Great Hunt: How to trim your tummy without also trimming your bank account

moonbeam_7_98 wrote: »

About a year ago my sister and I started to do this weekly. She would come round to mine and we would follow a workout DVD in my front room. The DVDs cost a few pounds second hand and by doing this together we keep each other motivated. You can get a great workout especially and you don't have to buy nice 'gym clothes' either!

Another option for finding Workouts to do at home can be found on YouTube. I regularly do a Pilates session following a Free YouTube video and I've found the quality / moves very similar to those done in a class at my local Leisure Centre.

I love my weighted hula hoop! I can use it while I watch TV or when the weather is nice in the garden.

You can buy it for around £15 from ebay or amazon and even though it can be painful at the beginning and even cause bruising, it then becomes a great fun! And tones up your tummy at the same time!

Another tip that is working for us is making sure you exercise when it feels like the last thing you want to do. So when you're knackered, it's raining, and you just want to go to bed - don your trainers and get out the house immediately.

The idea being that anyone can exercise when things are going right and you're in a good mood for it. But if you can force yourself to exercise when everything is telling you not to, then you'll also exercise when the situation is far better, ergo you'll exercise all the time.

As soon as you make an excuse like being tired or it's raining, then everything is an acceptable excuse and you'll flunk.

This rather depends where you live and work - I don't drive anyway (from choice) so my life is planned around not having daily access to a car, but I'd say just walk wherever you need to go, if you possibly can. If you're lucky, it'll actually save you money in fares or petrol (or even the cost of owning a car, if you're prepared to do without one completely).

Ryanna2599 wrote: »

Another option for finding Workouts to do at home can be found on YouTube. I regularly do a Pilates session following a Free YouTube video and I've found the quality / moves very similar to those done in a class at my local Leisure Centre.

Beat me to it! Was also going to suggest YouTube exercise videos. There are loads of different ones out there but I particularly like Yoga with Adrienne and FitnessBlender.


Also for those who want to get into running: look for your local parkrun. These are free 5k runs every Saturday morning in parks around the UK and are aimed at people of all abilities. It's a really supportive atmosphere and worth giving a go (though if you've never run before you might want to do a Couch to 5K - have heard good things about the NHS version but I also liked the Zombies, Run! 5k app).


Finally, building walking into your life can make a massive difference. In the summer before my wedding I was walking two miles every weekday (between my office and the train station) and felt so much better for it. Even if you can just get out for a brisk 20 minute walk at lunch time it can make a difference.