Upper Body Strength & Toning

I don't use videos myself, but I've heard good things about the website, Fitness Blender. You could check it out and see if it has anything that might suit your needs. Good luck!

I work out at home the majority of the time and currently do the Strong Curves bodyweight program. I would definitely recommend the Strong Curves book (in print, not the E-book). It has a lot of good info and several different workouts; two of which I have done at home (currently doing the bodyweight program). I do have a good amount of equipment, but the most I've used for those programs is the pull up bar, a bench, dumbbells, some resistance bands, and maybe a barbell here and there.

Working out with dumbbells is one good way to start. You can do it at home, they’re relatively inexpensive, small and easy to store and you can do a world of things with them. For a what-to-do guide, check out https://www.amazon.com/Mens-Health-Ultimate-Dumbbell-Guide/dp/159486487X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486650439&sr=1-2&keywords=dumbbell+training ... It’s published by Mens Health mag, but it’s as useful to women as it is to men. It’s an encyclopedic guide to dumbbell training and well worth the price.

Google “strength training programs”, “bodybuilding programs”, “strength training forums” and “bodybuilding programs” and you’ll find enough things to spend hours researching. The “30 day dumbbell challenge” and “8 week dumbbell challenge” will give you a solid and challenging start.

If you want to work with a barbell, check out https://www.amazon.com/Barbell-Prescription-Strength-Training-After/dp/0982522770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486651076&sr=8-1&keywords=the+barbell+prescription and https://stronglifts.com .... Barbells are bigger, require more space, pretty much require a bench to use them best and they can get pretty costly. This book comes across in a “for the guys” way, but it’s as applicable to women as it is to men. If you want to try barbells, start with a bar with no plates on it to get used to how working with a barbell goes. It’s more challenging than dumbbells.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

I've just started with fitness tubes. So far, while I can do a few of the ones on the Thera website, I'm physically not able to do most. However, I've found this YouTube more my speed, so starting with that and hoping to build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou0n5aO_K9Y

nats2508 wrote: »

Hi! I can recommend kettle bells. They are really good for strength and toning. While it seems like you are just lifting a weight, it makes you sweat lots (well me anyway!!) and its just a few movements. You can get anything from 5lb up to 20 but as you are just starting I think 10 may do. Have a look at some youtube vids and see what you think x

Learning CORRECT FORM for kettlebell work shouldn't done from videos. There's a HUGE difference on seeing how to do it and actually doing it. People can't see their actual form from behind and have no way to assess if they are doing it right if they have no experience with the actual lifts. A professional should be consulted on something like this.


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I think Fitness Blender is a great way to start. Start with bodyweight exercises and/or yoga and move up to dumbbells/resistance bands. As you find your strength improving, reassess if you want to move towards a barbell program or invest in a gym membership.