What's the best form of exercise?

[PeppaPigWorld]

Just wondering what would get me the best results and be easy to incorporate into a busy life?

I walk quite a lot and am not totally unfit but could be fitter and I definitely need toning. I want something I'll enjoy and stick to but which doesn't take too long or costs too much. For example, I love swimming but find that by the time I've driven to and from the pool, showered, washed and dried my hair.etc. it's all too time consuming and doesn't really seem to do much for my fitness.anyway. I used to run (love/hate relationship with running) but I wonder if there's something better out there for me than running. I'm not a gym person (would rather be outside with the dog). I keep hearing about strength training but I don't know where to start. Would love some suggestions on which type of exercise would yield the most results!

The best for results is whatever you will stick to so whatever you enjoy!

Caroline Girvan on YouTube has done great strength training videos - a couple of dumbbells would be great but you can start with body weight.

With having a dog I’d definitely consider running and them join you if able! I run lots but never without the dog (other than races) so we both get worn out! She loves it. Couch to 5km is a great starting point - either by yourself or lots of running clubs to beginner running groups. Park Run is also great - don’t be intimidated, lots of people walk the whole thing it’s very much not a race. Runners/ walkers with dogs are welcome there too!

I love swimming too and still do it now and then but more for fun. Like a lido or sea dip now and then.

For efficiency honestly you can't beat weight training. But you need to get to lifting heavy to see results. I always say , if it feels boring you are not lifting heavy enough. Some gyms do 6 week group programmes 3 times a week. The way I got into it was just trying the gym classes like spin and body con, went regularly then they got too easy so I got curious about the gym, started that then had a free PT session, then did weekly PT sessions and a programme for six months. I've not done it for a while but still retained the muscle mass I built.

However as you say you don't like the gym...

If you like walking, get yourself a weighted vest.

I've got a 12lb one and wear it for all hikes, but you could just wear it to power walk around the streets for 30 minutes (or whatever you can fit in).

I do different things for different reasons.

Cardio - running, long walks with dogs, stationary bike, circuits.
Strength - weights and resistance bands.
Flexibility and balance - yoga.
Pure enjoyment - outdoor swimming.

Cycling, because you're sitting down 😁
Joking aside, I adore cycling as it became ny commute which saved me time and money. It also slimmed my thighs!

What about one of those outdoor fitness groups you sometimes see in the park? There's a group that meets in my local park- you see them doing running and body weight type exercises- press-ups, burpees etc. Instructor motivating them, cheering each other on.

Looks like a good combination of weights/running/ outdoors/ social etc (I say 'good', it looks like hell to me....)

A combination of what you enjoy. You need a cardio, strength and something for flexibility.
Even carrying heavy shopping back from the supermarket will help.

I'm fond of bootcamp workout that incorporate a short run. These are quite hard to come by though as they need the space. I've found one just by luck.

I use YouTube videos - a mix of strength, weighted cardio (I have 1, 2, 3 and 5kg dumbells at home) and HIIT. The longest session I do is 45 mins, most are 20 or 30 mins. If it's intense, then that is long enough!

I enjoy it, it doesn't take up loads of time or need expensive equipment, and there is always a new video available to try. I'm fit, toned and healthy. It definitely works for me!

Cycling! I used to be a swimmer then when I had kids I just don't have time to swim and do the drive and changing etc. Cycling is exercise right from the door, very efficient.

Pilates

everyone's different - for me runninng and weights on alternative days work.

I don't think there's really one exercise that is completely brilliant for everything. Firstly you have to enjoy it otherwise you won't do it and secondly variety is key is to make you strong, cardiovascularly fit, and supple.

The main things I do are yoga, football, tennis and weights. I also garden and walk the dog.

Whatever you enjoy enough to keep doing. My favourite is swimming which I do about 3/4 times a week. I also like walking and using my ebike. I live in a hilly area so still getting some benefit from it. I don’t see the point of treadmills or exercise bikes when you can do the real deal outside!

Do something you like. At various points in time I've done
Aqua aerobics - hilarious a good laugh and a good work out
Buggy fit - as above
Swimming - when there's a nice pool available so relaxing.
Yoga - for a stretch and a relax
Ceilidhs- fun and warm you up in the winter
Hiking - nice to be outside/good head space.

I did try running a few times but I hate it and have also just gone on machines at the gym which I found boring.

I'm off running for a while while I recover from shin splints and have found the Caroline Girvan Iron series a good programme for strength training.

I've had a few sessions with a PT in the past so feel like I have some idea of the form but CG does break it down a fair bit on the videos.

She lifts massive weights compared to me, but I am feeling the difference and work with weights that become a real effort as sets come to an end.

I bought 4/5/7.5kg dumbbells and they seem to be enough for now, plus I use a mat and yoga block and chair. Not a massive outlay.

Doing that plus walking (will hopefully get back to running gradually soon) seems to be working well at the moment. The videos, plus a warm up take about 45 mins, doable for 4/5 sessions a week.

There used to be an outdoor exercise group in my local park - I'm not an organised exercise or gym person - but I really loved it for some reason - went 3 times a week and it was amazing for toning. Even in the rain I'd turn up.

I now go to a gym 3 (ish) times a week first thing in the morning - leave the house at 7.10 and I'm back at 8.20. It's a weights class.

Walking is great - but i think you have to do a lot, with hills, for it to make a real difference and that's time consuming.

I also used to play tennis in all weathers and that was good too....

I tend to run. It’s something I enjoy and I feel like it’s the best thing for my fitness. I run 4 days a week and go to the gym 2/3 days a week to do weights and the stair master plus the odd lift class.

if you have a dog you could run rather than walk with them.

or see what’s in your local area. Lots of places do outdoor exercise classes or yoga over the summer. Park yoga is free. It won’t do loads for your fitness but when I used to go I would cycle/run there and back. Lots of free stuff to follow at home on YouTube too. I find exercising at home a bit sole destroying, but some people love it.

you just have to see what works for you.

I find cycling fun

I run (jog) and do metafit for cardio
& body pump and kettle bells for resistance. I would like to start lifting weights properly (e.g heavy) but the structure of the classes means I have to go even if I don’t feel like it and I do lift heavy enough to get DOMs

At my fittest I was doing long walks daily, peloton spinning 4-5 times a week for up to an hour, yoga 2-3 times weekly, lots of stretching.

I swim, walk, play badminton and at home I do treadmill runs and (machine) rowing plus yoga both at home and at a class. But I prefer solitary exercise I can mix up, do at home and has variety. The key is an exercise/s that you enjoy.

Body pump is a weights class or as a pp said heavy weights a couple of times a week.

Totally depend on why you want to increase exercise…... Do you want to lose weight? Build strength? Improve your fitness/health? Just for fun?

And what age/gender are you?

If you like outdoor activities, look for local outdoor boot camps? There are a lot around nowadays. Or canicross (with your dog?)
Local council leisure centres usually have a fair bit on and are reasonably priced, if the bigger more expensive places are out of your range.
Ask on your local Facebook page for fitness classes and see what appeals.

When you say you want to Tone up, what exactly do you mean? If you want to increase your muscle mass, you could try some Caroline Girvan youtubes (others are available) if you don't fancy going to a gym to use the weights.

I’d go for a good old fashioned aerobics class a la Jane Fonda if I could only do one type of exercise!