Beginner to exercise- where to start

[ChequerboardCharlie]

Last year I went from an active job to a desk job, and it’s really affected all levels of my fitness- I get out of breath, have put on weight and am less supple ( I’m 54).

I really want to bring in some exercise- particularly Pilates and strength training but I don’t know where to start. I’m a total beginner and very uncoordinated. Can anyone recommend videos I could use? I’ve tried joining a gym but the classes book up very quickly and I’d like to do something at home. I don’t mind paying for something decent.

I couldn’t find a good Pilates person but
I can recommend Yoga with Kassandra on YouTube.
Tom Morrison mobility videos are also good.
Yoga with Adrienne are ok, but not as good as Kassandra imo.
Lift with Cee has some good weight workouts.

They hall have videos of various lengths so you can start easy and work your way up.

I joined a gym & booked a session with a personal trainer.

We talked through what I wanted to achieve, she drew me up a plan & now I go 3 mornings a week, mainly by myself but with sessions with her once a month to keep me on track & see how I’m doing.

Would something like that work?

I’ll have a look at those- thank you.

I have tried a personal trainer before but I can never remember how to do the exercises. I am really uncoordinated and have to watch someone in real time!

I do move with Nicole Pilates on YouTube and I got into running a few years ago but I'm a fair weather runner so in winter I do less running and more Pilates and the opposite in summer!

Do you have friends you could walk with?
Good to catch up and get some exercise at the same time.

Try Lucy Wyndham-Read on YouTube. She does really basic exercises. There’s a 7 minute one I do and it makes a difference.

I love Lottie pilates on youtube and agree that kassandra yoga is the best (some people like adrienne as well but not for me).

But also love Bodyfit by Amy. She takes you through each exercise, all different workouts, you could start with bodyweight ones. I did a gentle one the other morning, all standing, no squats or lunges but I really felt it the next morning. I'd like to be her friend. She is kind and says 'be where you are today' and gives variations on exercises.

I found her before lockdown and have been doing her ever since. She does 3 or 4 new workouts a week, free.

A good mix of things like:

Pilates - either find a local class, or good ones on YouTube are Lottie Murphy and Move with Nicole

Running - could you do Couch2 5K?
Even my colleagues who "couldn't run" are now runners 🙌🏼

Strength training - if you don't want to do it at the gym, try Caroline Girvan on YouTube. She has beginners programs.
However, you will need the equipment and the purpose is to lift as heavy as you can, not repping out light weights, so you'll need heavy dumbbells.
I have bought some adjustable metal ones so that I don't have to keep buying heavier as a progress.
She has so many free programs on YouTube but also has a paid app now too. I've not got that though, I find she has enough on YT for me right now.

Walking - go for long, fast walks on 'rest' days. Really makes a difference.

Be consistent with the different types of exercise though. I know I said mix it up, but you'll still need to do each one a couple of times a week to see progress

Also, with Caroline Girvan, she posts exercises from each workout in the comments.
You could familiarise yourself with these beforehand by googling the move, so it isn't a surprise during the workout

Running on the spot for a few minutes & dancing in the kitchen to get out of breath is a good start.

I like that!

Lots of good recommendations on here. I started taking fitness seriously at 50 and now strength train quite hard.

I'd start with Lottie Murphy Pilates (she has a free youtube channel and a paid subscriber website). Do the 21 (?) day challenge maybe. Pilates is bodyweights strength training so it will provide a good foundation (eg string core, good form and technique) if you then want to learn to lift weights on your own). Really watch her form and repeat classes till you have got it. That will help your mobility too.

Combine that with some brisk walking, up hills if you can, in trainers and gym kit so you can get properly out of breath and sweaty. Then try run/walks or C25k if you fancy. That will improve your cardio fitness. There are lots of (often Saturday) park bootcamp style classes where I live (London) which don't tend to book up as large capacity - you could look out for one of those a week as they can be very motivating and give you a fixed point to work around, and some accountability.

Then, if you want to pay for something more at home there are loads of options, or you may decide you want the structure and commitment of f2f and find a way to make that work.

Thanks

I am (was?) a total total beginner to exercise and starting using the FIIT app in about October. I get it on the TV. It’s got all sorts. The yoga is a bit advanced for me but I can have a bash at the Pilates and it’s also got stretching classes. I’m currently doing a beginner strength programme which I’m really enjoying, it’s body weight strength or you can use dumbbells (I have my 12 yo 1kg ones! 😂). Anyway I’m really enjoying it and I’ve also found I’m now just trying to be a bit more active on a micro level, so using stairs more, taking dog for longer walks etc. I carried a folding table a really long way the other day and I honestly don’t think I would have attempted that before. I really recommend it.
I started with the beginner plan to get a sense of it, now I pay £30 a month for it.

I've recently discovered juice and Toya on you tube. I'm doing the full body dumbbell workout and it is actually quite enjoyable ☺️ also upped my walking.. and doing two spin classes a week at the gym. It's finding what fits in with your routine rather than adding another task .. the workout is done after the school run before I sit down to work so a no brainer. The spin classes and walking are also before the working day begins. Definitely look up juice and Toya, not at all showy or pretentious (many are)!

These are Al brilliant ideas- thank you! I do walk with friends but it can be hard to organise to do on a regular basis so I need stuff I can just do when I have time. Love the dancing quickly for a few mins - can do this at work when making drinks!

I was 30 and in a similar situation after a difficult section and surgery. I bought a peloton (you can use any spin bike on the app) the mix of cardio with live classes + recorded is great. They also have things like yoga, barre, Pilates etc. The guide is supposed to be excellent for doing them.

This was me. 2 years ago I went from a very busy on your feet job to a desk job. It was fine at first then I started to feel it. Last June my gym had an offer on over the summer. Then if you joined as a member they would waiver the £25 joining fee. I loved it. I used to always go to the gym pre kids, so I knew I would enjoy it. I don't need to lose weight as such, just tone up. It's all about finding what you like. That's the biggest hurdle.

I joined a (very cheap) local gym and do an hour on a cross trainer every couple of days with my audio book. It’s actually quite relaxing!

As a beginner I'll suggest you to start with watching pilates and strength training videos on YouTube workouts done in home you can aslo try mallakhamb, an Indian exercise form that can help you build strength however you have to be consistent in your plan best of luck!😊

Lots of good suggestions here.

I would say do lots of walking and have a look at an app like Barre Definition (Action Jacquelin) which has a beginners' programme. It has a free trial, I decided not to join because I have lots of other things going on and didn't want to overstretch myself (no pun intended) but it looks good.

You could also look if there's an outdoor fitness/bootcamp type group near you.