indebut

It has been a little over a year since I last did any form of serious exercise.
I joined a local gym, but ended up not going nearly as much as I should have.
I want to get back into the routine of exercising regularly again, but I don't want to join a gym. Besides the obvious running and pushups, situps, etc., does anyone have suggestions as to what I can do to get the ball rolling?? I don't have any weights at home, but if I get into a routine I may consider getting them in the future. Any ideas would be appreciated.

braisler

You can get into fantastic shape using your body weight as resistance. The idea is familiar to lots of us starting with situps and pushups, but there are so many variations that you can do to get a really complete full body workout.

Try Body by Fish for some great routines that will really kick your butt. If you haven't worked out in a while, take it easy at first. It is easy to think that because it is your own body weight you won't be working that hard. If you push yourself too hard with one of these workouts, you won't be able to walk the next day. I know from experience!

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You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.
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Seaver

Braisler hit this pretty well. If you live anywhere near a local running trail there are usually lots of exercise stations along the track. These use only your own body weight, which is a growing form of exercise with models both male and female. One of the hardest workouts I've had was simple sun-gods (arms fully extended doing 6" circles) and roof raisers (either standing or kneeling with your hands at your shoulders facing up, and extending upwards). Do about 50 of each you'll start feeling the burn, do another 50 and your arms will be dead.

st33lr4t

what is your goal?

indebut

my goal is to shed the excess weight I have been carrying around for the past couple years...once I get the weight off, I want to start toning and eventually building muscle.
I am currently about 225-230 lbs and would like to be down to 180-190 by the end of the year.

st33lr4t

get yourself some free weights then. get a powerrack, bench, db's, bb's, some plates and your set. you can do a 3-4/day split with some cardio inbetween...of course your diet needs to be in order. i pretty much had the same goal as you last year...except im 200lbs. how tall are you?

personally i like the home gym setup. its there so i use it.

Willravel

Agree with st33lr4t. Get some free weights. Get a bench with a preacher curl and a lat tower. Also get a good pair of cross trainer shoes. Lift weights 3 days a week, and do aerobic exercise (running, bball, martial arts, etc.). You can get plenty of good workout routines in Men's Health Magazine.
If you are worried about not sticking to your routine, set a goal and bet money on it. Bet your SO or ffriend that you can lose the weight you want by the end of 2005. If you can't do it, you pay like $100. If you succede, you'll be in shape (that's a victory in itself). 9 times out of 10, bets can make someone stick to their commitment.

st33lr4t

you dont need a preacher curl or lat tower. there are plenty of biceps exercises to do and chinups (which you can do on a power reck) are alot better then doing pulldowns.

Cowman

either wya
the two statements "looking to start working out again" and "don't want to join a gym" don't really go together well, unless you've got a couple G's at your disposal to spend on equipment. just get into the habit of hitting the gym, it'll make things so much easier and your progress will be much faster..It's also really fun, or I think anyway

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mazagmot

Used weights are usually pretty easy to pick up from pawn shops and the like. Brand new sets of barbell plus weights aren't prohibitavely expensive, either. Usually only a $100 or 2 for a very basic set. dumbells can start to add up just because you need to pick up so many.
new barbell set $100 at Dick's Sporting Goods.
adjustable weight bench (no pins) $80 at Dick's
(not an endorsement for Dick's, they just happen to be closes to where I live)

drakers

I also think push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups are great (natural) resistance exercises to get you back into the thick of it.

st33lr4t

nah you dont have to spend a couple g's. http://www.newyorkbarbells.tv/

i have spent around $600CDN for setup and i have everything i need.

nofnway

Wow! the Body by fish thing looks awesome...just the thing I need. I've tried a few of these exercises and I'll have to work up to just the first basic work out.

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"Iron rusts with disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold water freezes. Even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind"
Leonardo Da Vinci

dman2

Join a gym!! Get into a good one with trainers, classes, etc. For the minimal cost, it is well worth it. I attend a gym where I have access to about 10 or more classes, a pool, tanning, childcare, etc. It is ideal for me. Don't underestimate the gym.

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I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

Val_1

When I started working out again I didn't want to join a gym either. Now that I did I realize that not joining one was really holding me back. I've made much greater improvements since I've joined.

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I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.

-Frank Sinatra

woOt?

GET MOTIVATED!

I found this site, and it did it for me.

www.johnstonefitness.com

Good luck!