Exercise recommendations

[LunchtimeNaps]

I've been on MJ for over a year now and all is good. When I started I walked a lot due to school runs but the dc have moved schools and this now involves driving. Apart from walking does anyone have any tips or recommendations for fitness type pages to follow in Insta etc to get back into it. The gym isn't possible for me just yet as the kids still cannot be left on their own.

I'm a big advocate of couch to 5k - if you're used to walking then it wouldn't be a big step up to running, and it's very low hassle as long as you have a pair of trainers. I tend to go out first thing in the morning before anyone else is up.

Another vote for C25k - download the free NHS app and grab your trainers. The app has good stretching exercises as well. I am now building up to 10k. You don’t necessarily have to do 5k , a friend of mine just wanted to be able to run for 20 minutes as that is what fitted into her busy schedule.

I also use Caroline Jordan free fitness workouts on YouTube. They can be as short as 10 minutes.

you really want to add some resistance training not to lose muscle mass. But you don't need to go to the gym for that, get a set of weights and check out for example Caroline Girvan.

Growwithjo is a good one on youtube as she was obese herself when she started so it's more realistic and tailored than someone who is naturally slim and athletic. I've started this week as started maintenance and done 3 sessions and my waist has shrunk by 1cm just by 25-35 min sessions with dumbbells. She has a variety incl full body toning, just walking, dumbbell and kettlebell classes.

I love my peloton guide - whole range of resistance programs from very beginner to advanced, and 10 mins to 60 mins. The AI camera counts your reps and gives you tips on your form. It’s £26 per month, but I use mine nearly every day.

My top tip is try a few of the suggestions, and figure out what a) you love, and b) fits with your life. I realise where I was going wrong with exercise is that I thought if I didn’t like the gym (I really don’t!) I didn’t like exercise. Turns out I was just doing the wrong thing for me!

It depends on the types of exercise you enjoy. The key is to enjoy it and you won't feel like it's a chore. I actually look forward to my workout. I do Les Mills on demand home workouts and love the music the dance and rhythm that comes with it. It's the only exercise I've truly enjoyed and now I do it 5 days a week no second thought.
What do you like?

I have a question about weights. I am getting in a right tizzy about them - it all seems very complicated and it’s triggering my inner Panicking Fat Girl. What sort of weights do I need to get to start? Kettley ones or the little ones that look like dog toys? Or the big clanking ones on a bar? How heavy?

I have just ordered gym leggings and a sports bra and already feel like I need a lie down.

@PigglyWigglyOhYeah if finances allow, get ALLL the weights
😁If you think LesMills On Demand looks good, then see if you can get a BodyPump barbell set, it comes with 1, 2.5 and 5 kilos and you can later buy extra plates as needed.
If you're planning to try Caroline Girvan type programs and you're new to exercise, I would start with the dog toy ones - but not the tiniest, unless you're actually recovering from an injury or something, you won't need the 1-kilo ones. And you would want to get several different ones, you need different weights for lateral raises and sumo squats.

Thank you! No idea what 'extra plates' are.

plates are the round things that go on the barbell. In LesMills Bodypump, you also need different weights for different exercises, and you do that by putting various plates on the bar.

Ive used growingananas youtube videos. Easier than caroline girvans but still challenging. No or minimal equipment needed

Lucy Wyndham Read or Grow With Jo are good options for short workouts.

I put 30 min of music on every morning. I dance around a room with the kids... Gets everyone exercising without thinking about it. Apart from that YouTube is your friend lots of exercise videos. Quite like 10 minutes and on top of my gym workouts

I agree with others who have suggested GrowwithJo work outs on You Tube.... they are brilliant.... so many different options for different levels of ability.

I’d get some adjustable dumbbells, a kettle bell, a set of resistance bands, a Pilates ball and a Pilates ring. From that you can do resistance, Pilates and hiit stuff. Aldi will have most of it in tomorrow or look on Amazon haul or Argos. YouTube is your friend.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4743325 - I think this js the one we have. I’d recommend some gloves as they aren’t the rubberised bar type. I got some from Amazon haul.

https://amzn.eu/d/02tbUWn - small resistance bands

https://amzn.eu/d/1j0W0bK blocks and straps

https://amzn.eu/d/eF8ngN9 ball

https://amzn.eu/d/2AaRGNI long band

https://amzn.eu/d/333ty5U or a set

https://amzn.eu/d/6RBmxJx ring

https://amzn.eu/d/0pMs0qT mat

https://amzn.eu/d/iLnu9NN gloves

It depends what you're going to do!
I'm using a personal trainer a couple of times a month and follow her plans, which require adjustable dumbbells and some kettlebells.
The Henley fitness BITS app is <£10/month and they have a home-based workout plan, where everything is explained for total beginners. All you need is adjustable dumbbell set, which you can get from argos for £50ish.

Sorry- my last post was meant to be in response to this!

I like the ladder app, I use it in the gym but you can use it at home, just select what kind of workouts you’re looking at doing and pick a coach. Personally having lost a lot of weight myself without MJ (totally pro it though I just can’t use it, so it took me a while I’d have loved to use it) I would prioritise something to help keep your muscles, I lost a lot of muscle and it took a decent amount of work
to build back up. Easier to keep
it with resistance training of some sort while you lose body fat.