Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

**not2late** · September 11, 2006, 02:33 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Hi and welcome!

Exercise equipment: you don't need it. Push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, windmills, and knee-bends and they require only enough space to stand or lie flat on the ground. If you carefully watch the exercise videos, they all do variations of those standard Phys. Ed. exercises.

Walking is free: walk with your 3 year old around the block or to the park. If your 3 year old is still small enough to fit in a stroller, push the stroller and when he/she gets tired, put him/her in it and you push the stroller. The added effort will help burn more calories for you.

Jogging/running is free too! If you have stairs, you can run/walk up and down those for exercise.

The bottom line is you don't need to work out at a gym and you don't need big machines to exercise. The last time I was in a gym was high school. I exercise at home, doing those school exercises, walking, etc.

**Bren** · September 11, 2006, 05:40 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Yep, Megs is right!

Also, you can go to your local library and get video's for free! You only have them for so long, so you won't get bored. Walk-Away-the-Pounds is great for beginners!

**bobbysgirl** · September 11, 2006, 06:01 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Thank you. I'm feeling better about it all now that I've calmed down and thought about it. I'm going to try to work out in the house tomorrow. I've also started looking for a cheap used jogging stroller. That way I can go out during the day with my little guy because he will get tired quicker than me. That's what I'm hoping for. I would much rather be outside. Also my Dh said we can go to a park nearby and take turns with one walking and the other watching the kids. So it should work out. Now I'm just bummed cause I was hoping to have Dh as an exercise buddy. Maybe someday.

**misslili** · September 11, 2006, 10:15 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Bobbysgirl: I too can not afford a gym or a babysitter. I have a 8, 5, and 3 year old. When the two oldest are in school I take my 3 year old and go running (my speed is so slow that he passes me) and he rides his bike. And if he looks sleepy (I wish) I put him in the jogging stroller. And before I had one I just put him in the regular stroller and jogged or speed walked. I do situps and let him sit on my stomach. I bought some cheap exercise videos from Walmart and do that if it's bad weather outside. You do not have to join a gym in order to exercise with small children in tow. You just need determination. I've also went to the mall and put my 3 year old in his stroller and power walked the perimeter outside of it and went inside and did the same thing. It only cost me the gas to get there. You want to lift weights and can't afford them. Find some heavy (not too heavy) things around your house. My kids love the idea of exercising with mommie. I run and they bike for 30 minutes every morning. I've even went so far as to put my littlest one on my back and take him for a piggy back ride around the block. Just get creative. You can do it.

**Elsie150** · September 12, 2006, 08:33 AM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

You don't need a jogger stroller. A regular one will do to start. And outside is great for the kids. And if there is time after dinner have the whole family go for a walk to promote a healthy life style in the kids.

When my kids were little (1&2) I had one of those mini trampolines (I think they are $20 in Walmart) and started off by committing myself to 5 minutes of exercise the first week. Believe me that was long enough for me to start...when the kids would come to the tramp I would jog over to the stairs and just go up and down the one stair...then back to the tramp when they came over to the stair.

I worked hard enough to break a sweat before my 5 minutes was up but by the end of the week I was more than willing to add 5 more minutes...LOL...can you say babysteps.

Or just tuen on some music and set your timer and dance like crazy..the kids will love it and it doesn't seem as much like exercising.

**bobbysgirl** · September 12, 2006, 08:39 AM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Great ideas! And the kids should have fun too!

**Elsie150** · September 12, 2006, 08:51 AM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Let us know how it goes!

**not2late** · September 12, 2006, 09:11 AM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Just a thought...If you live within walking distance of the children's schools, you can walk them to school (staying at a discret distance of course, because who wants to be seen walking with mom right?) and walk them back. This will give you peace of mind your children are safe and exercise.

**bobbysgirl** · September 12, 2006, 01:23 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Ok, so I am sooooo out of shape I didn't get much exercise before I was beat. But I raced my son to the bus stop this morning and played with him while waiting for the bus. Then I did some sit ups and a push up

also some jumping jacks. And I played with my 3 yr old by laying on my back and lifting him up over my head so he could 'fly'. He really enjoyed it even though I could only do it a few times. I'm going to start walking but it was rainy today, so maybe tomorrow. Or after the first couple of days of induction tiredness wear off. I just have to remember that I can't do it all yet and I need to work up to it and every little bit helps.

And I wish the school was within walking distance because that would be a great habit to get into, but unfortunatly it's a little to far.

**DAWNIMMEL** · September 12, 2006, 01:55 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

Another thing I used to do when my daughter was young and I couldn't afford a gym membership (had no interest in one at that time either), I used to put on my favorite CD's and Dance as I used to clean the house and put away the laundry. My daughter used to dance along side. Dawn

**loana** · September 12, 2006, 02:05 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

hey hun I have a membership to gym but never go.... I am bad with exericise but I do have a walk away the lbs by Leslie Sansone and OMG she rocks!
also my van just broke and I went today to walk my kiddo to school and to pi9ck him up so I gto a bit over 2 miles there... he was soo tired

but we will get used to it I cahnged the paperwork for walking instead of car pick up

if it rains I guess I will take the car and park it right next to school

but anyhow little things like dancing with your 3 year old is great I love to dance to silly songs with the kids

**KneonKnight** · September 12, 2006, 03:04 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

i got bored real fast at the y. walking outside is nicer.

**BoxerMom** · September 12, 2006, 06:37 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

I was going to suggest walking but everyone beat me to it. Do you have a bike where you could put a carrier on it? If you live in an area where you can ride, there are great little carriers that pull behind a bike and you can keep your little one safely buckled while you pedal. When my children were toddlers the bike and carrier were the only thing that kept me sane because our house was also small with no basement and getting outside was a great way to boost my spirits.

**Miss World** · September 12, 2006, 10:59 PM

Re: Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

any sort of activity would work.. you don't need a gym ^_^ I used to know this girl was over 300lbs and after a while I noticed that she was losing weight.. I couldn't believe that she did this without seeing a nutritionist or going to a gym.. she did it at home, in her very own room.. she'd do anything that would count as a workout.. rope jumping, runing from one side to the other side (her room was too small I wonder how she managed!), jumping, sit ups, push ups .. you name it, she did it.. and its all in her room...

you can also workout with yoru babies! yes its fun

and you could play with them carry your youngest and all.. this also helps..

a while ago I saw this lady on Opra.. she used her kids as weights! lol... like she'd do sit ups and all with her baby and more...

bottom line is.. you can do all sort of things without the gym.. and working out with family is fun -- all you need is being active

give it a try

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