Need a little help!!

I am currently trying to get healthier and fitter and maybe drop a few
pounds. But the thing is that i can't afford to join a gym as the
closest gym to me costs £42 a month. I would like to be able to
exercise at home, as i have a little bit of equipment including
dumbells, inner thigh toner and a resistance band. I would like to
exercise a bit each night including a bit of cardio, toning and
stretching. I was thinking that if i had 2, 1 hour plans then i could
alternate each night so that i have variation in what i do. Could
someone please help me to get these plans together because i need
something to stick to. I would be willing to pay if necessary as i
really need this help. Or if you know of a site with a plan i could use
please let me know.

Thanks

Charlotte




--
lotlot

lotlot wrote:

First, I have to ask how old you are? And I recommend you get checked
out by a doc before getting serious about a fitness program.

If you check out fine, I would next ask you to purchase a _good_ set of
walking shoes, Swiss ball, floor mat and a simple adjustable bench. A
heart monitor is also a good fitness tool. Are the weights on your
dumbells adjustable--can you add more or remove weight? You'll want a
set that can.

To get started, I would first work on your cardio -- it'll make
resistance exercises a bit easier when you begin using them. Start
walking at a comfortable pace and distance and _slowly_ increase your
walking speed and distance over the course of the next weeks and
months. (A heart monitor can help you keep your heart rate in a
desirable range.) 3-4 times a week is a good start. You'll want to
get to the point where you're really clipping along (not strolling) and
walking for at least 20 minutes -- eventually getting to 30-40 minute
sessions, 6-7 times a week.

When you start to feel comfortable with your walking program then jump
into resistance training. (Initially keep your reps high -- 15-20 --
and your sets low -- 1-2.) Try some bench press exercises with
dumbells and your new weight bench. Try adjusting the bench to
different angles -- flat, incline, decline -- to hit the muscles
differently. Pushups are great too. You can also use your bench for
shoulder presses, flies and bent-over rows. Use your [new] floor mat
for ab work. Also look online for Swiss ball exercises. (Swiss balls
are awesome!) As your strength increases _slowly_ increase weight and
bring your reps down a bit to 12-15.

Yoga is a good "stretching" program. Do some reading about it.

This is a very vague description of a workout plan. And I'm sure some
of the terms I used have you scratching your head. But check around
online for descriptions and visit your library for fitness book with
detailed instructions on how to perform the exercises correctly.
Because "correctly" is very important. The last thing you want to do
is hurt yourself while working out trying to get healthier, so at any
point you feel acute pain or soreness stop and get checked out. Now
that's not to say you won't feel some muscle soreness, because you
will, but it should not linger for days and it should never be sharp
pain.

Lastly, fitness is only half of wellness. The other half is a healthy
diet. And a healthy diet will make your fitness program easier to
perform and your recovery time after exercising will be reduced.
What's a healthy diet? Here's some reading: whfoods.com

Good luck! And if you have more questions, just ask.

Patrick


> I am currently trying to get healthier and fitter and maybe drop a few
> pounds. But the thing is that i can't afford to join a gym as the
> closest gym to me costs £42 a month. I would like to be able to
> exercise at home, as i have a little bit of equipment including
> dumbells, inner thigh toner and a resistance band. I would like to
> exercise a bit each night including a bit of cardio, toning and
> stretching. I was thinking that if i had 2, 1 hour plans then i could
> alternate each night so that i have variation in what i do. Could
> someone please help me to get these plans together because i need
> something to stick to. I would be willing to pay if necessary as i
> really need this help. Or if you know of a site with a plan i could use
> please let me know.
>
> Thanks
>
> Charlotte
>
>
>
>
> --
> lotlot