Cant afford the gym but want to get fit!?

Question

I really want to get myself fit but I really cant afford the gym at the moment. I'm looking to shed a few pounds and tone up also. Can anyone recommend a good all round exercise I can do on a regular basis? I am quite unfit at the moment so running for 30 mins isnt really an option for me yet! (embarrassing I know) Please help!!

The reason I cant run is NOT because I'm too overweight, its that I was a heavy smoker and completely wrecked my chest to shreds! Stamina is a bit crappy aswell when it comes to running! I am not looking to lose stones, I just want to tone up and lose a couple of pounds. Thanks for all the answers so far!

Answer 1

Get onto amazon and have a look at some exercise dvd's some are really good
xxx

Answer 2

I was at the same situation as you a few months ago. I could only run for like 2 minutes. But it is important to start running, it is the best way to lose weight and get fit, and warm up for any other exercise. Run for the 2 minutes you can on the first day. Then gradually you will make that 5 minutes, then 10, then 15, and you will finally enjoy running for 20 minutes.
Also, buy a dvd with some exercise program, like Callanetics, Pilates, Tae Bo, aerobic. Just make sure you do it at least 3 times a week. Good luck.

Answer 3

You don't need to run a marathon straight away. Start with power walking round the park and then try upping it by breaking into a gentle jog going once round the park say 4 times for a week and then maybe twice round the next week etc. etc. Skipping is always a very good way to get overall fitness and you'll be surprised at how hard it is to do consistently. This is what I've been doing and its really working a treat.

Answer 4

I used to be a quitter when it came to exercise, but I found that if I force myself to exercise right before I take a shower I will do it, not sure why but thats just me. So for about 30 min I will do whatever I can or feel like. We have one of those exercise bikes, so sometimes I will spend 30 min on that. Or if I really dont want that I will do some pushups/situps and things like that. I have lost about 5-10lbs and have toned up muscles. If you want to run, you should try to run the whole time, but at first its ok if you have to slow to a walk, just never stop moving.

Answer 5

Go running, get an exercise video, do sit ups, but a 2nd hand cycling machine.

With any physical activity you need to start slow, if you're unfit 30 minutes for sustained exercise will not be easy for you, so you have to build up to it.

Start doing 10 -15 minutes a day, then after a couple of weeks add and extra 5 minutes to your routine and so on.
It could take up to a year to get fit.

Answer 6

Hello! I used to be a trainer and I know tons of ways to get fit. So you can't jog or run yet, big deal. Go walking. Try getting your heart rate up to maybe 70-75%. How you do this is you take 220-age=number....so for me it would be 220-22=198. I take 198 and multiply by .75 and that would give me a target heart range...you just have to find a cardio activity that would cause an exertion for your HR to go to 198 x 0.75. A great way to keep at it is to get some stretch bands and doing bicep curls, rowing, a whole bunch of stuff! You can go to barnes and nobles or borders or whichever book store and buy a book on stretch band workouts. Hope that helps, if you have any questions, just email: [e-mail] :D

Answer 7

Go along to a judo class or another MA class (about £4 a time), that'll get you fit.

Other ideas would be to start interval training. If you live in the suburbs try jogging to the next lampost, then sprint to the next ,then jog to the next and so on. Time yourself on how long it takes each time and at each time try and beat your previous record.

In addition to physical activity, if you want to shed some pounds you also need to incorporate a clean diet. Look at your current intake of EFA's (essential fatty acids). If you have a good intake of these it helps your body burn fat more efficiently. Flaxseed and fish oils are good sources of EFA's.

In general, cut down on alcohol, sugary and salty high fat snacks. Eat 6 small meals a day and make sure you have a balanced diet containing proteins, complex carbs, and fresh fruit and veg. Drink plenty of water and instead of tea, coffee or sugary drinks and try fresh fruit juice, milk (small glass because of the fat content) or herbal teas (green tea has antioxidants in it and also helps increase your metabolism). Please avoid (at all costs) opting for diet fizzy drinks. These tend to be more harmful for you especially if they contain aspartame (a sweetener that was created by a company called Monsanto...who make weedkillers and pesticides). At certain temperatures aspartame can convert to formaldehyde which is poisonous and in general artificial sweeteners are v bad for you.

Don't completely deprive yourself of some treats though, the key to healthy living and eating is moderation!

good luck! :)

Answer 8

Swimming is the best exercise because unlike most such as runing, aerobics, there is no impact on your joints.

It's cheap (ish), fun and you can do exercise classes in the pool so you will make friends, by joining a class it will also encourage you to do it regulally.

The other thing to remember is that 60% of getting fit is about what you eat, only 40% is the exercise.

Answer 9

Hi

I exercise with a Rosemary Conley DVD, the Salsacise one, its really good fun and you end up sweating buckets if you combine the 2 workouts, this helped me a lot when i was losing weight.
I still do it now a few times a week to keep the weight off now that im at my ideal weight.
xx

Answer 10

Walk up and down the stairs but eventually start running up and down the stairs as you get fitter. Works the whole body and a brilliant exercises to lose weight. Its free to do. Go for it girl friend.

-x-