Back in the spring I promised myself I’d go running. It’s now October and my feet are yet to see any running shoes. However I am nowhere near as bad as when I wrote my original confessional exercise post.
Most evenings my TV is taken over by the tones of Davina telling me not to “hunch my back because she knows where I live” or Tracey telling me she’s designed “a really great arm for me.” Now I don’t believe Davina really knows where I live, but I’m getting slightly annoyed that she tells me she does so frequently. You see the constant banter is now so predictable. I need a new workout video!
I remember years ago my sister had a Mr Motivator VHS were some lycra clad women aerobocised on the top of a cliff somewhere sunny. I think she did the routines a few times and then it got stuffed to the back of the dusty cupboard with the rest of the VHS tapes. When I first bought Tracey Anderson for Beginners (inspired by Charlotte obviously) I was wary I wouldn’t actually do the routines. I loved a bit of Tracey and even with my poor coordination I mastered the first routine within a few weeks. I love her free arm routine but the legs in the air stuff has never come easy to me. I moved on to Davina’s Fit in 15 Minute vid and have seen real results from her, Mark and Jackie and don’t mind doing a couple of routines and a cool-down regularly.
I’d love to be like Miranda and vary it up with different classes but I probably have an hour tops to get to my place of workout, change, exercise and shower so working out from home is ideal for me. I tend to use exercise as a way to unwind after work so usually step to it about 8.30pm. I grab my weights hidden in my blanket basket, snatch my water bottle from the kitchen and scramble into my workout gear and can be ready to go in five minutes.
I would love to hear how any of you get on exercising from home. What are your favourite workout videos and what do you recommend to someone who doesn’t want to go too hardcore and just have a bit of gentle exercise? Shall I progress to another Davina DVD or go for a new motivator?
I love a home workout but looking forward to these suggestions as I too need to not recite the Davina workouts before she actually says the words! Ive had the Davina 3 x 30 min workout DVD for years now and I still think it’s a good mix but I’ve heard the 15 min one you have is great. Perhaps we should swap?! I also want to try Tracey Anderson (more recommendations from Charlotte!). I have been doing Insanity as well sometimes but that is intense and about 45 minutes so depends on the time you have. Not sure I would fancy that at 8:30 at night. I generally find myself doing my workout about 5ish which is when I’m either a) not hungry b)not tired or c)not tired and hungry! Unfortunately that normally means I have a small child running through by legs whilst doing squats or sitting on my back for press ups! x
Yes! Great idea to swap! x
My friend gave me a little routine that I could stick to (I’m lazy and rubbish at exercise) a while back.
Pop the radio on and do certain activities for the length of a song. Then switch. Short and easy and all over and done with before my day started.
You’ve reminded me I should probably pick that back up again! x
Love this idea! What activities are you doing to the song?! x
Ooh I’m a massive fan of work outs at home at the mo! I try to sneak in a little Jo Wicks The Bodycoach HIIT workout around lunch time, to earn my guilteeeeee build up bagel lunch!
They are only 25 mins long, but they can be quite intense depending on how much you push yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q20pLhdoEoY
xx
Thanks love, must check this out x
I love at home workouts and see better results from them than any gym memberships I have had! I like to design my own using a mixture of things I tear out of women’s health mags, and then I also use fitness blender workouts on YouTube- they are great for mixing things up as there are so many different ones to choose from xx
I like your customised plan India – must make it easier to shake it up and add new things. x
I love workout DVD’s and still use Davina’s Superbody (I think I bought it in 2010!) It has a good mix of different workouts (weights, cardio) and is my favourite of the Davina ‘back catalogue’. I’ve always had good results from this.
I enjoy Nell McAndrew’s DVD’s as well but have to really be in the mood as they’re quite cardio heavy (and often I’d rather just go for a run if I’m in the mood for cardio)
I think I’m the only person who doesn’t get on with the Tracey Anderson workouts – just couldn’t bear her and ended up swearing at her a lot!!
I forgot about Nell McAndrew – she always used to look fabulous!
I quite like the HIIT Like a Girl video from Fitness Blender which I watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dhO7S7_DW0 It’s tough but only 22 minutes long. I got the Davina DVD but found her too annoying (although I should have persevered given her amazing body!)
The thing with celeb workout vids if it they’re even the tiniest bit annoying to start with, then umpteen repeats make them almost unbearable!
This looks fab. Thanks for sharing x
Go on Instagram, look up Kayla Itsines and her #BBG workout. Trust me you won’t be disappointed. It is a workout guide rather than DVD spa you can do it anywhere any time. It only takes 28mins. And there is a whole Instagram world out there to motivate you. ?
Have you done bbg Steph? I’m very tempted myself but not sure if you need a bit too much equipment…
Hey I’ve done BBG several times through – I just got some adjustable weights from Argos and a yoga mat, everything else I just used substitutions like chairs or modified the move a little. Would really recommend the program!
Thanks Anna. I think I’ll be starting tonight. I’ve already got some weights and a mat and if you’ve managed without a bench then I surely can too.
My friend does Kayla’s workouts and she looks amazing. Was a bit worried they’d be too hardcore. Must give her a go 🙂
I’m a Davina fan too (and also a keen runner) but I’ve found a few Insanity max power 30 min workouts on YouTube. They are hardcore but each excercise is usually only done for 30 seconds to a minute so I just keep telling myself I haven’t got to do each excercise for too long! And a 30 min workout is perfect for short windows of time!
I would definitely recommend sticking your running trainers on and getting out of the front door too though! Once you’ve done it once it will be a whole lot easier to do it again! X
So true Emma. Why is it so flipping dark in the evenings though!
I second Stef’s recommendation of Kayla Itsines – done the program a few times through now and it’s great. I also saw real results from Beachbody’s Brazil Butt Lift video (not just for your bum!) and Rachael Attard’s program. I’m just about to start a new DVD called Element: Ballet Conditioning – runs quite long at just under an hour, so longer than the other programs I’ve done, but it gets rave reviews (check out Amazon).
Loving all these suggestions. Thanks Anna.
When I workout from home I go on YouTube and use Jillian Michaels 30 day shred videos. They start off not too bad with level 1 but level 2 and 3 are very hard. Around 25 minutes of pain and Jillian’s comments aren’t too bad either. Highly recommend it!
One to add to the list Christine. Off to YouTube now!
Totally recommend this – http://hsm.tv/products/jnl-fusion-home-fitness-program. It’s a fairly tough HIIT workout. Similar to the Insanity programmes I believe. The most annoying thing is her accent and oft repeated phrases such as ‘I believe in you’, ‘That’s what I’m talking about’ etc.. , but you can always turn the volume down.
If it’ll give me abs like hers then I’m okay that she believes in me 😉
I use a Nike Training Club app which has lots of different work outs, quick 5 minute work outs, yoga work outs to full on 45 minutes. Its brilliant as its on your phone so you can use it in your garden, in the park or in your house! no excuse!
http://www.nike.com/gb/en_gb/c/womens-training/apps/nike-training-club?ref=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.co.uk
Heard fab things about this app Jess. Thanks for reminding me x
I’m going to ‘third’ the recommendation for the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide #BBG… I have a 2 yr old and because the workouts are so short (approx 30 mins) they are ideal for busy mums. I too invested in some free weights, but they aren’t expensive and you don’t need a yoga mat, you could just use a towel. Other than that, all i use is a chair for tricep dips and the stairs for step ups. I’m 6 weeks into my first try with the BBG and i’m feeling great! Give it a go, i honestly don’t think you will regret it! x
Think I might have to give her a go Clare!
Yoga with Adrienne is brilliant, she has a YouTube channel so it is all free and there’s so many different workouts plus she seems really lovely too! I’m not a Davina fan so there’s no way I could do her workouts, although she does look amazing!
I’ve never been good at yoga Emily but know it has so many other benefits too. Love a freebie too 😉
I can’t recommend Yoga with Adriene enough. I’m someone who hated P.E at school and has never set foot in a gym but wanted to start doing something to make me feel a little less lathargic and a little more toned. I started doing Adriene’s videos in Jan this year and they’re fab. She mixes it up so you can do anything from Yoga for when you’re angry to Yoga for bedtime and then she had lots of yoga for weight loss which are a bit more intense. She’s really down to earth and just fab. If you do any at home workout do this!
I’m so impressed by all you ladies. I cannot summon up the motivation to exercise at home – I am very happy to go to a class, or head outside for some exercise, but I just cannot do anything at home, I even struggle with just 5 minutes of pilates or similar! I’m blaming it on the lack of suitable space, but in reality I think I just feel awkward doing it at home, but who knows. Anyone else suffer the same thing?!
I’m always envious of people who are motivated to get out of the house and down the gym Annie. I always seem to find somewhere else to be!
I live in a flat therefore it’s a bit tricky to do some jumping about exercise video with out annoying the downstairs neighbours. I attempted something on YouTube the other week – one of those 15 minute jobs but was worried about sounding like an elephant!
However, I am a big Pilates fan and I’ve been doing Darcy – Pilates for Life DVD for the last couple of years. There are 6 different sessions and I always feel wonderful, stretched and ready to go (I do them in the morning). I would like another pilates DVD just to mix it up though! I might try the yoga you tube videos mentioned by Emily W!
Feeling stretched sounds great Lynn. So many options to check out. Let us know how you get on with the yoga.
The key for me and home workouts is mixing it up, if you REALLY don’t fancy something then you just won’t do it – well I don’t anyway. At the moment I’m switching between Tracey’s 15 minute cardio dance routines (there are 4 on one DVD) some freestyle pilates (I do about 10 minutes per session – moves I’ve learnt over the years and that really work your core) power walking in the park (not exactly a home workout I know but only down the road and free!) and some Kayla Itsines arms/lunges I can do at home. I currently have an unopened Davina 7 minute Fit DVD on my desk so going to give that a whirl this week! x
True Mrs O’Shea. I didn’t know you were a power walker! You must share all your secrets with me tomorrow x
YOUTUBE!!
Srlsly, find someone you like on you tube and subscribe to their channel and you get new stuff all the time. And its free!
And there was me thinking I’d have to pay for DVDs! I’m going to be on YouTube all night now!
I’d second the recommendation for Nike Training Club app – you pick whether you want to focus on an area of your body and do strength/ conditioning, or do an all over cardio workout, you pick the duration and intensity, and there are some really good pilates-based workouts. Even in the gym it is the main thing I would use and they constantly add new workouts so you can mix it up. The other app that is good for short, HIIT type workouts is swork-it, it gets you doing 30-60 secs of an exercise before switching to the next, and you set how long a breather you need, and you can skip the exercises you hate 🙂
Ha ha Bec, I bet you’re not meant to skip ALL the exercises 😉
Pop pilates all the way!!! Cassie has 100s of videos on YouTube and most of them are 10-15 minutes long so I rarely get bored. I normally do 2-3 in a session. She really makes you work hard and I always feel amazing afterwards!
Thanks Kate, I’ve never heard of Pop Pilates! I’m so behind the times. I’ll be checking out everyone’s suggestions this weekend! x
I’m useless without an actual person or people for motivation so stick to team sports! That said I did spend a year doing Pilates via iPod instruction that was pretty successful. On another note where did you get the sofa in the picture above from please? ?
Hi Mel, its the snowdrop loveseat from sofa.com. It’s obviously meant for two people but you can get three smallish people on it 🙂
On top of all the other YouTube recommendations, popsugar fitness have some great workouts. Atm I’m flipping between my trusty old Davina DVDs (conversely I can’t bear when she’s on tv, but love her workouts?! Go figure!), Joe Wicks, Turbofire, and Popsugar.
Fitnessblender.com! Its free and offers a range of videos which you can choose from..there is a search where you can pick length of time you want to work out for, level of difficulty from 1-5, area you want to work ( core, upper body, lower body etc), equipment you have at home etc. Its a husband and wife team doing the videos. They are in the US where gyms can be v expensive, thet set up the website as they believe everyone should be able to maintain their health and fitness regardless of their financial means. Many of the workouts don’t even require equipment. I use it a lot, it’s great.