Ideas for workouts

Scoobies87
Scoobies87 Posts: 379
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
recently my exercise has not been giving me the buzz I am used to. I wear a HRM but do not normally pay attention to my heart rate, just the calories. The other day when I was on the cross trainer (we have equipment at home) It said my heart rate was only 147, whereas when I go to zumba it is around 170.

So, I know I need to get my heart rate higher to burn more but I am not sure how. Every time I increase the resistance I end up with very sore calves for days and seeing as they are already nearly as big as my thighs I do not want them to get any bigger.

I have been advised by my doctor to avoid running as I have bad knees and I am prone to ligament injuries so that rules that out.

Does anyone have any exercises that they find really gets you going? I love zumba, but at £5 a session, I can't afford to go more then once a week. It would be nice to have some new exercises to mix things up a bit.

Thanks :)

Replies

  • xxSaffronxx
    xxSaffronxx Posts: 1
    You can buy the Zumba DVDs to do at home - or for the Wii, Xbox & PS3
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    swimming is great exercise
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    Swimming burns over 500 calories an hour- so even half an hour is a great workout.

    If you go off peak it's not usually that expensive.

    I would do the Zumba at home instead of a class and use the £5 to go to the local pool once a week instead :)
  • ROBP5
    ROBP5 Posts: 16 Member
    Kettlebells, studies in the states show that they burn the most calories!
  • Scoobies87
    Scoobies87 Posts: 379
    Kettlebells, studies in the states show that they burn the most calories!

    I'd like to try this but none of the gyms around here do that. Do they do kettle bell dvds?
  • RaeannePemberton
    RaeannePemberton Posts: 382 Member
    just go out and get jillian's new kettlebell workout... i love it!
  • mirgss
    mirgss Posts: 275 Member
    You could also try the bodyrock.tv workouts...that'll get you going!
  • kaetra
    kaetra Posts: 442 Member
    I have Zumba for my PlayStation. You may want to try to find a kettle bell DVD other than Jillian's. According to the LA Times, a kettle bell expert that examined her DVD say her techniques are just plain wrong and have high-injury potential.

    http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/11/health/la-he-fitness-jillian-michaels-20101011
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I'm not sure what pace you do on the cross trainer, but what about doing intervals sort of like the Couch to 5k plan for running? Go your normal pace, then go one or two MPH faster for a minute, then back down to your normal pace for a few minutes, then fast again.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I've recently gotten into calisthenics more. I'm doing a tabata style (20 seconds as many reps as you can, 10 seconds of rest, repeated 8 times for a total of 4 minutes) routines. The actual exercise isn't as important as recording your progress. If I know I did 10 burpees in 20 seconds on my last workout, I'm going to shoot for 11 this time, and you better believe I'll fight with everything to make sure I don't do less than 10. As the reps get higher in your routine, your heart rate will get jacked up (and if it doesn't, do multiple sets and minimize the rest between sets, and also add weights to the workouts). Videos can provide great workouts, but you only get out of it what you put in. You can get the same thing doing a few bodyweight exercises on your own. The only way you're going to jack up your heart rate is by pushing yourself harder (or breathing through a snorkel during your workout, that'll do it too =P )
  • Scoobies87
    Scoobies87 Posts: 379
    Thanks for your replies :). I will look into some more home DVD's when I have some money. Until then I might try the interval work on the cross trainer and maybe some swimming once in a while :)
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