Workout schedule that worked for you?

My advice is a little different from what other people on here are suggesting, so please take it with a grain of salt and realize that motivation works differently for everyone.

Last year I decided I wanted to lose weight and get in shape. I was very serious and dedicated. I bought a cheap elliptical, got workout gear, clothes, all that stuff. I decided I would exercise 45 minutes a day at least 5-6 days a week.

And I did, for about three weeks. But here's the thing... I was a total couch potato before I started doing that, and it was really hard to go from nothing to that. I was exhausted. My body hurt a lot. So then I went on a work trip, and I had every intention of using the hotel gym, but I forgot my exercise shoes and my sports bra, and then the gym actually cost $20 per day to use, and I fell off the exercise wagon.

I didn't get back on it, either. Once I hadn't been exercising for a few days, I felt so much better. That sounds silly and counter-intuitive, I know, but it was true. And so of course then I didn't want to go back to killing myself. I felt guilty, so I stopped counting calories and, before you know it, a year had passed and I was back up to my starting weight.

This time around, I've been using MFP for about twice as long and being very dedicated. But I read up a lot on the psychology of exercise and weight loss and I heard over and over again that making big drastic changes is hard to sustain. So this time I've started much more simply. A calorie deficit set to lose .5 lb/week. I did that for a few weeks by itself. Then, in order to care for myself on the fitness side of things, I decided to start taking walks as often as I could. Just walks. And no set time limit or number of times per week--just as often as I could. It usually ended up being about 1.5 miles 2-3 times per week. On the days when I don't walk, I try to do some sit-up and push-ups. No set number--just as many as I find the time and have the strength to do.

After doing that for a while, I added in going to the gym during my lunch break one day a week. It's a pretty simple routine, and if I miss a week, I'm still doing everything else and I don't feel like my entire plan for fitness has failed.

I'm usually a Plan and Schedule kind of person, but this time around I'm trying to make a long term change that is easy enough for me that I don't want to stop doing it. This may not be useful to you, but just wanted to share my story and progress so far.

Bodybuilding.com Jamie Eason Livefit program. I am on my second round and love the muscles that I have found. Started with 5 pound dumbbells and can now lift 15. Goal is 25 pounds.

I work full time, am a mother of busy teenagers, go to school part-time. Needless to say I have very little free time. I use Jillian DVD's. My favourites are 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30. I TRY to squeeze the half hour work outs in at least 4-5 times a week and then I add in bike rides or walks using my digifit app on my phone. In the last 5 months I have lost 17 lbs and many inches.

60 minutes of cardio a nd 100 crunches daily

Zumba,Power walking,Step class, Barr body, Bike riding and weight training 3x a week. Whatever u do have fun, its a lifestyle.!!!!