Strength training without the weights?

resistance bands can work
pushup or pull ups
you can use a table chair to do backwards tricep extentions
for pushup to vary the intensity and target different muscles put your feet in the chair and do pushups at an incline

You can use soup cans or water bottles for lighter weights. On the Revolution they were using empty laundry detergent bottles filled with rocks because they had handles and so you could manage the larger weight easier than using, say, an empty peanut butter jar filled with rocks. They also duct taped water bottles to an old broom handle to make a weighted bar.

I am in the same boat as you. I looked up body weight exercises online and found so man more than I thought there would be. Some of them are super fun for the kids to join in with, like the crab walk, the bear crawl, and ski jumps. I also use my youngest as an added weight for squats and it is teaching her to count. Good luck on your journey!

I use resistance bands even at work.. on my break i use them in my office. And they really tone your arms if you work at it.

I've been looking for body weight and resistant band exercises. I have found this website which seems a good starting point:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/basictraining.htm

I was about to say checkout Youtube. FREE is my FAVORITE WORD!

you can find anything on youtube

Nerd Fitness!
http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

Thank you for the comments. Im sure I can put most, if not all, of that to use. My kids love hanging all over me so I think I may just incorporate them into my workout too so they can have some fun while I exercise.

My brother often benchpresses his four year-old

I have been doing EA Active-on Wii, it uses resistance bands and lots of lunges. My legs and arms are getting firmer all the time! I can even do a "real" push up or two now

Thank you for the comments. Im sure I can put most, if not all, of that to use. My kids love hanging all over me so I think I may just incorporate them into my workout too so they can have some fun while I exercise.

My brother often benchpresses his four year-old

I bench-press or shoulder-press my son daily but he only weighs 25lbs. This weekend I shoulder-pressed my 6 year old niece. It is even harder then weights as the weight is not evenly distributed so your balancing muscles and core get much more of a workout.

I just finished a 10-week bootcamp and we did this routine for a few days. It involves no weights and it will kill you.

Start with 3 sets of planks, hold for 20 seconds and increase by 10 seconds each week.

40 squats
20 pushups
30 burpees
20 lunges on each side
20 leg raises

Do that 3 times and time yourself (goal is under 30 minutes). The next week increase the pushups, burpees, and leg raises by 10 and try to beat your time. It looks harmless on the page but I assure you, it's very difficult.

Hope this helps you out bud, I usually do about 100 pushups everyday.


Lower body
Jump squats with a pause in the squat position - 3 sets of 8 reps
To perform this exercise, move down into a full squat position and then explode off the floor, jumping as high as possible. Upon landing, move back down into the squat position, stopping halfway down to pause for a count of 5 seconds before finishing the squat and rebounding off the ground again.

Step-ups - 3 sets of 20 reps with a 2:0:2 tempo
While step-ups are traditionally done with a barbell across the back, if you use a step that’s high enough and take the rep range higher while slowing down the tempo, you’re really going to feel this exercise.

Half-to-full stationary lunge - 2 sets of 15 reps with a 2:1:3:1 tempo
Get into the position you would use to do a single stationary lunge and then begin the movement until you are halfway through the typical lunge movement. Reverse the direction back to the starting position again, and then proceed to complete the full lunge motion to complete one set.

Single-leg rising deadlift - 2 sets of 15 reps with a 3:1:3 tempo
Begin in an upright standing position and then simultaneously begin to lift one leg off the floor behind you while bending over with the body until your leg and body are perpendicular with the standing leg (both legs remain straight). Hold for a single count before returning to the starting position and switch legs after all reps are completed.


Upper body
Alternating push-up to side plank - 3 sets of 15 reps with a 2:1:4 tempo
Begin by performing a standard push-up, taking two seconds to lower and one to rise back up. Once you’re at the top of the movement again, you are to flip onto your side and perform a side plank, holding that for a count of 4 seconds, moving back into the push-up position before you complete the next rep.

Pull-up with pike - 3 sets of 15 reps with a 2:2:2:1 tempo
Start by performing the traditional pull-up movement, but once you reach the bottom of the movement, move into a pike trying to get your legs up to at least waist level. After the pike is completed, continue on with your next pull-up.

Single-leg tricep dips - 2 sets of 15 reps with a 2:0:2 tempo
Get into a standard dip position, with your legs up on a bench or box. Once you're balanced, lift one leg off that box and perform the tricep dips from there. This will call your core into play to a much larger extent due to the fact you have a reduced base of support. Remember to do equal sets on each leg.

Inverted row - 2 sets of 15 reps with a 2:1:2 tempo
Begin by lying on the floor with a broomstick or pole across two level surfaces. From there, grasp the bar as you would if you were doing a bent-over row (upside down) and pull the body up to meet the bar. Make sure your pole is well supported and not at an angle.

some fun exercises:

the kong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdwoctl_U84

the ape step: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mJNJKwcgbI

tabata-type routine. 24, 30 second intervals. Each interval is made up of a 20 second and a 10 second period.

First 8 intervals: 20 seconds of bodyweight squats (I alternate shoulder width stance and sumo squats)...and 10 seconds of holding the squat in the down position

Next 4 intervals: 20 seconds of push-ups followed by 10 seconds of holding push-up in the up position

Next 8 intervals: 20 seconds of full plank followed by 10 seconds of side plank, alternating sides each interval

Final 4 intervals: 20 seconds of lunges followed by 10 seconds of T push-ups. (last time I did this workout, I did full burpees for 20 seconds and rested for 10 seconds instead of this).

I usually "finish" the tabata routine by doing 20-50 med ball slams....one of my favorite full body exercises, but it does require a slam ball. you could also finish any routine by going outside and doing 5 10-20 second all out, pushing from your *kitten*, sprints.

Also check out M100's combines body weight strength training with cardio.