Non-Gym Exercise

mellyzeb

Hi all,

I'm sure all you hardcore hot gym bodied people will be unimpressed but my question is basically - what are the best exercises for someone to do outside of the gym?
I walk everyday, cycle a couple of times a week and have reached a plateau of sorts (in that my body is used to this). I really want to up my fitness and tighten and tone but am skint at the moment and can't afford to join a gym. I've just started pilates with an apparently good dvd so am interested in anything else - for the entire body. (My diet is fine.)
Cheers.
Let me know if you want any more info - I'm new.

keen

How about taking up running? You can start off by doing fast brisk walks then break into a small jog and pick up the pace as it suits you. This will give you a good cardio workout and increase your general fitness.

I know you said your smashed cash wise but you could pick up a decent pair of dumbbells cheap enough and start doing some basic weights to tone up.

mellyzeb

Thanks, what weight would you recommend? I've never used them before so wouldn't have a clue. I'm reasonably fit and would like to push myself. (Also, I'm female)

EileenG

Go to Argus and you'll get a set of dumbbell handles and some weight plates, so you can adjust to your needs. You can buy more plates if you need them. Not expensive.

Bodyweight squats are great, there are lots of variations like prisoner squats, jump squats, overhead squats, one leg squats. Same with lunges. You only need a small weight for Good Morning which work the bum and hamstrings. Even a bottle of water is probably enough for wood choppers.

You can also do planks, side brides, crunches, press-ups, etc. Burpess and mountain climbers and star jumps are much more demanding exercises.

baybike

When your cycling, change your route often and make sure to do loads of different hill and sprint combo's...mix it up constantly so your body never gets used to the one routine.

I've heard that using full 2litre water bottles can be a cheap way to start weights - I'm sure there will be some better informed opinions on that though!

Khannie

mellyzeb wrote: »

Let me know if you want any more info - I'm new.

Welcome.

mellyzeb wrote: »

I'm sure all you hardcore hot gym bodied people will be unimpressed but my question is basically - what are the best exercises for someone to do outside of the gym?

Not to be an ass, but anything you enjoy. Are there any sports you like? If you're looking to push yourself, maybe consider climbing or something like that? Weights / strength training is a great area to look at. It doesn't matter in the slightest that you're female. You will NOT become a big muscular animal, ever, so don't sweat that.

mellyzeb

Thanks for feedback folks,

Yeah, I'm not really too into sports, get too competitive and stuff.
I'll chance getting some weights and regularly doing some core exercises to start.
So - really, either running or incorporating weights would be the fastest way of toning?

EileenG

Anything which challenges you, and makes you push your body just a little further than it's used to going. Running and weights are easy ways to do that, but dancing, kick boxing, rock climbing, cycling, group sex, anything will work.