Core and upper body Workouts

Bananafish06

To meet my exercise goals I've started jogging every other day which is going great. I love being outside and I can walk my dog at the same time, killing two birds with one stone so to speak. However I want to get core and upper body too, so I've been doing an exercise DVD (30 day shred) a couple days a week in between. The problem is that I really, really hate it. I've tried a couple other DVDs too that haven't been much better. It's just really hard for me to get into squats, push-ups, weights, etc. Are there any other options or do I just need to suck it up?

JenMc14

Check out fitnessblender.com. However, unless you're going to switch to using free weights, most videos will have things like squats, planks and push-ups.

TeaBea

30 Day Shred is cardio with some strength training thrown in. If you're jogging, the cardio is taken care of already.

I really like weighted workouts with Kelly Coffey Meyer....she's encouraging without being super sweet. She's not a TV personality....to me she's more genuine.

http://www.collagevideo.com/collections/kelly-coffey-meyer

Maybe you will never "get into" squats, push ups, etc. I can do cardio 7 days a weeks.....strength training not so much. But I'm over 50 and I know that I need to do strength training. I don't want to be one of those hunched over, shuffling old people you see.

You might like Pilates. No weights typically, but form is going to be really important for you to get the most out of it. Pilates is great for the core.

Ellen Barrett does a fusion of pilates, yoga, and dance....you might try something from her.

https://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/category-s/163.htm?searching=Y&sort=5&cat=163&show=10&page=1

barryplumber

As long as the dog won't comment you can stop every 1/2 mile and do as many sit ups and push ups as you can. While running look around and see what other excersises are possible is great to be outdoors in nice weather. Don't forget to add more push up and situps as you can.

strong_curves

FitnessBlender on youtube

sofaking6

Are you having a hard time with those exercises because you're new at them? It could really be worth putting the effort in at least for a while, say 2 months, and then doing a check-in to see whether you're feeling better about them as you've improved and as you've had a chance to feel the benefits of strength-building exercise. Because yeah, being smaller helps and is nice and all, but being stronger makes just as much of a difference in your day-to-day living.

There are alternatives to most exercises, except squats.

Also, what don't you like about these workouts? Maybe a straight-up lifting program would be more to your liking if you have heavy weights available? Or maybe you're like me and just don't like Jillian's training style? I love Kelly Coffey-Meyer mentioned above, take a look at her "Body Shop" video (the link above will have clips you can watch) and see how that moves ya.

professionalHobbyist

Maybe do a small workout of just 2 compound exercises. Only two of them for 4 sets each. That isn't a terrible amount of time or work but enough to feel it.

If you did 4 sets of dead lifts and bent over rows you would get a good back and core workout. It would only be one day and not prevent you from a walk afterward.

It could be that just easing into a basic workout would be helpful and not feel overbearing.

And you would fee it after that "easy" workout.