I'm thinking of buying a stepper exercise machine.

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I have hopefully added a photo.

It's cheap, doesn't take up much space.
I just want to burn calories for weight loss.

I'm not going to go to the gym. You Tube videos are ok but I thought I could stand in this and move while watching TV

Is this a stupid idea?

flipping heck don’t bother

just go for a walk

It's not always convenient to go out for a walk with my work and family responsibilities.

if you want to raise your heart beat op and lose weight / get fit… a £45 stepper is unlikely to do it

unless you really are doing very very little
movement in the day… in which, ether than nothing

no doubt you could pick up a much better second hand one

I bought a cross trainer with a view to doing the same. I started off well but ended up just standing on it watching TV 🙄
Then it became an expensive towel and dressing gown hanger.

Get outside and go over the park and find a step and go up and down it as a stepper.

That exercise thing is cheap crap and only good for hanging clothes on!

There are free fitness apps that don't require you using equipment. Justfit is one and you can start off with it and then progress to using hand weights and other apps.

Also lots of stuff on YouTube for home exercises.

I just don't know how to fit exercise in with full time work and family life.

I thought this would be convenient.

I work from 6 am to 6 pm
Or 7.30 am to 7.30pm.

you have older children?

and is that wfh or office? and every day?
no lunch break?

Get a walking pad instead.

I had one that I got second hand. I found it really helpful for the reasons you state, as due to circumstances it isn't always practical to go out. I had a few more pieces of equipment too for more overall fitness.

My stepper didn't have handles so was easy to put away if needed and couldn’t become a clothes horse. What really helped me was a tip I read to not bounce up and down with each step, but to stay at a low level. This worked my muscles harder including my core.

@brocollilover
Work from home, 5 days a week.
Then have the usual family responsibilities on top.

I've managed to lose 3 stones and it's hard with such easy access to the fridge!

Still need to lose more and get fitter.
Im struggling.

I could stand in this and move while watching TV

I just don't know how to fit exercise in with full time work and family life

These two statements contradict each other.
I don't watch telly (until I'm in bed) as I prioritise workouts. (Ironically though, I do watch Grey's Anatomy whilst on the stairmaster at the gym, whilst doing an intense workout on it).

If you search FB marketplace, you'll see thousands of these steppers for sale/for free, as well as cheap exercise bikes, posted by people with the same intentions as you.
The only exercise you will stick to is something you enjoy, or something you can monitor progress with which will then give you motivation and a post-exercise buzz. This won't be it.
But you'll find that you make time for exercise then.

Could you get your family out walking with you, or on their bikes while you walk?

Get up an hour earlier.

Further to my last post, I thought I'd mention how I prioritse my workouts.
I plan for the month ahead, on a spreadsheet.
I pop in any info such as nights out, birthdays, hair/nail/hospital appointments etc that would scupper my exercise plans that day, so that I aim to fit the exercise in elsewhere.
I then enter what type of exercise I'm going to do that day, and ensure it adds up to my weekly goal.

I work full time, two days at home, three in the office.
On the days I WFH, I go to a gym class before DDC are up (DH is at home). I'm home in time to log onto work/do the school run. Sometimes I'll double up and workout at lunch or in the evening too, if I can.
On the days I'm in the office, I workout at lunch, mainly using online classes and I've even taken weights into work. We have an empty meeting room that I use.
If DC are at hobbies in an evening, I use this time. Eg drop off at football training, and run or walk for the hour they are there.
I barely do structured exercise at a weekend, as this is when I spend time with my family. However, we are often all active together (walking/hiking/cycling), or I will go to the odd pilates class if we aren't all doing anything else

Well done on the weight loss, that is a great achievement.

When I was younger (working full time with long commute and studying in the evenings) money and time were very tight and I bought myself a skipping rope, it was excellent for cardio fitness and weight loss, would that suit your current circumstances?

@florenceandthemac because I could exercise when my family are watching TV.

I have one and find it useful when it’s cold and dark. Set yourself challenges on it or blog about it

@DrJoanAllenby

I could and I have thought about it but I frequently start work at 6.00. am
I don't think I'm could do it without going home to bed so early I'd never spend time with my family

I have an exercise step that I use. I prefer going out running but that isn't always possible so this keeps me doing at least some exercise every day and was cheap.

You would be better with a walking pad. It would cost another 100 though.

Can you get a cross trainer? I bought one a couple of months ago from Decathlon in the sale, it wasn't cheap but i figured i needed something that will work properly. I use it 5 times a week, once or twice for 10 minutes of high intensity and the other days around 25 minutes at a gentler pace while watching something. I am losing weight, it's slow going as i haven't changed my eating habits (zero willpower)
I find the cross trainer good as it's more of a whole body work out.

Can you point me towards a walking pad for £150 please? I've only seen them at £350+! Thanks!

A skipping rope is a good idea.

There's loads on amazon around that price.

Walking pad

Lesley Sansone Walk at Home,loads of videos on YouTube .

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor I'm a fan of YouTube work outs but it's the clash with family life. If I'm using the TV to work out to then everyone else slinks off to their bedrooms.

I need an hour to myself which means sacrifices. My kids will fly the nest very soon. One went to Uni and stayed there. Lovely first them but miserable for me and DH
I need to squeeze every moment with them