please talk to me about your exercise regime and

[scripsi]

give me a kick up the bottom.

I used to exercise almost every day in my twenties, after being a very non-sporty child, but now I am a bit stuck. This week I have started doing 30 mins a day on my neighbour's ancient elliptical trainer (it's in their garage, I do have their permission) and am beginning to feel the benefits already, though I am beating myself up for letting it slide for years and experiencing low moods as a result.

So, now I am thinking of getting exercise DVDs etc. I want to change my body shape.

Should I be working up to an hour on most days?

i work out between 25 mins up to a hour but have built up to that .And well my body shape as changed a lot to and next summer I will be worried about showing my arms of at all .Oh an dI have dropped from 22/24 to a 16 and not done yet

Thanks thehumancatapult and well done!

Am going to collect some very cheap gumtree weights later too ...

By the way I tried the squat intervals on the elliptical - ouch! that really bumped up the intensity.

Notanidiothonest...... Can I ask, how old you are? I agree, ballet is the hardest I've ever worked in my life. At my peak, I had the equivalent state of fitness as a top athlete.

I am now middle aged and fat.

Must... Do... Something!

I'm 30 Eliza. I havent considered how much longer I'll carry on doing it for. I can see that maybe in 10 years time or less my knees and feet could start to suffer for it? When did you stop? I am always telling DH that ballet dancers are way fitter than footballers, I don't think he believes me though!

I'm also quite muscular so when I stop I'll probably get fat instantly as I'm used to eating what i like!

the Shred

tis amazing.

I'm lazy so I do some light cardo bike etc or star jumps if I need fast results until my muscles feel warm then I row 2km and try to beat my best time. Then I do some more light cardio until my heart rate comes down. As long as you row on resistance 4 or 5 you shouldn't bulk up you muscles. You'll end up nicely toned and the rower works almost every muscle in you body. The rowing takes me between 11 and 14 minutes so altogether I spend 30 minutes exercising. I bought a concept 2 rowing machine but you can hire then or get something cheaper.

Notanidiothonest...... Danced professionally for some years. Left home aged 10 to go to ballet school on a scholarship. My knees are fine. My hips (from turnout) are horrendous and my feet. Well, lets not go there!

You can tell your dh that professional, classical dancers will give any top footballer a run for their money!

Hey Scripsi - This is my week:

Tonight: CX Worx (30 mins of core strength work) then straight into Zumba (45 mins)
Thurs: Zumba (45 mins)
Fri: Body Pump ( 45 mins weights class) then straight into Body Attack (45 mins)
Sat: Body Pump (45 mins) straight into zumba (45 mins)

I absolutely LOVE zumba, it just feels like dancing to me and I do love to dance. Body Pump is the class I can see most physical changes to my body (really toned up my arms/ bum) and Body Attack is hellish and I usually feel sick at the end (but I KNOW it lifts my fitness levels)

I rehearse on a Tues & Wed so can't exercise then and Sunday is my day off.

I have been doing this level of excercise for about 8 months and don't make all these classes every week (DH works shifts). It has made me feel like a new woman. I turn 40 this year and feel 23.

How do you guys find the time for all this? I would love to exercise this much but what do you do with the kids??

I only have 1 DS (9) - some of the classes coincide with his hobbies, of DH is off he is with him, if DH at work his GP's have him. It's do-able, but usually hectic! Like I say I can't always do ALL of them but try for at least 4 a week!

I have a fantastic DVD called 'Blast Off Belly Fat' - it's one of the 10 minute solutions series. It's tough but manageable and I have become much stronger through doing 1-3 workouts 2-3 times a week i.e. not a lot

I also enjoy walking and try to do 2-3 miles twice a week. I'm also trying to increase exercise in my routine - walking to the tube station instead of getting the bus for example.

I live in a first floor flat - if I get the Shred will I drive my neighbours crazy with my jumping around???

My week usually looks like:-

Monday - 40min gym session in my lunch hour, 1 hour boxercise class in the evening or 1 hour pilates class
Tuesday - 40 min gym session in my lunch hour, sometimes do an hour at home in the evening with a trainer.
Wednesday - 1 hour netball match in the evening or an hour at boxercise
Thursday - 40 min gym session in my lunch hour, 1 hour netball training in the evening
Friday - 40 min gym session in my lunch hour
Saturday / Sunday - rest days but try and do something fun and active with the kids like a bike ride or ice skating.

I go out 3 evenings a week usually and dh has the kids which is lucky for me. On his night out I sometimes have a trainer to the house to work out if I am pushing hard, otherwise it's a night off. I love going to the gym in my lunch hour at work because it gets me away from my desk, gives me some time to myself where i can just think about things and get clarity and it's also a really good stress buster. My 40 min sessions and made up of cardio, resistance work and circuit training depending on what evening activity I have.

Like Northumberland lass said it can all get a bit hectic. i guess the key for me realyl is that exercise is a priority in my life and I will always do wahtever I can to make time for it because I know that I look, feel and act better when I've done exercise.

Like a lot of people have said on here it needs to be part of your routine, not something you can just give up on when you don't fancy it and that means you absolutly have to enjoy it.

Shred is amazing, it gets your arms and abs and other parts you just don't address with things like jogging. I like her other dvd ripped in 30 even better and aim to do it 5 or 6 days a week. It's the one thing I can do even in the same room as my 4 year old and 10 month old since it's only 20 minutes. Then I also run for at least half an hour three days a week, plus walk a mile or two as part of my commute.
I used to just run and do a bit of yoga but after just a couple months of Jillian I started getting lots of comments from friends about looking slim, it really works.