Can you put together a plan for me?

[FuriousChickens]

I'm 5'2 and a size 8. Yes I know, you're thinking I'm tiny and wondering what help I need.

Well the problem is I am a complete weakling, I have no tone to my body and zero strength. Just because I'm skinny doesn't mean I'm healthy.

I have always hated exercise, have no coordination so ball sports, aerobic or dance routines etc leave me frustrated and in tears.

Since having my children I have developed a tyre around my middle which I know isn't healthy. I'm still only a size 8 yes, but I have a size 4-6 frame so still have quite a bit of flabbiness (3 rolls). And it's all around my middle which I believe is very unhealthy.

So basically I want to tone up without losing too much weight, I'd like to increase my strength and lose the tyre. What's the best way to do this? And is there any exercise that's enjoyable and won't leave me frustrated because I can't follow the routine?

I should add that I eat a fairly balanced diet but do eat a lot of chocolate, cheese and bread. I eat a good amount of veg but hardly any fruit. I drink water and tea mostly, probably 3 cups of tea, 2 glasses of water and one herbal tea in a day on average. I drink alcohol rarely, maybe once every 2-3 weeks.

No idea I'm afraid but will be watching with interest.

I'm a 6-8, have lost about 9lbs in the last fortnight as I look too bulky if I weigh anymore. I have a tiny frame and only 5'1" but after 4 kids I definitely have a belly going on!

Would you consider doing a dvd at home or is a gym preferable/more likely? What about running? You've said what exercise you don't like but what do you enjoy when it comes to exercise/moving?

You need to do some weight bearing exercise, say 30 day shred, or body pump in the gym. Re: diet eat more protein and cut out the empty carbs. No need to eat fruit provided you eat lots of veg. What do you eat in a normal day.

Ohtisisjustgrape, I'm so glad it's not just me. Everyone irl says stuff like "oh you don't need to exercise" or "there'd be nothing to you if you lost weight" but I don't think slim always means healthy and I'd like to be fitter.

Sleepwhenidie, Definitely not the gym for three reasons 1) cost 2) Its miles away and I don't drive so would eat up too much time plus I am a LP so have no-one to leave the dc with and 3) the embarrassment of exercising in front of others.

A dvd would be good if it was one that required zero coordination, all the ones I've tried have involved too many routines and I've got fed up with not being able to follow it and always being five steps behind.

I haven't found anything I enjoy so far which is why I need help. I walk a lot (at least 20 mins brisk walking 4 times a week just to go to supermarket etc) and I do enjoy it but it isn't enough.

foreverondiet, I tried the shred yesterday actually and it wasn't too bad, she doesn't jump from one thing to another which means I don't get confused and can keep up. I found it hard to coordinate myself to do a few of the exercises (side lunges and bicycle crunches especially) as my brain can't seem to cope with telling my arms to do one thing and my legs another but maybe if I stick at it I'll master it. My thighs certainly hurt today anyway!

Diet

Yesterday
glass water
2weetabix with ss milk
2 cups tea
couple of handfuls crisps
half baton with brie and cucumber
glass apple juice
glass water
small bag mini eggs (out of easter egg)
2 cups of tea
Toast and butter
2 chicken fajitas
2 glasses water

Today
glass water
2 weetabix with ss milk
2 cups of tea
mars bar
2 cups tea
2 chicken fajitas
2 cups tea
2 glasses of water
beef stroganoff with rice, broccoli and carrots (haven't eaten it yet)
probably more water or chamomile tea

Add a tunnocks tea cake and a glass of white wine to today

Shred gets easier with practice and ideally you'd up the weights as you get used to it to increase muscle mass. I use 4kg for many of the exercises. Also try doing a few press-ups or planks or squats at various points during the day. Even 5 press-ups, 15 seconds of squats and 15 seconds of planks ie one minute of exercise 4-5 times a day.

Also ideally you'd have some protein at each meal and cut the sugar / refined carbs - wheat once a day max ie weetabix or toast in a day. Snack on cheese or nuts or fruit or vegetables or seeds not chocolate. Ideally cut out processed food and better to eat apple than to drink apple juice.

You ideally want to gain muscle mass and lose some body fat, but overall keep weight the same so think about increasing protein and reducing sugar.

as usual Forever is saying all the things I would .

Shred does sound like the best approach for you, particularly for working on strength. It will get easier with time...but when it feels too easy go to next stage or increase the weights! Its important to keep challenging yourself.

If you need/want more cardio for a change or addition to shred then couch to 5k is a great way to start running.

Also I agree your diet probably doesn't need much change apart from more protein and veg, less sugar and processed food, for health and strength rather than weight loss.

Is the beef stroganoff and chicken fajitas homemade? Try and and eat as much as possible home cooked.

Ok well realistically I'm not going to stop eating chocolate and I'm not going to stop having toast as a snack every now and then but the rest is manageable. I don't normally eat chocolate this often, it's just because it is there from my birthday/easter/having guests to stay for the past two weekends. Normally if I want it have to go and buy it so it would only be perhaps twice a week. Same with crisps - they were only there from having guests and normally I don't have any at all.

I'm surprised at you saying to cut down on the processed food as I didn't think I ate much processed stuff at all, all meals are cooked from scratch using fresh meat & veg, home-made sauces etc. I never buy ready meals or processed meat like kievs or nuggets and we very rarely have even sausages or pizza and if we do they are accompanied with a ton of veg or salad. It's interesting and a little bit shocking to get a different perspective on it. I'd love to see what you made of most of my friend's diets as they all comment on me making meals from scratch everyday and how much veg we eat (the fajitas for example had onion, loads of peppers and mushrooms and sweetcorn in with the chicken, as well as lettuce to serve).

Yesterday I ate
glass water
2 weetabix with ss milk
2 cups tea
snack size malteasers
coffee
satsuma
few grapes
left over stroganoff rice and veg
glass water
cup of tea
curried cauliflower& chickpea with pilau rice
small bowl of vermonster icecream (again only here from when we had guests normally I only have pudding when out for dinner)
glass of water
chamomile tea

Hey chickens - I don't think forever and I were saying that you eat too much processed food, just that as a general rule it is best avoided.

I also wouldn't stress too much about a little chocolate every day - although if you want to reduce your sugar intake swap to dark choc. Replacing the weetabix with porridge or even better, eggs a few times a week also healthier, but really your focus needs to be on resistance training to build more muscle and some cardio for your heart/lungs fitness. Shred will provide both.

I wasn't saying too much processed food, was just hard to tell from what you said you ate, that's all. Because you don't really have weight to lose, focus should be on plenty of protein and weight bearing exercise. Some chocolate and ice cream within reason is fine.