What is the best exercise equipment for home for someone weighing 25 stones?

Tropez

puddy wrote: »

Obviously areas will differ but unfortunately that is my experience so far (and of others I know in different areas)

Yes, that is fair enough.

I can understand that there is still something of a "postcode lottery" with regards to the availability and quality of services available to people in particular areas. Sadly, forms of social exclusion based on what I regard as irrelevant information such as where an individual lives still exists and is a blight on the NHS.

With regards to Mental Health services in my area, I have to say that I believe our PCT provides an excellent service. While waiting lists for psychological services are still on the excessive end of the scale (around one year from referral), backup services such as access to CPN's and other mental health professionals, such as counselling services, are very quick indeed and although beurocratic penny-pinching does exist, the overall levels at which patients are processed through the system is, on the whole, of a good standard.

Similarly, access to weight loss services, lifestyle services (which in this area are not run by nurses, or doctors, but professional, fully qualified trainers working with the local PCT to provide these services) is of a fantastic standard (this may or may not be related, however, to the overall economic impact my area has with regards to obesity levels on general health) and GPs will make relevant referrals for people who are committed to losing weight in a safe and healthy manner.

Of course, I shall not discount your experiences, and although I do not speak on behalf of the NHS or any other service provider I am sorry that you have had such negative experiences in your life, as I believe in social equality and the fact that we still live in a society that practices some form of social exclusion angers me deeply. I can fully understand that your own experiences will act as a deterrant when considering NHS services for issues such as mental health and weight loss.

All that I can say is that it cannot hurt to visit a GP as a first port of call simply to gauge what services are available in a particular area and from which an individual can consider for themselves whether those services are of a nature that they feel would be beneficial. If it is the leaflet-type that you have experience, then by all means that individual should seek out an alternate form of treatment for their condition, and perhaps the local, community gyms could be a good starting point in that instance?

*Kat*

I personally also think that walking around outside/climbing stairs is best just now.

I saw in Tesco they have this X-trainer which is reduced to like £30 which could be a good shout...but you'll have to check the weight limit on that too

absolutebounder

Get a dog. feed it 20% of your dinner then take it for a walk so it doesnt get fat.

A_Name

Do you hope to lose weight, or become fitter, or both?

I ask, as this time last year I was 21 stone... now i'm 12, and I did very little excercise at all whilst (very unhealthily crash) dieting. Losing weight is pure calories in vs calories out, and a calorie controlled diet is the best place to start if losing weight is your goal.

If you just want to be more active, if you have an Xbox already, i'd suggest getting a kinect - I have 'your shape- fitness evolved' which feels far too much like actual excercise for me, so I play 'kinect adventures' and 'dance central' which still leave me sweaty and knackered, but I have fun in the process.

If you don't already have an xbox, it'd be quite costly - you'd be better off dancing around your house to whatever music you like best (that was and still is the most reliable form of excercise for me!)

wazza

A_Name wrote: »

Do you hope to lose weight, or become fitter, or both?

I ask, as this time last year I was 21 stone... now i'm 12, and I did very little excercise at all whilst (very unhealthily crash) dieting. Losing weight is pure calories in vs calories out, and a calorie controlled diet is the best place to start if losing weight is your goal.

If you just want to be more active, if you have an Xbox already, i'd suggest getting a kinect - I have 'your shape- fitness evolved' which feels far too much like actual excercise for me, so I play 'kinect adventures' and 'dance central' which still leave me sweaty and knackered, but I have fun in the process.

If you don't already have an xbox, it'd be quite costly - you'd be better off dancing around your house to whatever music you like best (that was and still is the most reliable form of excercise for me!)

Both really but mainly weight. I do have a Wii which i can use.

Bronnie

I agree with Aname and magnolia . Concentrate on losing your weight through diet first and increase your general levels of activity by walking outside.

Your body is under a big additional stress carrying the extra weight around; it has never seemed sensible to me to increase that stress by exercising to the out-of-breath stage.At the moment, all you need to do is incorporate more activity into your daily life and you can do this by simple sitting down less and taking regular walks.

You can focus on the exercise for fitness, toning and raising metabolism a little more once your weight is at a more reasonable level. At the moment it is as though you are carrying the equivalent weight of an adult man around with you wherever you go, so why stress your body even further? Once you have lost some of that burden, exercise will also seem so easy!!

Good luck!

Wootball

It is ALL about your diet - forget the exercise for the time being until your eating habits are in check. Losing weight is primarily about what you eat and drink - clean calories, plenty of water. If you want to know how many calories to take in, check your BMR and eat slightly less than that amount.

Once you drop to a more reasonable weight, increase the activity by taking walks to a pace that makes your heart beat faster and makes you slightly out of breath. Once you can sustain that, jog. Do not buy equipment during the starting stage of weight loss - it can work wonders but is quite likely to demotivate you if the exercise becomes very difficult or you begin to resent the equipment.

soupdragon10

If you already have a Wii why not use some of the sport/exercise programmes? You don't have to use a balance board for tennis for example, and can start taking some gentle exercise and build it up as you go.

I'm 16st, which at 5ft 3in is very bad for me, and I am starting to try and do something about this using my Wii, rather than just playing games. I've set myself a modest target of 15 minutes twice a day for a week, then increase this to 20 minutes and so on.

I find the Wii games, because they are fun, don't really seem like exercise. Once you have lost some weight and got into the swing of it, you could then invest in a balance board if you want to.

Best of luck with whichever option you go for.

Eric_Pisch

Its important to get the diet right but exercise can be a big help, in fact it can make a massive difference especially if you go mad, you can drop 200lbs+ in 6 months with a very hard core routine.

Too many people unfortunately have read the stupid article in the daily mail that took one very specific point ie little girls with almost no muscle mass will burn very few calories in a short exercise session as meaning its pointless to exercise. Its not you get more benefits than just the calories burned, and for the record i burn 900 cals an hour doing heavy bag work

Apart from making you fitter and healthier (enough reason on there own) it also greatly improves mental balance but most importantly of all 30-60 mins of moderate exercise accelerates your metabolism for between 24-48 hours by upto 50% so you get a long sustained extra calorie burn from exercise. Chuck in some resistance type training that increases your muscle mass and your will naturally start to burn even more calories for just existing.

Start slow and build it up gradually

[Deleted User]

As others have said start by adding in some walking into your routine and perhaps look at some exercises that do not require any equipment to start off with. Google 'prison workout' or 'submariner workout'. For most of these you just need a little bit of floor space and no eqiupment at all.

The other thing is that if you want to buy some equipment make sure you will use it. I have a treadmill, multi-gym and boxing equipment. I use them all all the time. However, I live in the middle of nowhere and nearest gym is 8 miles away. However, I have used gyms a lot and I know that I hate certain things. I can road run / treadmill run for ages, but after 5 mins on the rowing machine or bike I have lost the will to live. So if you are going to buy something then get a free intro. pass to your local gym, try the machines and see which you like. Also, I would never buy a machine on-line unless I had tested it first. When I got my current treadmill I went to the showroom and ran on many of them. Within about 2 mins of stepping on some machines I knew I would never buy them (deck too short, could see the controls etc).

Have you thought about using a little bit of money to get a private fitness instructor to come to your house? They could set you off on a program and then maybe come back a few times to check how you are doing. I have no idea how much this would cost though.

Good luck.