At Home Work Out Suggestions

Updated on May 03, 2010
K.S. asks from Saint Paul, MN
28 answers

I have limited time to get to the gym. I can usually manage about 1 hour after work. But that leaves the weekends w/no gym access. We are just too busy and besides, I do like to reserve the weekends for family time.

But I thought I'd like to trying working out at home. I see tons of ads for fitness dvds, etc. But was hoping the moms out here could give me a suggestion about which one is the BEST?! I am not looking for anything too intense/over the top. And I also don't want to make a big investment in equipment. Any dvd that required more than a fitness ball and hand weights would be too much. Any ideas?

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J.M.

answers from Davenport on

You could try getting a Zumba DVD. Zumba is more fun that just working out! I do Zumba and I love it!

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I use exercise DVD's every morning. If you log onto CollageVideo.com, there are tons of videos to choose from. Good luck! K.

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S.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

I too have no money or time for a gym working between working 2 jobs and having 2 young boys at home. I have always worked out at home and only have hand weights and a yoga mat. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred is a great at home workout DVD and the work out is only 20 minutes a day! I highly recommend it, and you can pick it up at Target for like $10-$15. Along the lines of the Beach Body brand (I see some people have suggested P90x)....look at "Slim in 6" those are also great dvd's although the work out is around 45 mins 6 days a week. I've gotten great results from them and you can usually get the set decently priced through Ebay.
Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels.

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

Try going Ondemand if you cable. I always find something new and its better than getting stuck with a video that you might get bored with.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I do a lot from fittv. I brought coremax because of how great they were from fit tv. Renting from the local library is another great option

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L.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

I really enjoy the Biggest Loser Cardio Max and Power Sculpt DVDs, I always feel so refreshed after doing them! And you don't have to use weights if you don't have them (although an alternative is to use filled water bottles or soup cans...whatever you have around the house!)

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E.M.

answers from Des Moines on

biggest loser cardio blast worked wonders for me. 20 mins to start out then it works up in 3 steps to about an hour i think. also check out Self.com they have great exercise videos and tips!

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Use your local libraries, they're free and you can try them out before you buy them. You can also request dvd's from the library online if yours doesn't have many choices. I workout in the a.m. before the kids get up, that way it doesn't take away from their time. I like Denise Austin because she includes pilates, yoga, cardio, stretch, weights... easy to do too. Prevention Magazine has a couple I like also. Really though, I use the library a lot so I don't get bored. There are some shows on tv too depending on your cable.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

IF you want to buy a dvd set, the 10 minute trainer is a great set. You can do just one section or put things together to get a more complete workout. Plus it comes with the equipment needed. Tony is a good motivator and is realistic in setting expectations. I had the Power 90 dvds and then decided to get the 10 minutes trainer since it is hard to find time to workout, Now if I could just find out where my daughter put them.

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D.R.

answers from Green Bay on

The best workout videos are any of the Biggest Loser videos or Jiliians 30 day extreme. This one is a little harder but it starts off slow and builds up! Good Luck

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C.C.

answers from Washington DC on

One thing that I tried and loved was online fitness "videos". If you have the ability to watch workouts on your computer, it was convenient, inexpensive and you can choose from hundreds of different videos from kickboxing to step to yoga. The website I used was www.demandfitness.com. Good luck!

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L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Netflix has a lot of workout videos that you can watch instantly. It's great because you can try different ones easily for free and decide what works for you. I don't have a lot of free time and enjoy 10 minute Pilate workouts.

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D.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I don't know if you have heard of Chris Freytag...she is featured on "motivation mondays" on kare 11 and teaches classes at the Lifetime in Plymouth. Well she has videos that are associated with Prevention Magazine that I love. I just lost 17 lbs with 10 more to go thanks to her workouts and eating right. My favorites are the "Drop it in 30" and 3-2-1 Circuit workouts. She has a website if you want to check it out.

K.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I sent you a private message, but in case you dont check those I am a Beachbody Coach and would love to help you select something that works for you. Go to www.fungettingfit.com and look around. Let me know what you like or email me ____@____.com and I can help get you started!

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L.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

If your husband at home to watch the kids while you exercise? If so, here's the cheapest equipment I can think of: Open the front door and go outside for a "power walk."

The outdoors is much better for exercise. You're less likely to give up. For example, if you walk 1 mile from home and get tired, your only option is to turn around and go back home (instead of ending the workout right there). For more intensity, find some hilly areas to incorporate into your walk. Or go off trail and walk in deeper snow--that is a major workout. Or you can carry weights. I find that the outdoors is much more inspiring and you will keep to your lifestyle longer. DVDs get old pretty fast.

You won't be alone. There are plenty of us outside there with you! The more the merrier.

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M.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

My husband and I recently started doing Tony Horton's 10 minute trainers. It's a set of DVDs with several 10 minute work-outs. He's also the creator of P90X but we couldn't imagine spending an hour or more EACH DAY working out for 90 days! We have 4 children under six so getting in anything resembling a work out is a small miracle! It's great because you can do just one work out if that's all you've got the time to do or put together several and get a half hour. You can order a set of bands to go with it and that's all you need. And, trust me, it will work you out! Here's a link to his website: http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/10_minu...

Hope you find something that works!

M.

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J.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I haven't had the energy to try it, but my friend swears by the P90X series for losing weight.

Although, if you're working out at the gym 5 days a week, IMO you should give your body a break on the weekends, and be active WITH your family. Set an example and get them involved - walks, bike rides, family yoga, dance to fun music in the living room, play catch, kick a soccer ball.

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I have tried a lot of workout dvd's...I find that I get bored pretty easily with them. BUT my favorite - that I come back to time and time again is The Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga & The Biggest Loser: Boot Camp. Bob Harper leads both and I just love him. He has a nice way about him.All you need is a mat and some free weights. If you had a medicine ball too that would be great - but not necessary. The workouts are customizable too - you can add levels on to the basic workout to intensify it or only do certain portions of it if you are crunched for time. I do the yoga every morning (or I did before I had a newborn!) and during the week I do the shortened workout and on the weekends I do the longer workout with the add on's. Handy. Neither one was expensive.

I also like Jillian Michaels dvd's but they are very intense. I couldn't ever "stick" to hers because you really had to gear yourself up for them.

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K.L.

answers from Des Moines on

If you want a great, hard workout, try a Jillian Michael's one. I have her 30 Day Shred and it's a killer. It's a quick 20 minutes, but you get a hell of a workout! And you should just go to your local library and rent some and see which ones you might like!

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A.P.

answers from Omaha on

I agree with some of the other posters that 30 Day Shred is great. Also, I do Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim Fast & Firm! 4 Really Big Miles tape on my lunch hour (just the first two miles)--otherwise I like to walk outside. And my new best dvd is Body Sculpt by Core Fusion--this is more of a toning workout, but it is amazing! All of these workouts don't require much besides hand weights, a chair,or a mat if you aren't working out on a carpeted surface.

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A.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I absolutely loved beachbody! There is a set of DVDs, and you can switch around. When using this set, I lost 3 clothing sizes and had tons of energy. I got tons of compliments as well. It took about 1 week to get into a good rhythm and then it was just a part of my day. Good luck! Btw, I like the idea of looking at the library!

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S.L.

answers from Madison on

Hello,
I started doing the Planning Family 8 Week Shape up Challenge a few weeks ago. The lady is a personal trainer who has designed a workout specificaly for moms to do at home. All you need are a few hand weights, a yoga ball (maybe, I go without sometimes) and a half hour a day. Let me know if you want more info about this and I'd be happy to help get you started. I have made some minor adjustments for the cardio days i.e. instead of running outside I just run in place for 20 minutes.
Hope this helps,
S.

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T.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

I really like Leslie Sansone 4 Mile Powerwalk. It's not a crazy aerobic kick-butt kind of workout, but more like a "get moving for an hour" workout that anyone can do without getting lost or loosing motivation.

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M.T.

answers from Milwaukee on

I also vote for Jillian Michaels 30 day shred! Start with very light hand weights, though and work your way up.

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B.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

Nintendo WII FIT is AWESOME!!!

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A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have recently started working out using a kettlebell and I LOVE it. For the most part I have only done a big workout when I've attended class once a week, but I can feel a difference in my posture and energy and I've even found I'm getting some muscle definition! The workouts don't need to be long to be effective.

I'd recommend, if you can, to try a class at your gym if offered, or even consider a trainer for a few sessions. I think the form might be difficult to get right if you're just trying to copy a video. But once you're started, it's a great way to be fit. (I keep my bell in the kitchen so I can pick it up and do a few exercises while waiting for the microwave, or for water to boil.)

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A.E.

answers from Minneapolis on

\]
=Fit Yummy Mummy. It's not a program...it's a lifestyle change. Without it I wouldn't have been able to lose the baby weight. 15 minutes a day 6 days
a week very doable\\

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