Exercise that doesn't involve the gym - HELP!

emfin2014
emfin2014 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

I am back on my weight loss journey after putting on 2 STONE in 6 months (crazy)!! It wasn't until my clothes stopped fitting me, noticing how I 'big' I looked in pictures and just generally feeling a bit rubbish with how I looked. Before Xmas I lost about 8lbs and my starting weight was a lot lighter BUT since then I have put all that weight back on and more. After 2 weeks of healthy heating, cutting down on sugar and carbs I have lost half a stone which is great but a long way off where I want to be. One of my main struggles is exercise, I really do not feel comfortable going to the gym and I know I wont go. I have been walking, possibly 30 mins a day if not more but I am very aware that I will not get to my weight goal (10.5 Stone) with limited exercise. Anyone got any tips or ideas on the next plan of action for me? :)
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Replies

  • nikinuu
    nikinuu Posts: 22 Member
    I have been steadily loosing by walking however i walk around 7miles a day so a lot longer than 30minutes I do it just so I can eat more honestly
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,633 Member
    Walk longer.
    Walk faster.
    Include hills and stairs in your walk.
    Ride a bicycle.
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    If you have stairs where you live or work take those as much as possible. Sometimes I just walk up and down the stairs in my house, multiple times.

    What about an exercise dvd? or seeing if there are any shows on TV? or YouTube? There are all kinds -- aerobics, dance, easy, hard. The beauty of these is that you can close the curtains in your house and no one will see. :lol:

    That's all I've got, sorry. Personally I hate to exercise and it's always a struggle for force myself to the gym. I belong to our local community center which has a workout area. I like it better than a gym because it seems there are more "ordinary-looking" people there, of all ages. lol
  • shazzyx3
    shazzyx3 Posts: 5 Member
    cut out all sugars and carbs. try and do some research on the keto diet. try going for a jog and do workouts at home. You obviously will need some space but exercising at home is just as good. I don't like going to the gym, I have done in the past and always stop going after a while. I'm the same as you thoug these past 6 months iI have put on so much weight, all my family and friends have noticed it too and always have to comment on it, which is a bit *kitten*. but good luck bbe hope this helps
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    walk

    get a fitbit or similar - only the basic kind needed

    and move more

  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    [quote="shazzyx3;33271931"]cut out all sugars and carbs. try and do some research on the keto diet. try going for a jog and do workouts at home. You obviously will need some space but exercising at home is just as good. I don't like going to the gym, I have done in the past and always stop going after a while. I'm the same as you thoug these past 6 months iI have put on so much weight, all my family and friends have noticed it too and always have to comment on it, which is a bit *kitten*. but good luck bbe hope this helps [/quote]

    No.

    OP doesn't have to do that since what she's been doing has been working for her.

    There are tons of exercise videos on youtube like jillian michaels, blogilates, fitness blender.
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  • leahcollett1
    leahcollett1 Posts: 807 Member
    body combat video on you tube amazing
  • emfin2014
    emfin2014 Posts: 6 Member
    Thanks everyone! All great ideas. I will have a look at what fitness DVD's are out there. I recently did a 39 mile cycle for a charity and I don't know if I will ever ride a bike again :wink:
  • LiveLoveLift48
    LiveLoveLift48 Posts: 379 Member
    Hi...one thing i find that works great is resistance bands. You can get them in various resistance as well. You can do some dumbells at home or even body weight exercises. You can find so many videos on the internet.
  • lewissheldon125
    lewissheldon125 Posts: 11 Member
    Hi,

    I completely understand where you are coming from with regards to commercial gyms, they are often full of posers and can make you feel uncomfortable, plus they can be expensive. In my experience of having used both gyms such as that and spending time training in boxing gyms I can say i have seen better results training in the boxing gyms with very little traditional weights or machinery, you can do the same range of exercises in your home using just your own body weight that will burn calories, tone your body, don't cost any money, don't require any equipment and don't take a massive amount of time to complete, the key for me is to commit to completing them 3 times a week to see a benefit.

    As others have said there are lots of instructional video's such as the 30 day shred or the insanity style 20 min workouts you can take a look at but from a very basic start point I am sure you could work something like the below into your day and build it up over time and see results. You don't need to spend hours a day exercising to see toning and weight loss results.

    30 seconds each exercise
    Press ups (if you can't complete a full press up, half press ups, if you can't complete that lower your knees)
    Sit ups
    Squat thrusts
    Crunches
    Star jumps
    Leg raises
    Burpees
    Plank

    Start off having a rest in between each exercise, work towards completing the lot without a break and then when you reach that comfortably you can up the time spent doing each exercise. 3 times a week and you will notice a difference on top of your walking.

    Good luck with reaching your targets.
  • emfin2014
    emfin2014 Posts: 6 Member
    Hi,

    I completely understand where you are coming from with regards to commercial gyms, they are often full of posers and can make you feel uncomfortable, plus they can be expensive. In my experience of having used both gyms such as that and spending time training in boxing gyms I can say i have seen better results training in the boxing gyms with very little traditional weights or machinery, you can do the same range of exercises in your home using just your own body weight that will burn calories, tone your body, don't cost any money, don't require any equipment and don't take a massive amount of time to complete, the key for me is to commit to completing them 3 times a week to see a benefit.

    As others have said there are lots of instructional video's such as the 30 day shred or the insanity style 20 min workouts you can take a look at but from a very basic start point I am sure you could work something like the below into your day and build it up over time and see results. You don't need to spend hours a day exercising to see toning and weight loss results.

    30 seconds each exercise
    Press ups (if you can't complete a full press up, half press ups, if you can't complete that lower your knees)
    Sit ups
    Squat thrusts
    Crunches
    Star jumps
    Leg raises
    Burpees
    Plank

    Start off having a rest in between each exercise, work towards completing the lot without a break and then when you reach that comfortably you can up the time spent doing each exercise. 3 times a week and you will notice a difference on top of your walking.

    Good luck with reaching your targets.

    This is really helpful - thank you very much :)
  • KateSimpson17
    KateSimpson17 Posts: 282 Member
    I love the gym, but I hate that there's always other people there... also that they're super expensive. But I also hate body-weight workouts, and I have a hard time running outside because of allergy-induced asthma (also because it's damn hot here). But I suck it up and do jumping jacks, jump rope, push ups, crunches, squats (get that butt gurl!), but my favorite thing is dancing! You burn around 10 cals a minute doing aerobic dancing. For me that means just going crazy, or doing things like the Cupid Shuffle or the Wobble!
  • aliciamariaq
    aliciamariaq Posts: 272 Member
    You've already received a ton of really helpful suggestions, but I'll add one more: you can download the Nike + Training Club app on your phone. It has tons of workouts similar to the ones lewissheldon125 suggested. They range from 15 to 45 minutes and have different levels (beginner, intermediate advanced).
    So accessible and totally doable.

  • lewissheldon125
    lewissheldon125 Posts: 11 Member
    emfin2014 wrote: »
    Hi,



    Good luck with reaching your targets.

    This is really helpful - thank you very much :)

    No probs. Best of luck.
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  • Kexessa
    Kexessa Posts: 346 Member
    I don't go to the gym because I'd rather be outside exercising. If you're walking, look into rollerblading. It's great exercise, you're outdoors, it really tones your legs/butt/core and it's super fun.
  • rachelbouc
    rachelbouc Posts: 65 Member
    I walk or ride my bike. Three or four days a week I walk at least 30 minutes or sometimes more. Once of twice a week I ride my bike for a hour or two. In my case though I don't have access to a gym close by. The nearest one is 30 minutes away and I don't think I would use it that much because of the distance. There was one closer but it has since closed.
    Anyway, these activities work great for me! You can also explore the parks near you so that you never get bored.
  • ungeneric
    ungeneric Posts: 60 Member
    Do you swim? Swimming is great exercise, and a bit more fun than hitting the pavement.
  • AmandaHugginkiss
    AmandaHugginkiss Posts: 486 Member
    Jefit app and look for bodyweight exercises, You Are Your Own Gym (google it), Convict Conditioning, a good pair of running shoes, walking, biking, swimming.......There are so many things you can do to get exercise. Step one is getting up and moving.

    It's okay to hate it at first. Most people hate exercise at some point. The problem arises for people who use their dislike of something as excuses for failing to try. As long as you try, it really doesn't matter what the specific exercise is. Just do something and it'll help.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    I'm not sure where you live or what opportunities are available, but I really enjoy hiking when I have time.

    If you prefer to not hike alone, try meetup.com to find hiking groups or see if there is a local chapter of the Sierra Club that you can join.

    There are obviously safety precautions, like having the right footwear, bringing water / 10 essentials, being aware of and respecting wildlife.

    Hiking is nothing more than walking in nature, but it is far more scenic than walking around civilized society so it is easier to get more miles in (assuming you have time) without feeling like it is work.

    Just my $0.02 - maybe it fits you, maybe it doesn't.
  • KateSm33
    KateSm33 Posts: 12 Member
    You should visit swimming pool :) For me this works the best as I can be alone and work as much as I want (generally something about 1500 yards) what is more, I already lost 8 lbs in 6 weeks thanks for swimming 2 times at week so it's quit easy to do it :))

    Now I am about buying swim watch as I need something that could motivates me better then I :)

    BTW you prefer do exercise alone or with friends?

  • allaboutthefood
    allaboutthefood Posts: 781 Member
    Beach body mom on youtube, I love her.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    The only exercising that I do at a gym is swimming simply because I don't have a pool.

    I run, bike, do yoga, do exercise videos (dvds and youtube), and strength training. I use the "you are your own gym" program for my strength training. It's awesome and you don't need to buy any special equipment.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Kexessa wrote: »
    I don't go to the gym because I'd rather be outside exercising. If you're walking, look into rollerblading. It's great exercise, you're outdoors, it really tones your legs/butt/core and it's super fun.

    Ditto. I'm getting most of my exercise from gardening and swimming these days. When the humidity dies down, I'll be walking again. I also do yoga.

    Also, there's a woman on here who's primary exercise while she lost over 100 pounds was walking.

  • pmm3437
    pmm3437 Posts: 529 Member
    Macros don't make you fat, calories do. Low carb, low fat, whatever, just make sure you follow CICO and you can lose weight.

    Diet is several times more important than exercise. It is nearly impossible to "out exercise" a poor nutrition plan, and exercise is not necessary to lose weight.

    Exercise is valuable to help lose weight, coupled with a good nutrition plan. It can help increase your calorie deficit, provide measurable health benefits, and some types can help prevent muscle loss when eating at a deficit.

    Walking is good cardio. Increasing duration, intensity, etc can improve the benefit it provides. Other outdoor leisure activities like bike riding, hiking in a park, or swiming at the beach are good cardio exercises. Playing a sport like tennis, soccer, your company softball team are also options.

    You will probably want to perform some type of strength training routine as well, which is where the benefit you get from a gym membership is harder to duplicate outside one. If you have the space for it, you might consider purchasing your own exercise equipment, such as a set of free weights or a machine like a bowflex. There are also body weight based programs, with DVDs and books easily found with a quick google search.
  • giddys
    giddys Posts: 1 Member
    Not sure if this helps, I brought a bike about 2 years ago, I loved going out in in the evenings after work and I lost a lot of weight. Then it sat it the garden over the winter as the evenings got darker and roads become more dangerous. I recently had a brain wave and brought a bike trainer, Its was quiet cheap and easy to set up, it fitted on to my bike and it feel's very secure. I set it up in my living room while the house was empty and rode it whist watching T.V, then on Monday just gone I decided on a more permanent idea.
    I put my bike along with the trainer into my car and took it to work. I work in a building with a warehouse which doesn't get used much so its all set up in there. Now I enjoy riding my bike in my breaks and lunch hour, sometimes I am sneaky and grab 10 min's on it when we are quiet. It's only been 3 days but I feel better already. I put on my headphones, listen to my music and don't even notice how long I have been at it. As my arms are free whist riding, I intend on bringing in my weight's to use at the same time. Of course this may not be for everyone depending on where they work but if you have a garden or a spare room the bike and bike trainer can be set up there.
  • emfin2014
    emfin2014 Posts: 6 Member
    KateSm33 wrote: »
    You should visit swimming pool :) For me this works the best as I can be alone and work as much as I want (generally something about 1500 yards) what is more, I already lost 8 lbs in 6 weeks thanks for swimming 2 times at week so it's quit easy to do it :))

    Now I am about buying swim watch as I need something that could motivates me better then I :)

    BTW you prefer do exercise alone or with friends?

    I prefer to run on my own - great to clear my head but I enjoy walking with friends. I would prefer to go do any activities with friends. Just lacking confidence to go to the pool I guess.
  • AlciaMode
    AlciaMode Posts: 421 Member
    Download the Nike trainer app. It will give you some great workouts with minimal equipment needed.
  • emfin2014
    emfin2014 Posts: 6 Member
    AlciaMode wrote: »
    Download the Nike trainer app. It will give you some great workouts with minimal equipment needed.

    Great - I am downloading as we speak :)
This discussion has been closed.