Wrangell-- I don't have access to a gym right now, so I'd prefer to work out at home if possible. I was considering getting a gym membership next year. I actually don't have any dumbells either, so I'm guessing from the question I should purchase some? What weight would you suggest?
Well, when you want to work out at home, all kinds of options for resistance training are available. Lot of it depends on how much time and money you can put into both..as well as your goals / time frames etc. You could do only body weight exercises along with some resistance straps etc., you could training with dumbells ( with or without a ball ) with or without a simple bench, or with barbells and a bench.
Now, if you want to get a ' starter ' weight set, you can find some that give you adjustable dumbbells AND a barbell bar as well. It's usually called a ' 110 lb. ' starter set - and with that you typically get 2 dumbbell bars, a 5-ft bar , weight plates and collars. See this links for examples of what i mean.
I'd add, that you can usually find these weight sets readily available ' used ' somewhere in your community..they're everywhere.
Now, while the ball is good ( very good for ab work btw
) if it were me, I'd try and find a cheap or used weight bench. Now, you can do some weight training without a bench, but having a bench allows you to learn some basic lifts and gives you a wider range of exercise options IMO. A flat bench is OK, but if you can find a bench that will incline and has uprights, that is an ideal set-up for a beginner. See the link to get an idea of what I mean.
I haven't done any cardio in months, and the most I did then was to run 6 times a week, 1 hour and 30 minutes each time. That's when I had access to a gym and I discovered the ellypitical (seemed easiest to me).
Wow - 1 hour and 30 minutes each time - that's very good ! Kudos !
Thing is, seems you only have to lose 10 llbs. Given that fact, and given you haven't done cardio for awhile, there is no need to jump into HIIT just yet. Some simpler form of less intense cardio is problaby best to start out with in the beginning. Besides, you're going to be running with your boyfriend and it seems you were adept and doing some nice long runs in the past anyway...so a focus on some steady cardio might be the best fit for you. That said, I'd forget about HIIT for the time being.
As for loosing weight, it'd be nice to eventually be 105-110 lbs,
but my main goal is really to tone up/ get into shape. If I look good gaining 5 lbs I could care less. My idea was that after working out for awhile I'd loose weight naturally? Myy boyfriend will be entering the police acad. soon and had asked me to start running and stuff with him, lol that's my encouragement!!
Thanks for answering by the way
Well, if that is the case, a basic home weight routine 3X a week, along with some cardio mixed in along the way , and you should be fine IMO.
