Mills HIIT programs on there. And body pump too.

@hazelnutlatte thank you, I didn't even know they had a normal app, thought it was just for their bikes. I will have a look

@SpringBunnies I'm not really sure how noisy it would be to be honest, he leaves for work at 5pm so I would do it once he's gone and I don't think the neighbours either side would be able to hear. Do body combat and body attack make much noise?

If you used to do body pump, why not get the les mills + app? I think it's free for the first month, so you can try it out and see if you will get enough use out of it without worrying about the neighbours

The noise from the cardio programs will be from you jumping up and down. I am in a house and exercise on the ground floor. I have the music quite low so the children aren’t woken up. If your neighbour downstairs leaves at 5pm for work you should be fine in the evening. It depends what time you work out. I usually do it 9-10pm and I would consider that quite late if there are children downstairs. Hope that make sense?

Netflix have the new Nike programme which is canny if you’ve not got much time.

i’m currently doing T25 which is old but also brilliant - I’ve just finished month 3 and feel amazing. I just do the workouts, not the diet.

Personally I would do weights at home (eg Madfit or Caroline Girvan on youtube) and then go running for the cardio. Or does it need to be in your flat?

Les Miills on demand has bodypump plus loads of cardio programs. It's really good value but I agree it could be noisy.

I assume you've discounted running outside but if not,that is what I would do.

A spinning bike will be really noisy for your downstairs neighbour and probably your adjoining neighbours!

I have a bike on a turbo trainer (essentially the same thing) in the room above our garage but DH says he can still hear it in our living room. Living room is next to the garage and there is a cavity wall in between them that used to be the external wall (garage and room above are an extension).

Could you go out for a run or get a pushbike?

Could you go for a jog or a run outside, then you'd get some fresh air too? Even fast walking would be good. At home you could do strength and conditioning.

Walking. At a reasonably fast pace.Just go out and walk. Mix up the terrain a bit, some slopes, steps rough ground. Just walk. It’s cardio and wait bearing and you can listen to books. Just walk. Lots .

Most workout peeps have "apartment friendly" workouts which are also low impact/no jumping so not too bad on the pelvic floor:) I'm a fan of Penny Barnshaw - mix of equipment/no equipment and lots of variety.

Rowing machine. Doesn't make too much noise and a lot will stack against the wall when not in use.
The best machine for working most muscles in your body

So I absolutely could go out and jog as I do want to do C25K, but I just don't know if I'm mentally ready yet for people to see me struggling I live in a really busy seaside town and could easily jog along the seafront, but it's absolutely rammed at the moment

@FrangipaniBlue thank you that's really useful, I wasn't sure how noisy a bike would be but that is a definite no then. Proper bike would be a no really as if I'm doing something outside it needs to be something where my dog can come as he can't be left at home, and he's far too erratic to run beside a bike

Echelon. We have the indoor bike and it links to your phone or iPad for classes. Absolutely love it. Very quiet - other than my heavy breathing - you can't hear the bike at all. Quite compact too. I hate exercise but am really loving this.

What about walking, or running? Get out of your flat, so there are no issues with noise.

Could you walk/run to your gym, do a short weights routine, then walk/run home? That way you get both cardio & strength training. Women really need to do both.

Alternatively, can you do a park-based Bootcamp? Lots of towns/areas have them. Or make up your own. I have happy memories of working out with a friend throughout the lockdown summer of 2020 - once we were allowed to meet up with one person outside our household outside. We worked on a mix of bodyweight strength and functional exercises and running & jumping (oh, we made ourselves do burpee bunny hops!).

I use Madfit, GrowwithJo and FitbyMik on Youtube and they all have apartment-friendly Tabata, HIIT, cardio and bodyweight workouts that don't involve jumping or make too much noise.

It's the first time I've managed to be totally consistent with working out – have done at least 30mins a day since the start of April and I'm feeling amazing for it.

Oh, sorry, didn't see your post re busy seaside town (I know the feeling!) Can you walk to a quieter place then do a modified C25K?

I had to rehab a badly broken wrist once - and while the wrist healed reasonably quickly, my confidence was all over the place. I found that walking helped me get my balance, confidence and stamina back.

Resistance bands!
Get some resistance bands and follow along with an exercise routine on Youtube or something. They make me sweat so much, and of course help you tone at the same time.

My dog would totally take me out on a bike too 🤣🤣

I'd look at Youtube for apartment friendly workouts. Madfit definitely has them.

Were you mainly going to the gym to do classes? I ask this as what was it about going to the gym that motivated you, as that would be a good place to start, and you can then chose an activity accordingly which aligns with what you enjoy.

Thank you everyone, I have signed up for the trial of Les Mills to see how I get on. I've also started walking my dog an extra 2 miles a day so hopefully this will all add up

@SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc yeah I was doing a mix of legs bums tums, body pump and kettlebells. I think the fact I was paying in advance helped motivate me as I didn't want to waste the money hah. And the fact I had to book on to them so felt like I didn't want to contact her by backing out with lame excuses

Oh jogging along the seafront sounds wonderful! And I found C25K good for motivation as it’s a set programme, plus if you skip a run you really notice it 😬 Don’t suppose running early mornings would work for you as those would be less busy?? (I am not a morning person so totally understand if not!)