[Anonymous]

Right. So I need to get fit. No hurry, but I'm aiming to be fit by uni in October.
Currently I've put on a fair amount of weight (we're not talking obese, but there's definite beer belly-age going on). I've always been slightly chubby since I had the growth spurt a good few years ago (prior to which I was just plain fat) but I'm going to try and tone up some (we're not talking Arnold Swarcha-whatever).

So this requires a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. I know this. The diet I can do (and am doing), but the exercise is what I need help with. Ever since I've moved house and away from my swimming I've found it difficult to get exercise. So I need a plan.

What exercises should I be doing? I've got sit-ups and push-ups (even though I hate them), what else should I do? Sit-ups and push-ups are both upper body things, I need focus on the lower body too! As long as it doesn't involve running I'll do it!

Thanks for any help guys!

[cpj1987]

You can make your sit-ups more lower-body focused as well - do two jobs in one - by sitting next to your bed, and putting your feet on the bed as you do the situps...it's not a big difference but it can add an extra bit of muscle-work to your usual situps, it's what I do and I feel it working my thighs etc a lot more as well.
Obviously this isn't a big difference so I'm not really answering your question sorry, it's just a suggestion as to how to make what you're currently doing more effective.

[Crimson Black]

So you can't go swimming, and you don't want to run... I'd suggest rowing. After swimming, I find this works the most muscles. Join a gym and use one, or 'acquire' (buy, beg, steal, borrow?) a machine somehow. You should try and find a swimming pool again though.

If you're looking to get fit in the comfort of your own home, I'd suggest burpees (done correctly - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burpee), squat thrusts, dynamic squats (ie. you jump 180 degrees back and forth whilst doing them), dorsal raises (helps back musculature), crunches, press-ups (w/ or w/o claps, salutes)...

Do them in a routine - ie. do all of these things (alternating between upper and lower body exercises eg. squat thrusts, then press-ups, then crunches, then burpees etc etc), and don't take a break in between each set(or, if you must, about 5 seconds)! Start with doing about 20 each, although that depends largely on your fitness I suppose. They're better for building up muscle and making them burn more energy daily in the long run rather than a conventional cardio workout - so if you want to lose weight, stick to rowing, swimming etc. Although, you really should give running a chance! You get used to it.

[davey_boy]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Right. So I need to get fit. No hurry, but I'm aiming to be fit by uni in October.
Currently I've put on a fair amount of weight (we're not talking obese, but there's definite beer belly-age going on). I've always been slightly chubby since I had the growth spurt a good few years ago (prior to which I was just plain fat) but I'm going to try and tone up some (we're not talking Arnold Swarcha-whatever).

So this requires a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. I know this. The diet I can do (and am doing), but the exercise is what I need help with. Ever since I've moved house and away from my swimming I've found it difficult to get exercise. So I need a plan.

What exercises should I be doing? I've got sit-ups and push-ups (even though I hate them), what else should I do? Sit-ups and push-ups are both upper body things, I need focus on the lower body too! As long as it doesn't involve running I'll do it!

Thanks for any help guys!

You need to work out *why* you want to get fit. If its to lose a bit of weight and look better then you should probably be doing something different to if you want to get fit so that you can do a certain sport more effectively.

[Adelante4]

Go hereto find some good advice regarding workout routines. do not be afraid about joining a gym and lifting weights, you will not look like a bodybuilder from doing so.

It is important to supplement working out with a good form of cardio exercise such as skipping, sprints or bike riding to improve fitness. Also, make sure your diet is clean and you eat 6 small meals a day.

[~style]

(Original post by Crimson Black)
So you can't go swimming, and you don't want to run... I'd suggest rowing. After swimming, I find this works the most muscles. Join a gym and use one, or 'acquire' (buy, beg, steal, borrow?) a machine somehow. You should try and find a swimming pool again though.

If you're looking to get fit in the comfort of your own home, I'd suggest burpees (done correctly - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burpee), squat thrusts, dynamic squats (ie. you jump 180 degrees back and forth whilst doing them), dorsal raises (helps back musculature), crunches, press-ups (w/ or w/o claps, salutes)...

Do them in a routine - ie. do all of these things (alternating between upper and lower body exercises eg. squat thrusts, then press-ups, then crunches, then burpees etc etc), and don't take a break in between each set(or, if you must, about 5 seconds)! Start with doing about 20 each, although that depends largely on your fitness I suppose. They're better for building up muscle and making them burn more energy daily in the long run rather than a conventional cardio workout - so if you want to lose weight, stick to rowing, swimming etc. Although, you really should give running a chance! You get used to it.

Land with feet together, on the balls of your feet..

And if I don't have balls on my feet, whats the alternative landing position?

[Crimson Black]

(Original post by -hybrid-)
And if I don't have balls on my feet, whats the alternative landing position?

Dunno - try strapping on some roller blades?

The alternative is, I suppose, not landing at all, which is near impossible and would effectively negate the benefits of the exercise.

[Anonymous]

shut up, morons.