[QUOTE=StuffLikeThatThere]
Once I’ve seen one of the videos a couple of times, I can follow along without hearing the peppy talk, so I mute the TV and turn on a recorded book. Works a treat.
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I used to do the same thing!
But also, she has several variations on video, so I’d switch them around for variety.
[QUOTE=This is just…]
Have you heard of interval training? The DVD I do is, for 1 minute you jog on the spot, do star jumps, skipping (you don’t need a rope, making the arm movements will do the same thing) just anything to get your heart rate pumped this will help burn fat then immediately after the minute going into aerobics, after 3 sets of aerobics is another minute of intense fat burn (jogging…) and then back to aerobics and then after another minute of fat burning and so forth.
It’s a sign of a good workout if you get a little puffed, not so much that you can’t talk but enough that you couldn’t necessarily sing a song.
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I was going to recommend this, what I affectionately call my prison workout (can be done in a 5x10’ cell, aka my living room):
Pick a number like 8, 10, or 12. Then do x reps each of squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, curls, chest presses (depending on the muscles you want to work). Between each set, do x number of jumping jacks. IOW-
8 squats
8 jumping jacks
8 lunges
8 jumping jacks
and so on…
Gets your heart rate up fast, keeps it elevated, plus you combine strength and cardio. Spend 20 minutes on it, followed by a good stretch (I do the workout on my yoga mat, then sit down for 15 minutes afterwards for some seated postures). It requires little to no equipment, can be done anytime, and as long as you don’t rush the squats and things, you shouldn’t run too much chance of an injury.
I used to run around the wall between the living room and kitchen at my parents’ house, but too small here, with the added danger of kitty roadblocks. Jumping rope is good, but will require serious floor/ceiling clearance.
Good exercise DVD’S nowadays mostly come with a warm up and even if you buy one that doesn’t include a warm up, doing about 5 minutes of stretching before starting the DVD gets the muscles limber and less likey to seize up during the workout.
Also if there isn’t enough room you don’t really need a rope, the arm movements are still effective.
Oh and I’m not preaching to you or anything :). I’m just talking generally. I lost about 15 pounds doing this for a year maybe a bit less than that, it’s a really good workout because it’s an allrounder. My workout was this Davina: Power of 3.
I am not a Fitness/Health professional type but I really wouldn’t recommend this if you’re just wanting to be fit and toned and are not an athlete or somebody who is a sports person training for a particular event. Exercising so hard you throw up doesn’t sound healthy for losing a few pounds…it doesn’t sound healthy atall really.
Yeah, thats more like it but not too extreme.
I have bad knees (they rob liquour stores at night when I’m asleep), so running, or any other high impact cardio, is out of the question. Plus, I’m not good at cardio (let me do squats until I’m dizzy over running around the block any day).
Recently, though, I bought an elliptical machine . It’s no impact running, as if on air! No achey knees, and I’ve actually started to really enjoy my morning sessions (one hell of a way to wake up, I must say). Granted, the equipment was $350.00, but it’s been a great investment!
[QUOTE=Atomicktom]
I have bad knees (they rob liquour stores at night when I’m asleep), so running, or any other high impact cardio, is out of the question. Plus, I’m not good at cardio (let me do squats until I’m dizzy over running around the block any day).
Recently, though, I bought an elliptical machine . It’s no impact running, as if on air! No achey knees, and I’ve actually started to really enjoy my morning sessions (one hell of a way to wake up, I must say). Granted, the equipment was $350.00, but it’s been a great investment!
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I’d love one of those, but there simply isn’t room for one in this tiny house.
[QUOTE=Telperien]
I’d love one of those, but there simply isn’t room for one in this tiny house.
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Obviously, I can’t comment on the size of your house. But I live in a tiny studio, and it doesn’t take up too much space (it is within reach of the bed, and I ride it while watching TV in the morning). Not exactly posh decorating, I know, but it’s practical for me.
I do Turbo Jam/Beach Body, and I love it. It’s effective, and loads of fun. But if you’re not coordinated enough to do Tae Bo, you’ll break your ass on this stuff. What was the nature of your accident? Did it involve one foot off the ground for more than a second? TJ/BB has low impact variants demonstrated, and those might work for you. Less chance of falling over, and easy on the knees.
But if you’re terribly out of shape, I’d recommend the walking videos first. Do those for a couple of months.
[QUOTE=Trunk]
I wouldn’t rule out walking to the track in the heat so offhandedly.
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I would. If the activity leaves me hating life, I just won’t do it, period. I’m finally over trying to delude myself that I will, because I won’t.
I’m not busting my ass through the NC summer heat, sweating like a pig, suffocating in the humidity. I may still sweat like a pig, but it’ll be inside in the AC, thanks. 
I too have an elliptical machine, and I too use it while watching the morning news. I luurve it.
[QUOTE=tdn]
I do Turbo Jam/Beach Body, and I love it. It’s effective, and loads of fun. But if you’re not coordinated enough to do Tae Bo, you’ll break your ass on this stuff. What was the nature of your accident? Did it involve one foot off the ground for more than a second? TJ/BB has low impact variants demonstrated, and those might work for you. Less chance of falling over, and easy on the knees.
But if you’re terribly out of shape, I’d recommend the walking videos first. Do those for a couple of months.
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Roundhouse kicks were my downfall, which was stupid of me, because I seem to recall the host saying something like, “Don’t do any moves that are too difficult for you.” Everything else I could do, but that was a mistake. When I recovered, I just jogged in place for those bits. That’s why I could do step aerobics–I can do all sorts of stuff up on the step, down off the step, and so on, but only when it’s a low step.
[QUOTE=Telperien]
Roundhouse kicks were my downfall
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That’s what I suspected. TJ has them too, but far fewer of them. And what’s important is not height, but form. And most of them are back kicks, which you can cheat a little on.
[QUOTE=This is just…]
I am not a Fitness/Health professional type but I really wouldn’t recommend this if you’re just wanting to be fit and toned and are not an athlete or somebody who is a sports person training for a particular event. Exercising so hard you throw up doesn’t sound healthy for losing a few pounds…it doesn’t sound healthy atall really.
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Actually, it’s exactly what to do if you want to be fit and toned because it burns fat while promoting muscle growth (anaerobic exercise). Puking was a small exaggeration, but people have been known to do it the first couple times while adjusting. However, you’re right that it is not for beginners.
More importantly, I really can’t imagine that in a thread where the OP wants to lose weight, the word food or diet isn’t even mentioned once! (Yes, I saw the title of the thread, but obviously the final intended result is to be physically healthy.)
I said it before, but the most effective thing anyone can do for him/herself in terms of fitness is to eat a healthy and balanced diet which fits the individual’s goals (losing fat, gaining muscle, or both).
As for exercise, if the goal is to look better, do strength activities that involve as many muscles as possible (compound movements). Personally, I do a bit of traditional weightlifting, olympic lifting, gymnastics, and cardio.
Lately I’ve been slacking due to lack of time, but the variety when I do it keeps things enjoyable. There’s also no feeling like barely being able to walk for three days after not doing squats for a month, or a huge soreness in your traps from playing on still rings.
There’s so much I could write on this, but the single most important thing to remember is that one cannot lose fat or gain muscle without a proper diet.
