Moms who have lost the weight without the gym!

coloradotara · January 2012

Ok, so I am needing some inspiration (I haven't lost anything this last week!)

Moms (or even non-moms), how have you lost the weight without going to the gym everyday? I have 2 little kids and are a one income family, so I can't afford to go to the gym. What kind of exercises did you do to lose the weight? What have you been doing to tone up? How did you change your eating habits? How much weight did you lose? Pictures are always a plus! And thank you so much!

anulle2009 · January 2012

I do have a gym membership but I also do stuff at home. I was busting my butt in the gym for like the past 2 months and nothing. I started doing the 30 day shred by Jillian and lost more inches in 3 weeks then i did in the gym. I also looked up on You tube home exercise to do and how to do them. Jillian's video isnt all that pricey and maybe look into a swiss ball too. I just started using that also.
Food wise, I started looking up healthier recipes on eatbetteramerica.com. skinnytaste.com
Google is a wonderful thing!

mommymeg2 · January 2012

I am a SAHM to two boys, ages 3 and 2 so I know what it's like to be pressed for time! Since December 30 I have lost 15 pounds and haven't stepped foot in the gym. I completely plan to add weight lifting to my life in Feb but it has all been lost with diet alone. I eat clean food (for the most part, I eat some chips or an ice cream treat almost daily) but have stayed within my calories. I drink over a gallon of water as well. My diary is public if you want to take a look

The most important thing is to stick with it! It isn't a change that is temporary, but a forever lifestyle we have to learn to love and embrace!

ks_mommaof5 · January 2012

hello! i'm working mom of five (ages 14 through 6) and can completely understand your dilemma! i'm still a work in progress, but am having great success in my first month by using at-home workout videos. i've had the video i swear by for over 10 years and have used it successfully to fully lose pregnancy weight after the births of each of my first three kids. half price books has a good assortment of fitness videos at reasonable prices (as does amazon).

i engage my kids in my workouts ... which helps keep them occupied! when they were young, i made a set of "dumbbells" out of scrap fabric and filled them with clearance dry beans ... super safe and fun. they also had their own little "steps" for my step workout. they loved marching along with me and talking with them was my no-cost heartrate monitor ... if i couldn't talk, i was pushing it too hard! i also walk with them. everywhere. if they fit into a stroller it's an awesome way to walk/run and get fresh air together.

hope this helps ... YOU CAN DO IT!

jenniet04 · January 2012

I have an elliptical machine, I use lots of DVDs (most of them are under $10 each) and hand weights aren't too expensive, but you can also use anything in the house for weights if you don't have the funds. There are lots of exercises on youtube as well. I've lost 20 lbs in the last 6 months doing at home exercises. I have pics in my profile from doing the 30 Day Shred in December - I lost 6 lbs and 2 inches, with an inch and a quarter of that being in my waist.

For eating, I just log everything I eat and try to keep my intake between 1600 - 1800 calories and at least 100 grams of protein each day. I don't cut anything out, just keep portions under control.

AndiJ2011 · January 2012

Hello!

I eat less (create a healthy deficit for yourself) and just move more. I've had great results with the 30 Day Shred workout DVD. My belly has gone down tremendously in just a couple weeks. I can't believe it myself. Sorry I don't have the exact inches lost. I just go by how I look & feel to determine weight loss progress (as well as how my clothes fit).

I also lift weights 3 - 4 days a week (4, 6, 10 & 12 lb dumbbells). And some sort of cardio a few times out the week. You'll do fine!

Cbcarter08 · January 2012

I'm a part-time working mom of one 2 year old and I have a gym membership but I never have time to go. What I've been doing instead is workout DVDs. The best DVD I've found and its only $9.67 at Walmart is Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred workout. All you need are some 3-5 lb weights. Each workout only takes about 24 minutes to complete and it has 3 levels so you don't get bored. I did the 1st level for 10 days, took a day off, the 2nd for 10 days, day off, then 3rd for 10 days. I combined that with eating 1200 cals a day and I did some cardio on my treadmill 3 times a week. I didn't measure my inches but I lost 7 lbs. I'm 5'8" and I was 157 when I started and 150 when I finished. I looked a lot more toned too. Everyone is different but that seemed to work really well for me! Now I've just started her Killer Buns and Thighs workout and 6 wk 6 pk abs. They seem good too.

I also have my 2 year old do the workout with me. She uses crayons or curlers for weights and we have tons of fun! Good luck!

coloradotara · January 2012

Thank you so much ladies! Very helpful!! I do have a treadmill and a couple of Miss Jillian's videos. I've been power walking on the treadmill, but would like to kick it up and do C25K. I've started 30DS a couple times, but never finished...I need to just stick to it!! Been working on the food, I recently discovered Skinny Taste through Pinterest and absolutely love the recipes...I've made probably 4 things in the last few days from it! Thank you again so much! And congratulations to all of you on a job well done...great inspiration for sure!!

P.S...KS...I am going to have to make hand weights for my little ones! I have a 1 year old and 3 year old. When I started 30DS the first time, my 3 year old was all into it and I had a set of 1lb weights that I let her use, but I was still nervous about her dropping them on her toes! Thanks for the idea!

Mom0fTwo · January 2012

well i have 2 kids and have lost the weight once before (20 lbs) and now doing it again, i don't use the gym cause for me it is expensive and i have no car and it is far for me, so i walk a lot and have done the 30ds once but i have issues with repetitive videos cause i get annoyed with their voices lol, so now i am going the 100 workout you can do it any where any time and i love it waaay more cause i just put on my own music and done in 30 mins, i try to do it as fast as i can and log it as circuit training i am drenched after for sure, my 1 year old tries to work out with me it is adorable her trying to do crunches lol when i get better at it i plan to do it 2x per day, i also add arm raises or curls to the squats cause lets face it they are boring lost 8lbs, in 3 months which is good for me cause i hate to exercise lol

http://everycollegegirl.com/get-fit-the-100-workout/

lame website but they give a good example of what leg lift they mean (i suck at those still) so sometimes i substitute the reverse crunch or bicycle crunch,

you can add me if you like

knapowell · January 2012

I had a gym membership, but I dropped that several months ago. I go to a Zumba class that is offered free at a local church. Actually, there are 3 that I know of in my immediate area - you could look into that, they usually allow kids to come with you. I do Zumba, on youtube while my kids are watching tv or doing homework. Anytime it is pretty, I bundle the kids up and take them for a walk after my oldest gets home from school. I bought several sets of pretty heavy weights, and I have found loads of videos on youtube for strength training with and without equipment. Anytime my husband can take my youngest to preschool, I go jogging. My husband is very supportive, and helps me out anytime he can get home early, and on weekends so I can get some good workout time.

We are a one income family also, so I worried about the cost of food, but I am actually spending less. I buy tons of frozen vegetables, and chicken. I love www.skinnytaste.com for new recipes and Pinterest! Most of my vegetables are eaten plain, no casseroles, sauces, butter, etc. and I eat A LOT of chicken and turkey. I have started making a lot more homemade things, such as desserts, bread, pizza, flour tortillas. That helps, because I know exactly what goes into them. My diary is not always the cleanest, but it is open.

I just jumped right into eating healthy and exercising on November 8, 2010 and haven't looked back. As of this morning I am less than 1 pound away from 130 pounds GONE. I don't exercise everyday. I don't make any food totally off limits. If I am really craving something, I make room for it. I eat dessert every night. I haven't had weight loss surgery or used pills. I log my food faithfully (with a couple of exceptions). I exercise at least 4-6 days per week, even if it is only for 30 minutes.

My profile picture is from several months ago, I need to get new pictures up (hopefully this weekend), but there are several before pictures on my profile page.

cnkan0119 · January 2012

My progress has been slow but the more motivated you are, the better. I have the same issue and it also helps that I am not a big fan of the gym. I will say that when I was consistent with MFP I had a steady loss of weight and inches. I made sure to log everything that I ate, staying within my cals and getting in my workout. I will say that I did not eat all of the exercise calories back. It's easier to workout early before I wake my son up but for a while I did two a days and I usually put on one of his favorite shows in the evening when I worked out. There are plenty of videos to do, there's exercise tv, a lot of possibilities outside of the gym. Invest in a heart rate monitor and you can see how many cals you are burning by whatever you do at home. One evening I danced to 6 songs on the Just Dance 3 for Kinect and burned like 350 cals.

blessedmomof8 · January 2012

Wiggles! When my kids were little I would play their Wiggles dvd and move like the actor did with a simple side step in between songs. The kids were entertained and would even join in.

Now I use workout dvds. We also are a one income family plus I homeschool my 8 kids so the workout dvds are something I can fit in where I can.

Have a blessed week!:flowerforyou:

Stacyanne324 · January 2012

I am still pretty new here but I am a Stay at Home Mom to three small kids (ages 2-5) and although we do have a Family Membership to the local YMCA I never go. It's too hard for me to get there during the hours my husband is home (or it cuts into our time together at night and I don't want that) and although I could take the kids and put them in the child care that just seems too much of a hassle so I don't.
I have lost 12 pounds since November and what I've been doing is watching what I eat so I stay around 1200-1300 calories most days and exercising for 30 minutes five days a week. Right now I'm doing Jillian Michael DVD's becuase they are great for toning and losing weight and I can easily do them in the living room. I generally do it in the afternoon when I put my youngest down for a nap. Then I can set my 3 year old up with some paper and crayons or something to busy her or some days she'll watch and try to exercise with me. Either way it's only a half hour and not that long where she gets really fussy about it.

And recently I've started allowing Sunday as my cheat day. I still log it because it keeps me from going totally hog wild but it helps get me through the week knowing I have that day. And I've noticed that the weeks I've done that and followed it with a couple days of really eating well and exercising I've seen the biggest drops (bigger than when I don't take a cheat day).

ilike2moveit · January 2012

I have 4 children and lost the baby weight with all of them without going to the gym. I would walk some and mainly just limited my calorie intake. (After baby #4, in my mid 30's,I lost the baby weight and then gained it back and have struggled to keep my weight down ever since. I have always been a thin person so I don't know why I have struggled so much with my weight after having the 4th child) Best of luck to you!

Jessie544 · January 2012

There are always things you can do to burn a few extra calories around the house or elsewhere with small ones.... Last year at this time my husband and I started a diet/exercise program and I lost 40 lbs in 5 months... I am starting back up again after gaining 15lbs back, and still wanting to lose another 15-20 on top of that... We have memberships to the YMCA and it's great, but it's not the cheapest, for sure!

As far as options to burn some calories without the gym, here are my first thoughts, off the top of my head... most of which can have easy excuses not to do, but once you find something that works, stick to it!!

-take the kids to the park and run around with them... moving is burning!
-do a workout dvd at home while they nap (my kiddo doesn't nap anymore so that's not an option, lol), watch their favorite cartoon, or while they're eating their lunch and distracted....
-clean the house like a crazy woman! while you're cleaning the toilets, vacuuming, folding laundry, sweeping, mopping.... do it FAST and quick-pased and you're guaranteed to sweat!

I don't know what you're schedule is like or what your home/family life is like.... but there's always a way to burn SOME calories... good luck to ya mama!

melissa0001 · January 2012

I just posted a blog about my last year. I had a membership toa gym for one month, otherwise it was all at home and outside.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/melissa0001/view/one-year-today-on-mfp-201111

bcattoes · January 2012

I lost weight as a mom without the gym, and as a grandmom. I've done so many things over the years to get/remain in shape.

Run, walk, bike, hike, rollerblade, DVDs (lots of DVDs), TV workouts, step aerobics jumped rope, hoola hoop, home exercise equipment (at different times I've had a treadmill, eliptical, stairmaster, free step, universal weight thingy, thigh master (that Suzanne Somers thing, surprising good workout for your thighs), practiced sports with the kids, calethenics, danced, pretty much anything I could think of that kept me moving and fit my schedule at the time.

tistal · January 2012

SAHM too, both kids in school (one part time, pre-k), 1 income, TIGHT budget! No gym membership here either. I coupon like crazy to save $$ on food, including the stuff that only I eat. I do 30 Day Shred (day 8 today) and Zumba on the Wii sometimes twice a day! I list 5.4lbs my first week (I just started last Monday)!!

rltolle · January 2012

I use the Wii (just dance and zumba) with my kids and they love it. i'm exercising and playing with the kids.

arogers98 · January 2012

I have a membership and used it faithfully 6x per week until kids got out for Christmas break. Just used our home treadmill during that time. Bought 30DS and Ripped in 30 over the holidays. Started 30DS this month. I'm going to be canceling my gym membership at the end if my 12 month commitment. I have gotten bigger results in doing 30 DS for the first 10 days than I ever did going to the gym. 4 lbs and 4 inches in 10 days.

KareninCanada · January 2012

I lost 40 lb three years ago at home alone with the kids while DH was away for training...

- LOTS of walking, usually with a toddler in a backpack carrier while the 4yo had a playdate
- My ab routine at least once a day on my bedroom floor would be full sit-ups, crunches, reverse crunches, plank, side plank.
- Legs, I did a lot of leg raises.
- For arms, while I was watching the kids in the bathtub I did wall push-ups and then did tricep dips off the toilet (it's the perfect height)
- On a mini trampoline, I would do sort of jumping jacks with 5-lb weights in my hands, not raising them all the way up, just to shoulder height, or as bicep curls.
- I bought a second-hand recumbent bike for $40 and got on it every night after the kids went to bed. That's when I did my reading.
- Later on we bought a Wii and have a few fitness games for it. Lots of fun.

I'm back to square one after being really lazy for a couple of years... sad to say... but I joined a competition that includes a trainer, have a few friends who are motivating me to get to the gym. There is a social aspect to this kind of fitness training that wasn't there when I did it alone at home... but I don't know if it's any "better."

laursey · January 2012

I work out a home with 3 and 5 pound weights. I do the Jillian Michaels dvds. They're 25-35 minutes each and totally doable. My kids know all the moves now. I've lost 42 pounds and haven't been to the gym once (however I do treat myself to some hot yoga here and there.) If it's warm outside, you can do lots at the park, step ups, sit ups, tricep dips using the bench. I got a jogging/bike stroller so my kids could come with me. Also, Zumba is lots of fun and your kids would probably love dancing with you.

amusco_rn · January 2012

I'm a mom of 2, I work part-time nights as a nurse, and I am going to grad school so my schedule is very difficult to fit exercise into - but I'm doing it. No excuses is my motto. After my older daughter was born, my husband bought me a treadmill (I asked for one - he wasn't trying to tell me I was fat!) and it was one of the best investments we have made. I started the C25K program and within 4 months ran my 1st 5K. 4 months later I ran my 1st half marathon. I really got into running after that. I bought a jogging stroller and away I went!

I was at the height of my "running career" when I became pregnant with our younger daughter. I ran all the way through the pregnancy - running my 5th half marathon at 26 weeks pg. Between running post-partum and breastfeeding, I was in the best shape of my life after she was born. I gained probably 10lbs back after I stopped BFing and I am currently in the midst of P90x. I've fallen away from running for a bit because I've lost a little bit of my former love for the treadmill. And P90x being an hour workout per night, it's usually after 10pm by the time I finish working out.

I try to eat healthy but I also don't deprive myself of a nice treat here and there. I try hard to maintain a high protein/low carb diet I'm really starting to see definition in my arms and around my waist. Good luck on your journey! It's definitely doable with commitment and determination. I often times feel like every small victory, be it, pounds lost, or muscle gained, means so much more to me because I know how much more difficult it is for me to fit in the time to be healthy.

lilsassymom · January 2012

I am a stay at home mom to 3 kids ages 4yrs, 3yrs and 5 months. Before my last pregnancy I decided I wanted to be in better shape so I lost 24 lbs working out at home. My baby is 5 (almost 6 months) and I have lost ALL my pregnancy weight and a couple more on top of that. I am now working on losing another 7-10 more because I was still a little overweight before I got pregnant. I also am hoping to tone up some as well.

I don't have a gym membership as I would rather spend that money each month on investing in my own workout equipment such as workout dvds, dumbbells, etc. All the weight I have lost (before my last pregnancy and now) I have lost on my own at home. I have had a gym membership in the past, but it is sooo much easier to make a commitment and stick to it when I work out at home.

As far as working out goes I do it first thing in the morning after I have fed my kids breakfast and they are still in a good mood---because later in the day they tend to get moody and tired. Both of my children (our baby is too little still obviously) get to pick a 1/2 hour cartoon show on TiVo in the morning---but they know they can't watch them til I get my workout done. I think that gives them incentive to allow me my "mommy workout time." I hope you can find something that works for you

.

As far as workouts go I have tons of Jillian Michaels dvds. I have stuck with her for the majority of my weight loss because I see results with her. I started off with 3,5,and 8 lb weights. I just started lifting to ChaLean Extreme dvds and so I bought 10,12,15, and 20 lb weights to add to my collection. I didn't buy the adjustable weights because I have heard horror stories with those....but my advice is to just start small and build your way up and soon enough you will have your own collection at home of workout equipment. You don't need any elliptical/treadmill equipment to lose weight---just some dumbbells, mat, dvds. Just invest in some dvds that gets you moving and motivated. You also need to find a "trainer" that inspires and encourages you---I love Jillian Michaels but I know some people don't. Good Luck!

Anyone feel free to add me

.

tasnim81 · January 2012

I lost 21 pounds since october and haven't been to a gym even once. I eat healthy and use the free programs over at www.exercise.com, sometimes Leslie Sansone videos from www.exercisetv.tv.

Zoe2901 · January 2012

I have two small boys ages 1 and 2 and abit and at the end of the summer wheni started this i would go running with them in the buggy and lowered my calories and i lost 28 lbs then i had a few months off i couldnt get motivated and started again janurary 10th and have lost aother 9 lbs and i have again been wathcing my calories and sticking to 1800 a day ( im breastfeeding). Ad i have been exercising maybe three times a week a mixture of zumba n the wii and weight lifting and i really think that the weights have contributed to me losing again.

krisnatm · January 2012

I have 2 young daughters and I am also a stay at home mom without a gym membership. I lost 55 lbs to reach my goal weight by lowering my calories, tracking my calories, exercising to various videos, riding my stationary bike, silly dancing in the living room with the gilrs, walking the neighborhood with the girls, lots of housework, drinking lots of water, and a lot of prayer

mrsmifsud · January 2012

. mum of 3 - 12/ 10/ 5 i walk a bit, do a class of aqua aerobics a week, for £5 but my main help has been 'fitness evolved 2012' on the xbox kinect system. if your hubby has an xbox its a great investment- fits into your own schedule as and when you have time, and is really fun and diverse. also has its own mfp kinda thing going on. good luck

ratherbeskiing · January 2012

I am NOT a mom- but I do have two cats

I do not like the gym setting that's why I do not go. I will admit I did buy somethings:
1-Nike +- I went from running 1/2 mile to a 10k
2- Wii- I have Jillian, EA active 2 and the wii fit that comes with it- I love it.
3- HRM- 100% if u have extra money get one BEST THING I EVER GOT.
4- Elliptical- got it of craigslist for $300. awesome for cold days or days where you have 15 min. I put mine in front of the tv.
5- I also have 30 ds

That being said I also had a bike so I bike. I also enjoy hiking and do that in the summer and unless you go to a state park it is free.

That's what I do - Good Luck :flowerforyou:

MJ7910 · January 2012

Jillian Michaels DVD's... healthy diet... that is all i did. no gym!

1. 30 day shred
2. Ripped in 30
3. 6 week 6 pack
4. killer buns and thighs

26 lb lost on this plan!

MJ7910 · January 2012

Jillian Michaels DVD's... healthy diet (1400-1600 calories)... that is all i did. no gym! 30 minutes a day. 1 skip day a week

1. 30 day shred
2. Ripped in 30
3. 6 week 6 pack
4. killer buns and thighs

26 lb lost on this plan!

Moms who have lost the weight without the gym!

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