Losing 5 Lbs and Toning Up

Watch your carbs-eat complex ones only THis means cut out most sugar and white flour. You will get posters telling you this is bad and that its a calorie in/calorie out thing and that you can't deprive yourself. Not true. There is scientific evidence that proves simple carbs are the enemy for both weight loss and disease control. Also-yes, dont deprive yourself but don't justify eating them everyday either. You simply will not lose weight this way.
Research is proving that a shorter interval workout is more effective than a longer steady paced workout. This makes it much easier-all you have to do is increase your heart rate and then slow it. THis is accomplished by doing any activity at full throttle for a minute (intervals can vary)and then going slow for a short recovery of about 2 minutes. How I do it is a 5 minute warmup on the treadmill then go at full pace 1 minute and walk for 2. I do this 5 times and then a 5 minute cool down. Jillian Michaels 30 minute workouts are all based on this and are amazing-I would highly recommend if you want to combine weights and cardio and be done in a half hour.

For anyone who hasn't worked out, walking is the best exercise to start with. Then, because you mention toning, I would buy some light hand weights and Google some options for home weight workouts. There are some good ones with instructions available free online.

As far as diet, how about adding one vegetable or fruit serving a day, and eliminating one processed food item. Small changes are the ones most likely to stick.

What are you, like a size 4? Unless you have a very small frame, you are already quite thin. Play with your kids at the park, eat lots of veggies and cut out processed sugar and flour. Your body will be where it needs to be naturally.

I used to be an avid workout gym-rat.
Now that I am home w/kids, I do what I can, when I can.
I have:
-walked (fast) when hubby got home
-rented from lib & purchased workout dvd's from the library, Target when
on sale
-have done pushups, ab crunches, tricep dips
-weights at home
-my newest thing? Walk/run (run until I can't then walk fast, then run)
added doing this w/child in jog stroller (now that adds some weight)
-added more fruit, veggies, water to my diet
-have cut out most sugar, sweets, eating out, fast food
-I eat 3 well rounded, square meals then when/if I'm hungry I will eat a small, low cal, healthy snack in btwn meals.
-workout in such a way that works WITH your lifestyle right now (ex. work
out when kids are napping, asleep etc)
-get up early to w/o before dad leaves for work/kids get up etc.
-you can do it.
-take care of yourself so you can be there for you kids! :)

Hi S., If you (or anyone else) is active on Facebook, I have a online support group called "Be My Diet Buddy", if you want to search it and join. Its a great way to stay in touch with others who are going thru the same thing and we post about recipes, exercises, things that are working for us and not, etc. Good luck!

Videos are a great way to add activity to your day. I get up before anyone else (I never thought I would be a morning excerciser, but I now love having the quiet time to myself and I feel better after working out) and get my workout in every weekday before work. Jillian Michaels has some really good workouts (30 Day Shred, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones are classics) and there are also several other types of workout videos that are out there, depending on what you want to do (yoga, weights, etc). Check out the reviews on Amazon, collagevideo.com, or videofitness.com. Amazon and collage often have video clips that are really helpful to see if you will like the instructor and exercises.