6 replies to this topic

[phantomraptor]

Hi all! My name's Cassie and I joined Jenny Craig on 9/13/11. I've been steadily losing since I started (last weigh in I was down 17.6 lbs), but now I need to start actually exercising with it! So I'm looking for ideas from other people on exercises to do at home that won't drive me insane. I can't stand treadmills (make me feel like a hamster) and getting to the classes at the gym can be a pain with an 8-5 work schedule (and it's more like 7-6 with traffic). Chores make me very sad, lol.

I'm starting a "competition" with my boyfriend to do 50 mountain climbers a day (as a starting point), but I'm looking to add in additional exercises and start on a real regimen. I just got back from a week-long trip for work where the only dining options were fast food - so I'm sure this week was not good. It's time to up the ante and kick it up a notch!

I'm thinking of doing something cardio-based followed by some strength exercises. I have some light weights at home, so if I can find suitable equipment, I can add in some standard exercises (like bench press or seated rows, etc).

So my questions to you are:
1) What are your favorite exercises to do at home?
2) What keeps you motivated for those looooong work days where you just want to sit around and vegetate?
3) What are some of your exercise routines you follow?

Or any other helpful tidbits and tips you may have!

[I Called Jenny]

phantomraptor, on 18 November 2011 - 09:35 PM, said:

Hi all! My name's Cassie and I joined Jenny Craig on 9/13/11. I've been steadily losing since I started (last weigh in I was down 17.6 lbs), but now I need to start actually exercising with it! So I'm looking for ideas from other people on exercises to do at home that won't drive me insane. I can't stand treadmills (make me feel like a hamster) and getting to the classes at the gym can be a pain with an 8-5 work schedule (and it's more like 7-6 with traffic). Chores make me very sad, lol.

I'm starting a "competition" with my boyfriend to do 50 mountain climbers a day (as a starting point), but I'm looking to add in additional exercises and start on a real regimen. I just got back from a week-long trip for work where the only dining options were fast food - so I'm sure this week was not good. It's time to up the ante and kick it up a notch!

I'm thinking of doing something cardio-based followed by some strength exercises. I have some light weights at home, so if I can find suitable equipment, I can add in some standard exercises (like bench press or seated rows, etc).

So my questions to you are:
1) What are your favorite exercises to do at home?
2) What keeps you motivated for those looooong work days where you just want to sit around and vegetate?
3) What are some of your exercise routines you follow?

Or any other helpful tidbits and tips you may have!

Welcome to the boards! We're happy you're here.

Admittedly, I'm like you, to me exercise (and cleaning house) are dirty words.

But, it has to be done. (sigh)

Anyway, what do you like to do? (BTW loved your comparison of the treadmill to hamsters! LOL)

Do you like to dance? Does your boyfriend like to dance? Perhaps you can take up dancing. Or Zumba. It's great cardio.

It's also a good idea to mix cardio and strength.

Do you have cable TV? My company, Comcast/Xfinity, offers Exercise TV and there are lots of shows that you can experiment with to see if there is something that appeals to you. All of the shows are things you can do with little or no equipment and can absolutely be done at home.

As for your travel dining, even in fast food restaurants, you can always make healthy choices...if you try. Did you get the JC Dining Out Guide? That has lots of good options for you to consider when you're on the road.

You also can either pack some shelf-stable items (not my favorite) or see if there is a JC near to where you're working so that you can pick up some food when you're on the road - especially if you have a fridge and microwave available.

I used to travel a lot on my job too and most of the places I stayed had both a fridge and microwave but I also found that there were some places that you could rent this equipment if needed and some that let you put things in their main fridge (I guess they needed to have it there for people like diabetics who had to keep their meds cold and parents traveling with kids) and there was a "community" microwave in the building. So if you are REALLY serious about this, you can often find options so business travel doesn't have to totally derail you.

We have a number of really accomplished exercise folks and I'm sure they'll chime in soon with ideas as well.

In the meantime, hope you come to the boards often for support, have questions answered, brag about your successes and look for sympathy when things are getting rough. We've all been there and we'd love to help you get over any bumps on your journey that you come across.

Phyllis

[Susanjt]

Welome Cassie,

I love to kickbox. I have a few kickboxing DVDs. My favorite is Prevention Fitness: Kick Start Your Metabolism. It's a great workout and easy to follow. It has 3 15 min routines and an express 8 min rountine. You can do one or combine them. It is a really good workout. I also love Amy Dixon DVDs - she is tough but easy to follow (see the trend...I don't like DVDs I have a hard time following). One of my favorites of hers is Give Me 10! . It has 5 10 min routines that you can also combine. I enjoy yoga too. As Phyllis mentioned, exercise TV is a great resource to try out some different things. They have a 10 min yoga routine with Heather Perkins that is a good way to use at the end of another workout to stretch out your muscles.

Keep us posted on the things you try.

Susan

[annie5]

My favorite exercise at home is Kickboxing(Kathy Smith)and Zumba on my wii. However now I workout with a personal trainer and run. If you are doing exercises at home while you watch tv without a video then I would suggest any full body moves like push ups, burpies, lunges and squats with weights, plank. Hold your stomach in while you are doing them and you will strengthen your core like crazy, without having to do sit-ups!

I know its hard after a long day, you just want to sit and relax, but I find I just want to eat if I do that. Now I always get up during the commercials and do something, it helps keep the mind off food. Even jogging around the room while watching tv is great. You get tons of steps in and it burns lots of calories.

Good Luck!

~Annie

[valerie0118]

Ouch 50 mountain climbers! I can't even do 5, lol. They are my worst exercise that I have to do. Exercise will definitely help you on your weight loss adventure. I find it completely necessary. When I don't exercise, I don't lose weight. I can maintain my current weight but even following the 1200 calorie diet, I don't seem to lose any more.

Check with your gym's website. They might have some plans that you can put together online based on your activity and skill level. There are many different sites on the internet also. I'm personally doing one that involves a lot of circuit training. The plan lets me do it at the gym or at home. I just use some hand weights, a step (like for step aerobics), an exercise ball, and when it calls for me to jump rope, I pretend I have one, lol. I do 2 days of circuit training, one aerobics day (up to 2 hours), and a rest day then back to 2 days of circuit training.

I like to mix this with various DVDs I have. I have yoga, dance, straight aerobics, dvds that focus on specific areas, etc. I've picked up a lot of them used from Ebay and they have all been great!

Push yourself. Don't fall into a routine and stay at the same skill level. Once what you are doing becomes easy, challenge yourself. Exercise should not become routine. But most of all make sure you have fun!

Hope all of this helps motivate you!

[phantomraptor]

Thanks for all the advice!

Figured I'd give a little update. I've started the Couch to 5k and I'm on week 2... I'm not a great runner so it's definitely challenging. But I figure even if my time doesn't necessarily get better, as long as I'm out doing it and giving it all I can for the night, then that's good enough for me, lol. Haven't started on the mountain climbers yet... mostly because they're such a pain! But I'm going to get started on those this weekend - will be nice after having to work on a 30 min presentation and mess about with work on a Saturday >.<

[Susanjt]

phantomraptor, on 02 December 2011 - 08:12 PM, said:

Thanks for all the advice!

Figured I'd give a little update. I've started the Couch to 5k and I'm on week 2... I'm not a great runner so it's definitely challenging. But I figure even if my time doesn't necessarily get better, as long as I'm out doing it and giving it all I can for the night, then that's good enough for me, lol. Haven't started on the mountain climbers yet... mostly because they're such a pain! But I'm going to get started on those this weekend - will be nice after having to work on a 30 min presentation and mess about with work on a Saturday >.<

Good for you! Let us know when you do a 5K...we'll be cheering for you.