Top 5 Strength exercises & Micro workouts - Strength & Flex

Strength & Flex

8,005 members1,816 posts

Top 5 Strength exercises & Micro workouts

skysue16 profile image
28 Replies

I have been reading posts and watching exercise videos……and pondering 🤔 Why do I find it so hard to maintain a strength exercise routine? I made a lovely table to record my runs and exercises but even that failed (too busy at school, family commitments and then ill for a couple of weeks 🤧🙁)

So I have decided that the old adage ‘little and often’ might work better for me rather than trying to fit in specific sessions, 30/40 mins, three times a week. So for example I have been doing squats while I brush my teeth, calf raisers while cooking, standing pushups when out with the dog etc, throughout the day just mindful of keeping moving and taking opportunities. Imagine my surprise when I read a post about micro workouts! It is a thing 😂

So my question to you all….,,,which are your TOP 5 strength exercises? 🤔 and do you prefer a ‘full on’ session a few times a week or ‘micro’ sessions throughout the day/week?

Then of course I need to do stretching too…..🫣

Photo is of a regular dog walk where there are handy benches and gates 😊

*can someone explain how I can post this on other forums without having to write it again! 😂

Written by
skysue16 profile image
skysue16
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
28 Replies
CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold

I’ve been also thinking about micro workouts , but still have the majority of my S&F dedicated sessions. (And I don’t like planks and squats, they’re not my friends)

But for me my dedicated sessions fit. I do 2-3 runs/week in the morning (with post run stretches), 4-6 rows/week in the early evening (with post row stretches) and often I add a 5min dumbbell workout first thing in the morning and a 7 min Tibetan Rites in the evening.

I’ve got something else in my toolbox of fun workouts that I’m trying out with hubby at present (he likes 👍🏽), that could function as a micro workout session but I’m working on some posts to bring them to S&F as a little 3-week challenge. So I’m keeping stumm about those. 🤫🤐

Very interesting to ponder about micro workouts.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply toCBDB

oh and I should say the 5-min dumbbell workout I do is the one from FitOn (free app), link is fiton.app/z3m4irs9?r=browse... but I think it only works if you have the app.

But after I have followed her video for a week, I set up my own pacing workout in another app, so I could listen to my own music.

Fiton Session
Nous profile image
Nous in reply toCBDB

thanks for sharing this app 😀

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCBDB

WOW! You are so organised! You are really doing some amazing workouts - running and rowing too, very well done.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply toskysue16

(Yeah, and I still feel I’m not fit or doing enough… 🤣🤣 … so still working on my S&F-confidence !

And I have a feeling your dog keeps you fit more than any of my workouts!

P.s. I also haven’t found a way to cross post to other forums. Only thing that works is go to edit your post, then copy all the content, close that browser window, and go to the other forum and paste text into a new post. You will have to type in a new title.

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCBDB

Thank you very much for the link. I have downloaded the app and will give it a go - certainly loads of workouts to choose from!! 👍

Annieapple profile image
Annieapple

🍏Copy & paste with a fresh title as CBDB says, is the only way I think.… 🤣Glad that Micro Sessions are the new thing.. for once I am at the top of my game🤣 One of Oldfloss’s posts about that made me realise I was doing more S&F than I thought! The Tibetan rites suit me too! Easy to remember & quick to pop in on rest days.. I am wanting to get back into Foam Rolling exercises in the autumn, after reading an inspiring article on the internet recently… I too am a fan of pre & post run stretching .. if I can get S & F into my normal routine..it happens if I have to make an extra effort it doesn’t happen too often !!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toAnnieapple

I haven’t tried the Tibetan rites 🤔 and must admit to not even having a foam roller I wouldn’t know where to start with one of those 🤣

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRun

I'm a micro session for everything fitness related, apart from running, I do like a long slow plod. Squats, standing push ups, calf raises, then I'll go in the sitting room and play with my kettlebell for a few minutes, I'm fitter than I was 5 years ago and stronger too so it's good to know micro sessions are a thing now 😁

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toSueAppleRun

Great to hear you are fitter than 5 years ago- well done for keeping up with the strength and flex exercises. Do you like planks? I used to do them regularly but have got out of the habit.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRun in reply toskysue16

I sometimes like planks but I'm a bit lazy, the intention is there more often than the actuality 🤣

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toSueAppleRun

🤣 💪

MrBassmanjazz profile image
MrBassmanjazz

Hi Sue

If you select all with the mouse and do CTRL-C, (Copy), (Hold the Control Key and press 'c')

Then click into the new post and do CTRL-V, (Paste).

Et voila!

You will get everything, including the emojis, but not the picture.

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toMrBassmanjazz

Thank you so much for replying. I mostly use my phone for HU so apparently I can go to edit and copy…..👍😊

Cmoi profile image
Cmoi

Hi  skysue16 , re cross-posting, personally I think it's rarely a good idea to repeat the entire content of a post across all forums, unless it's of general importance and interest. I think it's preferable to write a brief new post including a link to the original post, then people who are interested can follow and reply there.

Personally I don't even do five strength exercises, let alone have a top 5!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCmoi

Thanks for your advice 👍😊

Cmoi profile image
Cmoi in reply toskysue16

Sorry, forgot to mention: by doing a shorter post with a link to the original, you can potentially draw new people to a forum and all of its content. If you re-post the whole original post, then they have no need to go to look at that forum.

For me interactions between forums are more valuable than duplication across forums. I'll admit that I don't particularly want to read detailed posts about strength exercises on all the other forums, in the same way as I wouldn't expect or want to see S&F full of posts about running.

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCmoi

You do some amazing stuff Cmoi and I love your relaxed attitude regarding strength training. I look at my ‘bat wings’ getting wobbly (and other bits 🤣) and don’t like it - hence the constant nagging in my mind that I should be doing exercises!!

Cmoi profile image
Cmoi in reply toskysue16

Thanks skysue16 , that's very kind of you. In reality I've only just started getting back to running longer than 5-6k, as I've not been able to hack the heat we've had over here. In fact I very stupidly overdid it the other day, and ended up with symptoms of heat exhaustion. I had enough sensible brain left to realise I needed to dial things back, so walked most of the final km of my run.

Tbh it's not so much that I'm relaxed about strength exercises, it's that I find repetitions and most gym-type stuff monotonous, boring and frustrating. Even the word workout turns me off! Plus, if I'm honest, I'm overwhelmed and intimidated by many of the S&F posts. I'll do a bit of yoga occasionally, or squats while brushing my teeth, and I'll happily interrupt a run to walk along logs for balancing practice. But daily practices and monthly challenges etc send me running for the hills. Literally, in my case!

Enjoy your S&F activities!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCmoi

That’s exactly how I feel about reps and the ‘gym’ but pressure from internet and my own internal nagging makes me feel I should do more!

Cmoi profile image
Cmoi in reply toskysue16

If doing more and/or listening to the "shoulds" would make you feel mentally or physically better I see that as a positive.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2

I'm terrible at keeping up on work outs. I was given a whole programme of exercises for my hip - osteoarthritis apparently, and guess what? I only did them all once, then did half one day and half the next...and even that slipped after a few weeks. I only have to miss one and they just slip away out of my mind!!

I started the 12 week push up challenge here on S&F, I liked it because my husband printed it out for me and I could tick off the days in a bright red pen. They meant I would do some other stuff too, squats, hip stuff, a bit of dumbbells etc... this has flown out of the window too now, I had a traumatic tooth extraction a couple of days ago, and know I shouldn't do any hard exercise for a few days in case I make it bleed, and I just don't feel like it anyway. Hopefully I'll get back on it in a few days.

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCurlygurly2

Oh no, sorry to hear about your tooth!! Poor you 😟 Well done for having a go at the push up challenge- yes, I find it easier to keep going if I have a paper plan and pictures 😂 I am sure you will get back to it when you are feeling better. Take care.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2 in reply toskysue16

Thank you SkySue, now I have a virus too, so a few days off... I'm walking though (in the rain!)

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toCurlygurly2

Poor you…..Lots of viruses about at the moment 🙁🤒🤧

Technoid profile image
Technoid

I use this routine, resting alternate days, with a ~30 minute run.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6Jx...

Nous profile image
Nous in reply toTechnoid

thanks for sharing this strength routine Technoid 😀

skysue16 profile image
skysue16 in reply toTechnoid

Wow, great workouts! Thanks for sharing 😊

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

NHS 5-Week Strength and Flexibility Programme

As I find the NHS website for our core S&F programme slightly confusing, I thought I might just...
CBDB profile image
Administrator

How do you track your workouts?

So how do you track your workouts? Send us your screenshots or photos! People who know me on these...
CBDB profile image
Administrator

Upper body strength work

I am not very good at doing strength exercises, I know they are important - just find it hard to...
skysue16 profile image

A couple of strength workouts to do at home with minimal equipment 😊

Hi there! I'd like to share a couple of strength circuits that I created for, and with the help of,...
roseabi profile image

Non Floor, Standing Exercises and Workouts

Thanks to @jinnty89 ‘s recent post about workouts for those who struggle to kneel or get down to...
CBDB profile image
Administrator

Moderation team

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator
CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.