Belly and arms toning in early 50s

[sleepwouldbenice]

Hi all
I have lost about a stone in weight from dieting and am moving onto the next one
My legs and possibly my bum are OK in terms of toning thanks to dog walking and I am starting running again, hoping to settle at 2 or 3 4k runs a week

So looking for a productive but not massive workout to tone my stomach and upper body, something I can do for 10 /15 mins a few times a week between runs. Appreciate it will take a while

As I am 52 it will have to be a slow start and ideally not sit ups as I have never been able to do them!

TIA

Hi @sleepwouldbenice i have recently started doing weights as in peri-menopausal and have found I love doing them. I’m not looking to bulk up and have not being doing long enough to notice a difference but really enjoying it and think it will make a difference. There is a weight lifting thread on MN somewhere for tips

Planks!

I am the same. I find practicing a plank everyday for as long as I can ... i count and it goes up across the weeks and 10 press ups help. Just fitting them in. I need to get into the habit again pre holiday

I like this one for stomach

This one for arms

Thanks all
Planks scare me but will give it a go!!!
And look at other suggestions too

There is a plank support thread on here somewhere. When I started I could only do 10 seconds but am now up to 2 minutes so it is well worth persevering.

Have found this thanks
Although I am a bit behind!

Press-ups and tri dips. I do 15 of each every morning.

I then do 3 sets of core, but that’s leg extensions in curl up, sit ups, teasers.

join a Pilates class. Best thing I ever did! I’m 51

Thank you for this

One other tip that I heard a physiologist give: hook your habit on something.

I do mine after my shower. As I shower every day, that’s my hook (yes, before might have been better, but I need to wake up!)

I also exercise in the spirit of ‘don’t hurt too much’. If it’s too hard, you won’t do it and more likely to fail. If you can do just 1 bent knee press up and add one a fortnight, settle at 5 for a month, add 1 full
p/u, then add another etc etc, you are more likely to make this a life choice and a habit.

I’ve been at it for nearly 2 years and a few minutes happens. My 7 min workout last only 6 months and was sporadic. Consistent exercise is the most effective.

Pilates is amazing. I like Lottie on YouTube

Or if you have a couple of weights, try PMA fitness. His exercises leave my stomach rock hard.

Thanks for these great ideas

I like Heather Robertson’s short upper body and abs workouts on YouTube. I rend to add them on to another workout if I just want a bit more.

Caroline Girvan will get you in shape: Lots of free videos and programs on Youtube: She's the best online trainer, the workouts aren't easy but they are very effective, you'll definitely get results!

I’m 59. I do a set of something standing immediately after I’ve been to the loo (actually, after I’ve washed my hands!). Wall press-ups, squats, lunges, whatever I feel like really, and it depends on how much space there is! Obviously I don’t do it if there’s someone waiting. Have a set of hand weights in the downstairs loo so I can can do arm-things. It’s made a real difference over the past three or four months and has become second nature. Means I don’t have to dedicate time to it and I don’t get bored half way through.