[stikfigure]

Originally Posted by clueless

I recently broke up with my bf so my new health plan is to get me jump started to getting my life back on track! I have done a lot of exercise and tried loads of types of exercise in the past so I am kind of knowledgeable with weights and how to use them correctly but am broke so no gym for me! Currently sick (swollen glands and chest infection) so trying to get over that but setting up for my summer long challenge.

DETAIL:
-19 years old
-Size 8-10
-5' 8" (I think! I am pretty tall anyways)
-Have no idea of my weight my mum doesn't do scales in the house.
-Can run about a mile stopping once or twice ish (could be three or four depending on the day) on the road.


AIMS:
- To have a really nice sculpted body now that I am single (In no way beefy or manly just nicely toned)
- To be fit enough to play girls rugby in November
- To have really nice abs in particular and lose the little love handles!!!
- To do exercises that might help with my horse riding.
- Go down to a small 8 without looking like I am going to snap

PROBLEMS:
- Currently sick
- No money so low cost all the way
- Last summer I toke a diet to the extreme so looked very thin according to my family (cut out nearly most carb's out of my diet)

Congrats on taking the break up and turning it into healthy self focus!
don't worry about ever looking beefy or manly - unless you take steroids, that'll be fairly unlikely even if you lift weights a ton. Even the "beefy" female body builders look soft and sexy when they're not actively flexing or posing.

For the abs I'd suggest focusing on aerobics like the running and any of the ab workouts on the muscle and strength workout links. to look cut/ripped you need the aerobics to cut down on the soft superficial fat layer everywhere. make sure to eat frequently and check into what your protein/carb/fat ratios are.

good old fashioned exercises in my opinion are the best anyway so, you don't need any fancy gym equipment to really acheive what you want.
get back to pushups, pull ups, skipping rope, clam shells, lunges and squats for starters.

I'm sure the others on the forum will have other great ideas. I've only recently started working out at home but a few of the others have for quite some time.