Beginner body weight workouts - starting from zero fitness!

[stretcharmweak]

I have 25kg to lose this year, and I’m starting from absolute zero. I lost 15kg back in lockdown pre pregnancy through weights and regular gym visits. I’d be all over WLI but my chronic conditions mean that I cannot take them.
I have a 3.5 yo DS and very little free time as I work full time and DH works away a lot.
I need recommendations of some basic body weight workouts that will get my fitness levels up to scratch before I embark on any actual weights/kettlebells at home. Keen to hear which worked for you - I’m not fussed whether it’s an app or YouTube etc but I don’t really want to spend much on a monthly subscription.
Also any tips on starting all over again for someone at their heaviest with a horrid sweet tooth would be welcome!

I recommend Hasfit on YouTube. They have an app too. They do use dumbells for some stuff but you can substitute water bottles, etc. Lots of beginner workouts of different lengths.

I don’t have a particular recommendation but make sure you sign up to something you enjoy. No point committing to yoga every day if you hate it and will never stick to it. For me, running works well and I enjoy it but not everyone does.

I really love the App RWL.fitness (Real Weight Loss) which is co-founded by Lucy Mecklenburgh from TOWIE. I have only been a member for a few weeks, but have already lost a few pounds. It's got everything on it - weights, Pilates, bodyweight programmes, weight loss, tons of simple recipes, ideas for busy mums, meal prep. They also do Live classes and because it's UK-based it's lovely to be able to join in. The coaches are so friendly. They have a new 12-week programme starting on 2nd January. It is going to be bodyweight exercises for the first 4 weeks then you step it up for the 2nd month by using weights and so on. I really love the App and all the other members. It feels like a real community and some of the members have experienced quite impressive body transformations.

Sorry for the long post but I can't speak highly enough of it.

Madfit on YouTube.

I second Hasfit. Their free Facebook videos are really accessible and show different body shapes and fitness levels doing varying levels of the same exercises. Very supportive without that overwhelming YAY!!! type thing that you get on some fitness things.

The Body Project have a lot of various workouts on YouTube and their website (where you can filter for different levels, types and low impact e.g. for bad knees). Fun slightly older British presenters.

Lucy Wyndham-Read on YouTube. If you can't find something there you like I'll be amazed.

Oh yes - I'd forgotten about them! They're great 😊

Look up ‘our parks’ they have loads of different fitness programmes, all completely free you can access them via their website or they have playlists on YouTube. They do a programme called couch to fitness which follows the same model as c25K, all just stuff you can do in the living room with no equipment, starts easier and gets progressively harder over 9 weeks and they show adaptations for every exercise to cater for different mobility and fitness levels.

I like growithjo on youtube. I did her beginner 15 min 2000s dance workout one this week.

It's accessible freely but you'll prob be hit with youtube's ads during your session.

For that reason I decided to get a subscription to YouTUbe premium rather than buy a sub to a particular fitness app as I'd like a variety of creators.

Dare to be active is a great app, women focused and works not just on cardio, or strength but also rehab, flexibility, pre and postnatal etc.

Growwithjo, I'm currently doing these with her dumbbell sessions, and Lucy Wyndham-Read for focused waist and glutes exercises.