I can't afford the gym, some help please

[chubbychickwillbeslim]

Hi guys.

I am starting the Atkins WOE tomorrow but to be honest, my main prioerity over the actual weight loss is to get fit and toned. However, near my house there is only one gym and it's like £170 ($320/$340) joining fee then £50 ($90/$100) a month after that. As much as I wish I had that money going spare, I dont!

So,I am planning a whole workout routine that I can do at home. I dont live in the safest of areas to be running alone so I will be doing that on a Thursday and a Saturday when my friend stays here as well. Monday's and Wednesday's I am thinking a workout DVD then Tuesday and Fridays using my cross trainer and take Sundays off.

So I pretty much have the cardio side covered, it's just the toning I am a little lost with. I really want to tone my stomach, thighs and butt (what girl doesn't hey?!) and I have NO clue what I should be doing, how often and how many. Could someone give me some ideas please and a little guidance on how regularly I should be doing these please?

Thanks in advance guys xx

[julirama723]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

I would suggest buying some hand weights to do some simple toning exercises, like bicep curls, tricep extensions, chest flyes, etc. Strength training will really help you tone and sculpt. The weights don't have to be huge. Buy some that will challenge you, but won't hurt you.

You could also buy a swiss ball. This is GREAT for doing crunches, wall squats, pikes, and you can even use it as a chair while watching TV or sitting at the computer, because you'll be using your core muscles to balance and stabilize yourself the whole time.

If you don't want to buy anthing extra, the BEST moves for toning are push-ups and stationary/walking lunges. You're using your full body weight as resistance, and if you do them slower it's more difficult. Also try holding the pose, doing "pulses" (shorter, quicker reps) or going up or down halfway and then back to your held pose.

I would say you could do toning every other day, as long as you alternate muscle groups. You can incorporate the "easier" stuff into your daily workouts.

[ttdriver]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

Totally agree with the exercise ball and the weights. Believe it or not, all I've used in the past 5 years is the ball, the weights and my running shoes!!! YOU NEED NEVER JOIN A GYM!


Betty

[dreamof145]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

I've also never joined a gym. I have 2 2-pound weights, an exercise ball, a pedometer and I lost my weight by walking.

The WALK AWAY THE POUNDS tape is great for walking indoors. (kids love to do it with you too. You can sing and talk with them as you walk) Losing weight doesn't have to be expensive. You just have to find what is comfortable and affordable for your life-style.

[astrogirl]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

I wouldn't dream of joining a gym. I find it takes a lot more time to do the whole exercise thing and I have a harder time fitting it in. I do push-ups, sit-ups, leg-lifts and then some stretching and a short run (1.25 miles right now, but it's hilly where I live!) Sometimes, I go for a hike of about 3 miles that involves at least 500 ft of elevation change. That takes longer, but with the right weather, it's really relaxing!

The WALK AWAY THE POUNDS tape is great for walking indoors.

Could you talk a little bit more about that? Do you mean mall-walking, or are you doing this at home? We've had really bad weather for walking/running outside this month - lots of ice and then piles of slush with very slippery ice underneath.

Today, I went sledding on our fresh snow instead of running since that involves a lot of hiking up hill and it's FUN! Our road is covered with that snow, so no running for me today.

[LuckyD]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

When I used to excersize at home I bought a Step and a few Jane Fonda Step Tapes (i dont know if hers are still available, but they are easy to follow and get results). I would do the videos about 4 times a week and I got THE BEST work out. If you do decide to try that be sure you review the tapes first. I am quite uncoordinated and some of the ohter step tapes where just way too complex for me to do. Actually, you can rent excersize videos and that would be a great way to see what works best for you.

[not2late]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

Do you remember all those exercises you did in school during Physical Education class (push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, windmills, etc.)? Those exercises are extremely effective and can be done without a gym membership or fancy gym equipment. In fact, if you carefully watch those 'exercise videos' they do variations of those basic exercises.

[cincywbbw]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

This is a good thread, I have been wondering the same thing, I was wanting a stationary bike, but I think its out of the cards for awhile since my foot hasnt healed. Im not too sure the ball would work for me either condidering it would take feet to do that kinda work.

[dreamof145]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

The WATP videos by Leslie Sansone are terrrific. There are 2-3 of them available. I had the beginner one. You stand in front of the TV and walk in place. You march and walk in place to the exercise group that are doing it on the tv. After a few weeks, I got tired of listening to the same conversations over and over, so I put in music and walked to that. The bottom of the screen has a marker that shows you how far you are walking. After a while, I knew that 15 minutes of walking in place equaled 1 mile, so 1 hour was 4 miles of walking at that speed. These tapes are inexpensive (under $12) and can be used over and over again. (Well worth the money)

You might also check out the thrift shops. They are filled with Exercise equipment and videos. Inexpensive and usually in good shape cause people buy them new and don't use them so they take them to the thrift shop.

[13_jane]

Re: I can't afford the gym, some help please

If you have a cross trainer use that - thats all I ever use - I tend to do an hour day on it, I use it on a low level, and aim to burn 500-600 cals in the hour.

My freind has lost 4 stone in 5-6 months burning 500 cals a day on her cross trainer!!! (she does weight watchers too!!!)

I do lots of stomach exercises at home too. I try to get in at least 100 a day. I just lay on the floor whilst watching the tv and do them, so you dont have to set any time aside for them.

good luck - I cant wait to hear how you're doing

jane xxx