Exercise thats easy on the knees?

[MouseyHousey]

I am fairly overweight, havent lost pregnancy weight even though DD is 2.
The only exercise I do regularly is walking: the school run trips together come to about 1 hour a day. I walk anywhere else I may need to go as no car.
I want to start losing weight but not sure what sort of exercise I can manage, I have arthritis in my knees and cant run, squat or ride a bike.
Ideally would be something I can do at home as cant afford childcare.
Just to be clear, im not interested in going on a diet because I wont stick to it! I dont eat extremely unhealthily but Im not a health freak either.
Any ideas please?!

How about trying to make the walking more of a workout - picking up the pace as much as you can manage, swinging your arms etc? Otherwise swimming but that would be out of the house so maybe not an option.

I did a course of pilates and the instructor was always showing people easy modifications if you have bad knees. Maybe there is a DVD of pilates with modifications? Have a browse on amazon.

And....don't hate me for suggesting this, but maybe re-think the diet thing? It doesn't have to be a 'diet', it could be change the way you (and family) eat for good. I used to think that I didn't eat unhealthily but then I tried myfitnesspal app (there is a website too) to record everything I was eating. When I tried it, I was really surprised to see that some days I was hitting nearly 3000 calories and massively overdoing the carbs whilst seriously undereating protein. And lots of it was just 'mindless eating' - random crap that I ate because it was there rather than actually providing decent nutrition. Made lots of changes, still have treats though, and the weight has dropped off. I don't know whether you have OA or RA so might be making a big assumption here, but if you could lose a little weight through increasing your walking combined with diet modification, you might then be able to tolerate a wider range of exercise? (I know little about arthritis though could be talking crap).

I second my fitness app. Have tried every diet going but this is working. Have lost 11 pounds since starting about five weeks ago. So easy does not seem like a diet and great if you can do with a friend as you can see each others diaries.

Do you have the fitness channels on your tv? I recorded some workouts off them and it gives you a chance to try out different things.

Swimming, aqua aerobics, cross trainer.

Lynne Robinsons pilates DVDs (Power House series) have variations for bad knees.

The Shred bust my left knee up a year ago and I'm still suffering

I never got on with yoga - shame really, I like a bit of that.

Agree Pinot - avoid JM stuff, quite hard on the knees a lot of it.

I also stopped doing the Shred because it was making my knees ache so much. I think Pilates is probably the way to go but I'm not sure how much it will help weight loss if you aren't dieting as it is quite low intensity.

Would cycling be too much? Its non weight bearing but guess the cycling motion might aggrevate it?????

Swimming, walking and Yoga and/or Pilates.

Pick an exercise that's easily accessible for you - for most of us that's walking. Unless you live right by a gym. Swimming is great for knees but for people who live in places like I do, the nearest pool is miles away and I know I just wouldn't go regularly even though I love swimming. Viva, indoor stationary cycling should be fine for OP - it's the first exercise recommended for knee rehab following an injury.

Swimming and (gentle flat/stationary) cycling by far the best for knee probs. I have suffered with me knees for years and its the only things I can do. Pilates exacerbated it because so many positions were on the knees, so although I enjoyed it, I couldnt carry on.
I know you dont want to diet but I read that every 1lb you lose takes 7lbs of pressure off your knee joints when you walk. I have recently lost 17lbs and can now walk miles, where as I was virtually housebound before! Myfitnesspal is a very good (online or phone app).
Good luck

I have suffered on and off with my left knee for years. If i do too much it swells. Im scared to kneel or squat and i cant run or walk really fast, it makes my knee swell. The best thing i have found is rebounding. Its the best exercise you can do, full stop, it is the only exercise that works the lymph and every cell, vessel, muscle and nerve in your body. You dont have to jump madly just do the health bounce. I cant do links but google the health bounce. I have invested in a top of the range rebounder. Research rebounding, you will be very surprised at its benefits.

Cross trainer (in gym) is easy on the knees.

I have some of the crappest knees ever (Osteo plus old knee injury) and I get by with a combination of walking, swimming and using exercise bike and cross trainer, plus gardening and sex .
Yoga is hopeless as it assumes that you can kneel (which many with bad knees cannot), get up and down easily from the floor (ditto) and involves movements which sideways twist the knee.

Iyengar yoga teachers adapt poses to fit the body of the person doing it. Aqua aerobics, aqua Zumba or swim. YY to quicker walking if you can. Pilates and yoga can help to tone.
Cslories in vs calories out though. So if you eat exactly the same you won't see the benefit. Don't diet. Decide on a healthy diet. Lots of water 5 a day. Avoid excess sugar and fried. Obvs really.

Another one with a buggered knee thanks to the shred . I bought a cross trainer in the sale at amazon and it is amazing, I really can't recommend it highly enough. It is tough but I have it in front of the tv at night and my legs have startd to change shape and (along with doing the 2 day a week fast) I have lost just over 7 lbs. I also walk everywhere, can't drive.

I also have one bad knee, but think all the suggestions above are great. With swimming I'd avoid breastroke, which makes my knees hurt. Could you afford a session with a personal trainer once a month? I know it's a big financial commitment but they will come to your home and design a workout that works with your body. Also you're more likely to do it because you know they're coming back!