Home exercise - suggestions?

ImARebel

Hi there,

I've now got to the stage where I actually WANT to get my ass in gear and get moving. Thing is I've zero free time, I'm up at 6.30 in the morning and home at 6.30 in the evening. By the time I've had a bite of dinner, played with my daughter and put her to bed it's 8.30 (give or take). Plus I've only 30 mins for lunch. I've a killer commute thanks to crappy timetabling from Irish Rail.

While I know I could walk in home, put on the runners and turn around and walk back out, I just can't do it. She cries, I cry and at the end of the day I only have an hour with her and I want to make the most of it. Sticking her in a buggy and heading out in this weather is just not feasible.

So I've decided the only solution is to get a piece of equipment for home. Something I can jump on once she's in bed. I know there is no one piece that covers everything but it's all I can afford. I've been thinking maybe a cross trainer as I've an old knee injusy?

But I'm completely open to suggestions, space would be a bit of an issue, ie no room for a rower

Also going downstairs and sticking on an exercise DVD in front of my hubbie is also not on. I'm fat, it wobbles, it's not a pretty sight, he doesn't need to see it, lol

Or if anyone has any better ideas again I'm all ears. I really want to get moving, I was an avid swimmer and badminton player but the time table in the pool doesn't suit and I can't play badminton anymore due to a knee injury.

Anyway that's my plight at the moment, if someone can help I'd be grateful

Regarding diet - I'm following a diet, mostly lean protein, low fat, trying to keep tabs on the carbs (the unislim food maximising plan) but I just feel if I need to get the exercise right at this moment in time. I've 2 stone gone but hitting a rut and I think exercise will help

Sorry for the lengthy post but just trying to give as much info as possible

Cheers all!

Dotcomdolly

I sometimes do routines from the Nike training app in my bedroom. Minimal equipment needed.
If you don't have a smart phone maybe you could bring laptop upstairs and play DVDs on it?

sea_monkey

this is what i use for when i cant make it to the gym takes up no space at all so i like it

http://www.buykettlebelldublin.com/products/bulgarian-bags

loads of ways to work up a sweat using that

Barry.Oglesby

A few home bodyweight training sessions combined with a good diet is all you need. Don't go thinking about buying anything like a bike/treadmill/stepper. You don't need it and you'll end up just hanging your coat on it. How much time can you dedicate to exercise per week?

ImARebel

I have one problem with bouncing around our bedroom, due to the fabulous construction of our Celtic Tiger house, the builders fitted plaster board (I'm not joking) as floor boards upstairs and didn't place them over joists, so when you take a walk to the bathroom in the dead of the night it sounds like bombs going off.

The replacing of them will be a seriously painful experience so we're trying to leave it as long as possible and I think me and my 13 stone mass bouncing around incorrectly fitted floor boards is a recipe for disaster

I know, I sound like excuse central but honestly who'd make that up? :rolleyes:

god damn builders (but that's a rant for another day)

ImARebel

Barry - once babs is gone to bed the night is my own. But I suppose realistically given I've to try and get some downtime in before heading to bed, I'd prefer to do 5 X 30 mins a week, than 2 X 1 hr sessions.

If that makes sense?

Although I suppose doing 2 longer ones means more time to myself on other nights...

which would be best, little and often or 2/3 lengthier ones?

Lothaar v2

Try this site: http://www.myomytv.com/

It's got loads of ideas for home workouts, including ones that don't require equipment, and is regularly updated. The workouts are about 30 mins on average.

I agree with body weight exercises, plenty of them to keep you going with no need to buy bulky equipment. Kettlebells are a fantastic workout if you want to spend some money. Also get a swiss ball (they have them in Lidl this week for €8) you can do so many exercises with one, back extenstions, hamstring curls, tummy crunches (and lots more). Maybe consider getting your daughter a trampoline when the weather picks up a little, you can bounce yourself thin. That nike app looks great too.

If you really think you'd like to buy a piece of equipment, maybe hire one first and see if you do actually use it.

Also re diet - don't be afraid of fat! It's good for you to eat healthy fats

Barry.Oglesby

Short answer is "it depends!" It depends on what you are more likely to stick to, what suits you best as regards enjoyment, and what your schedule is definitely going to allow. It sounds like you're like a lot of people with young kids and I can relate on that front!

Initially master the basics of bodyweight exercises is all you are going to need. Things like push ups, lunges, step ups and so on are really simple to perform and when put in the mix correctly, can be really effective. Add in a good diet and you'll see results!

ImARebel

THanks everyone, ye have given me food for thought, that's why I said I'd ask the experts . I would probably have just jumped in and bought a cross trainer...

I have a trampoline, it's sitting, broken into pieces, at the back of my wardrobe, I thought I could use it upstairs but I couldn't find an area of floor with a solid base under all the legs without relocating the beds

daughter is only 2, bit young yet, but I'll get her jumping soon as she's ready, lol

If I'm honest Barry I hate gym work of all description. I was a big swimmer when I was in good shape I could do 100 lengths without hardly breaking a sweat. It seems to come naturally to me. I loved badminton. I do actually like cycling, except the roads are so bad to go any long distance I'd be on seriously narrow country roads or very busy main ones.

I actually would prefer an indoor bike/spinner over a cross trainer but someone said to me the cross trainer is more an all over type thing

sitting on a bike never bothered me, yet p*ssing around in the weights section I just find it tedious and boring. Using the machines were a slight improvement but even still... boring...

plus once I broke a sweat in the gym I'd think everyone used to go "look at the fat bird she can't breathe, ha ha" and then I'd leave. My other half thinks I'm nuts, but I know I'm not the only woman to feel like that. It seems to be a female thing ie it's unsightly to sweat, even if you are in a place that you're supposed to sweat :rolleyes:

yet I'd pop my togs on and wobble to the pool without a second thought

I'm a strange one

thanks again!

Glowing

Do you have a backyard or back garden you could train in? It would eradicate the problem of the floor boards and open up a world of kettlebell training, skipping, etc. It can be much more comfortable training outside even in winter, as central heating will get stiffleing after 5 mins!

ImARebel

ImARebel wrote: »

........................

If I'm honest Barry I hate gym work of all description. I was a big swimmer when I was in good shape I could do 100 lengths without hardly breaking a sweat. It seems to come naturally to me..................... I do actually like cycling, ...............................
I actually would prefer an indoor bike/spinner ...........................

sitting on a bike never bothered me, yet p*ssing around in the weights section I just find it tedious and boring. Using the machines were a slight improvement but even still... boring....................................

You won't stick to 5 30 mins sessions of resistance training a week and two more at the weekend, best thing to do would be to get a spinner and do that 2 or 3 times a week, at most two sessions of resistance training and get some "me" time in at the weekend in a pay as you go pool if possible

You enjoy cycling so make the most of that like.

ImARebel

glowing - I do have a back yard but I can't see myself bringing a machine I spent good money on out into the rain. I can't even see myself bouncing around on my trampoline in the rain, then I bring it in and there's water everywhere. I'll be honest and say to you, as I'm typing this, I'm thinking, no way hosea, sorry...plus storing everying downstairs where the baby can then use it as her own personal playground the next morning, it's not really feasible. Thanks for the suggestiong though.

regaring the heat - I'll just turn off the rad in the room I'm going to be using

Thanks RoverJames, I might look into a spinner as opposed to an exercise bike, thanks for the tip...as for the "me" time, it doesn't exist . Plus the local pool is really annoying, at the weekend there are hardly any lanes put in for swimming and there's a big giant inflatable bouncy castle added for the kids. It's a pool not really meant for adults at the weekend, which is a pity as I'd get up at 7 on a sat.sun and go swimming before babs wakes but they don't open til 11, it's a pity

Barry.Oglesby

RoverJames wrote: »

You won't stick to 5 30 mins sessions of resistance training a week and two more at the weekend.

Says who? Why not encourage her to try something new, mix it up, enjoy herself?

ImARebel

I do think there is slight case of fear of the unknown with me, I know how to cycle, use a cross trainer etc but I sure as hell don't know what to be doing with weights or bulgarian bags

I know you can learn etc but at 8.30 at night after being awake for 14 and a half hrs at that stage, I am usually only fit for the couch but I'm trying to train myself to think differently ie giving into the "you're tired, you deserve a sit down" thinking, which seems to prevail in alot of people. i sit on my ass for 14 hrs of the day, I think it's seen enough action by that time

i went back to badminton to give it a go before I'd babs, to see would the knee hold up and I think I drove them mad, I was brain dead, by the time I got on the court at 7.30 I could hardly think straight (work is quite pressurised) and trying to think about where to place myself on the court proved impossible (plus the knee went and that was that)

Is it bad that I want sometime simple, easy to do, stick on my mp3 player and away I go?

maybe I'm being too simplistic about the whole exercise thing and it's not a case of one size fits all...

squod

http://dublin.gumtree.ie/c-Stuff-for-Sale-sports-leisure-travel-Exercise-bycle-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ343140113

Exercise bike in front of the tv. If can you watch TV, you can work out. That yoke is twenty quid. If it doesn't suit you sell in on for thirty.

I still do 50+ mins of cardio on one of these in the gym on a Saturday. It burns ~550cal. Or about one nice sammich.

ImARebel

cheers squod!

I re-read my last post I think I came across as wanting to be lazy about my exercise, it's not that at all

I just meant that it needs to be something I can just do, without having to go downstairs, get the laptop, plug it in. Not that any of it is difficult but I know if I go back downstairs and get a sniff of the couch, I'm a goner. Or I start talking, or I start the washing or I see something else that needs doing and before I know it my exercise window is gone

to give an example, to got to the gym regularly I need to be passing the door. Not for it to be 5 mins in the opposite direction. It's just another reason I add to my already lengthy list of reasons not to go...

I suppose simple is the word I was looking for rather than easy

if any of that makes sense?

Barry.Oglesby

squod wrote: »

http://dublin.gumtree.ie/c-Stuff-for-Sale-sports-leisure-travel-Exercise-bycle-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ343140113

Exercise bike in front of the tv. If can you watch TV, you can work out. That yoke is twenty quid. If it doesn't suit you sell in on for thirty.

I still do 50+ mins of cardio on one of these in the gym on a Saturday. It burns ~550cal. Or about one nice sammich.

I was actually going to point out the sheer amount of home exercise equipment for sale on adverts/gumtree/buy and sell.

ImARebel

I've been taking a look myself, hence the reason I was asking about the cross trainer, there is good value to be had for what you are getting

I suppose people feel it's the right time to sell something like that

probably also testament to the amount of people that buy these things and never use them - if I go down that road will I become another statistic :rolleyes:

squod

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

I was actually going to point out the sheer amount of home exercise equipment for sale on adverts/gumtree/buy and sell.

There's shed loads alright. Some actual good stuff out there too.



OP, I have a ten minute rule. The gym I go to has to be ten mins or less from my house. I've been going there nine years come next Aug. Ten minute rule FTW.

I know what you're trying to say ImARebel, getting into an exercise routine is hard when you're starting from ground zero. But we're our own worst enemies and if you make excuses, you won't do it (I speak from experience ) There is going to be effort involved, and it will take discipline, but remember why you're doing it and remember that once you get into it, that fatigue you have every night by 7.30 will soon be gone, you will have more energy to play with your daughter, you will find that actually, you're doing things more quickly because you have more energy which results in extra time with your baby and for other things you enjoy!

Oh, and never underestimate the calorie burning power of a good aul roide

Edit: :eek: 10,000th post and I said Roide

rubadub

I got a stepper in argos, which I was pretty sure I would end up bringing back, and did -the benefit of their 30 day cash back 'rental service'. It made a hell of a noise and I could not imagine working up a sweat on it. While doing high rep bodyweight squats is quieter, free and leaves you in tatters.

Lidl have doorway chinup bars on offer at the moment, get some gymnastic rings for it and you can do loads of stuff. And they do also make a good clothes horse! I can hang stuff on the bar and through the rings.

Over christmas I copped on I could angle a mirror against the wall & watch TV while at the bar. :pac:

ImARebel

Deleted User wrote: »

I know what you're trying to say ImARebel, getting into an exercise routine is hard when you're starting from ground zero. But we're our own worst enemies and if you make excuses, you won't do it (I speak from experience ) There is going to be effort involved, and it will take discipline, but remember why you're doing it and remember that once you get into it, that fatigue you have every night by 7.30 will soon be gone, you will have more energy to play with your daughter, you will find that actually, you're doing things more quickly because you have more energy which results in extra time with your baby and for other things you enjoy!

Oh, and never underestimate the calorie burning power of a good aul roide

Edit: :eek: 10,000th post and I said Roide

pmsl, pmsl :D

hey I'm not trying for baby number 2 just yet, lol

Yep you're dead right about the fatigue thing, it's just the habit of plonking my already large rear-end on the couch I need to break

I've been there, you do feel so much better from doing exercise. That said I was never one of the gym bunnies that came out feeling on top of the world from gym, i'd come out with my arms hanging gasping for breath and hated the "I'd go back in again, I feel great people" (actually hate was wrong, green with envy was closer to the mark)

Question - you know when ye say body weight exercises? Do ye mean exercises with dumbells or are ye talking about something else?

Plus my knee gives me fierce gyp, the weight doesn't help, I know that but things like lunges etc are out, I can't squat etc in fact I can put no real weight on it when it's bent, even to hear it crunch you think it's going to collapse. Sometimes the stairs are sore if the weather is cold enough

Keedowah

Minimal space and equipment needed for this:

Spartacus Workout

It has one jump station - but maybe you could find an alternative for it.

Methven

Hi there!

I'm in a similar position to yourself - up early, not home until 7 in the evening, 2 kids etc etc. Its very tough fitting exercise in. You seem to have the healthy eating sorted (well done!). I used to be a member of a gym but just couldn't get there in mornings or evenings with work, kids, house etc. I cancelled my membership and bought some DVDs - a few Jillian Michaels ones and the one I'm doing now - Turbo Fire and I find them great. Yes you either have to get up earlier in the morning - 5.30/5.45 or do them after the kids go to bed - 8.30/9. Most of them are 30 - 45 mins and once you mange to do them for a week or so you'll get into them and get a routine. Could you get up at 6 maybe in the morning and fit one in before work? I know its really hard but it really sets you up for the day! Best of luck with it.

ImARebel

Boo - my reply didn't post

Anyway the guts of it was:

Keedowah - that looks good but I'd be afraid of my knee in some of those exercises. I think I'd need to have someone who knows what they are doing watching to make sure I was getting it right. I already have a fair bit of damage done to the knee, I don't want to go making it worse. Some of those exercise pics have me wincing at the thought of them. Ow ow ow...


Methven - good to see I'm not alone. I sometimes feel like a complete failure for not being able to juggle everything, other women seem to manage it just fine. I can't seem to I did consider getting up early but if I've been up with babs during the night it's a killer getting up at 6.15 as it is...but I suppose where there is a will there's a way and like you say I'd surely get into the habit of it

ImARebel

ImARebel wrote: »

I did consider getting up early but if I've been up with babs during the night it's a killer getting up at 6.15 as it is...but I suppose where there is a will there's a way and like you say I'd surely get into the habit of it

Definitely for me, getting up early was the way to go. You've no idea how much better it feels when you sit at your desk at 9am and know that you've already done your full workout, it's such a great feeling. And then that's it, you've no need to think about it again for the rest of the day! Give it a shot, means you can still enjoy your evenings in front of the telly, just head to bed a little bit earlier

(and you are certainly not the only woman who struggles to "do it all", we're all fecking guilty of it, despite some making it look easy, so don't make yourself feel bad )

ImARebel

I agree with you 100%, I used to swim first thing in the morning when I didn't have the commute and I felt a million dollars

plus if someone annoys you off during the day, you've no reason to add it to your list of reasons to not exercise - it's already done

maybe I'll have a bit of a think tonight when I get home

thanks so much for all the friendly posts and advice I really appreciate them !

Barry.Oglesby

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

Says who? Why not encourage her to try something new, mix it up, enjoy herself?

Because the OP has says they hate gym work, she'll hardly enjoy messing about with weights 7 nights a week is she hates it will she

cullenswood

I'm a bloke and have practically the very same commute/kids schedule as the OP.

I was wondering would this routine help me tone up and lose a bit of weight (combined with a healthier diet obviously)

http://hundredpushups.com/

5'8 12 stone

Methven

ImARebel wrote: »

Boo - my reply didn't post

Anyway the guts of it was:

Keedowah - that looks good but I'd be afraid of my knee in some of those exercises. I think I'd need to have someone who knows what they are doing watching to make sure I was getting it right. I already have a fair bit of damage done to the knee, I don't want to go making it worse. Some of those exercise pics have me wincing at the thought of them. Ow ow ow...


Methven - good to see I'm not alone. I sometimes feel like a complete failure for not being able to juggle everything, other women seem to manage it just fine. I can't seem to I did consider getting up early but if I've been up with babs during the night it's a killer getting up at 6.15 as it is...but I suppose where there is a will there's a way and like you say I'd surely get into the habit of it

I regularly feel like a bad mum/wife/daughter/friend due to lack of enough time in the day. Then in my rare moments of sanity I realise I'm not Superwoman ( well not quite!). Remember you deserve a bit of time to yourself too even if its only half an hour a day. If you can squeeze in that time to exercise you'll find you have a lot more energy for everything else plus as you drop the pounds and tone up you'll feel so proud of yourself!!

tweenie

Hi

I don't have a lot of time so just read your initial thread. I would be in a similar situation as you but with 3 kids. When ds2 was a year old (2 years ago) I bought a cross trainer and have used it regularly ever since. It is in our sitting room as it is quite big. I don't hang clothes on it I use it about 3 times a week and love it. It makes me feel so much better when I have exercised. I also bought a mini trampoline and use it a few times a week too. hth

Soilse

I also have a long commute and use www.bodyrock.tv I warm up by skipping for 10mins followed by their workouts which are are ~12minutes of intense intervals. No equipment needed except table for pullups, 2 chairs for dips and a rucksack filled with books and towels as a sandbag/kettlebell. Works for me especially in winter.

ImARebel

Skip for 10 mins, lol, I'd be dead, never mind anything after that

I'm totally unfit hence my decision to get up and go

Anyway last night I hauled out my mini-trampoline and found the only place it will keep steady is on the tiles in our main bathroom, if I fall I'll split my head open... anyway... I gave it a go and unless I invest in an extra large can of 3 in 1 oil, there is no way I can use it while babs is sleeping or trying to sleep next door...

someone mentioned this to me in passing last night

http://trxsuspensionworkouts.com/

What would your opinion be on it. A door I have, it's something silent = me being able to do it when babs is asleep.

I'd like your opinion (good or bad)

Cheers again!

Ye are a fountain of info. Trying so hard at the mo and it's hard to keep going when you've hit a weight plateaux.

PS I'd give my left nipple for a bar of choc right now

ImARebel

No need to answer on the TRX thing, I got a brainwave and did a search and got a feel for people's thoughts on it

unless someone has something they just have to say, I'll save you the typing

Soilse

Whatever works for you is great, its all about finding something you enjoy that gets you moving. Im a total fan of bodyrock.tv because
1) its totally free (yep free)
2) they give beginner and intermediate modifications for every w/o in their videos which I also do
3) its a total body w/o designed for fat burning
4) its fun to watch and do and you do see progress pretty fast
5) w/o are 12-15min long

they also have a real time 5min warm-up video that I recommend watching.

Leif Ericson

Lothaar v2 wrote: »

Try this site: http://www.myomytv.com/

It's got loads of ideas for home workouts, including ones that don't require equipment, and is regularly updated. The workouts are about 30 mins on average.

Anybody else use that site?

I'd like to get into a routine of doing bodyweight exercises, but not sporadically. Has anyone out there got a good 'program' of exercises to do/how many sets to do etc? I used to do a bodyweight squat tabata-style thing that seemingly isn't actually good for you (resting at the bottom of the exercise).

Anyway, hoping to get some feedback, thanks!