I am new and I had my first weigh in today. I lost 3 pounds my first week and I am satisfied with that, but I feel I could be doing more in the exercising department. I work full time (9-5 M-F) and I am a full time mommy to one 5 year old boy. I seem to not have the time to fit exercise in at all. I can't afford a gym and defanantly wouldn't have the time to go to a gym. Does anyone have any advice on exercise I can fit in at home that is priceless or doesn't cost a lot and works? 

 

Thank you!!

 Binky09

Congratulations on losing those first 3 pounds.  If going to a gym is not in the cards for you, try checking out the work out videos that are available on the Alli home page.  There are some great suggestions and these are things you can do at home.  And most importantly taking daily walks with your son would be very beneficial.

I did get myself one of those fitness balls and they work really nicely, they also come with a workout chart and I think at Wal-Mart they will run about $10.00, also Wal-Mart has some cheap dumbells that are like 3lbs and run about $2 or $3 each.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Char 

 Binky, welcome and congrats on your first loss! I completely understand! I too work full time, and am a single mother of two teenagers. I tend to get up early, at 4:30 and get half of my workout done for the day. I have a stability ball at work that I sit on instead of a chair and that way I can do lots of little exercises throughout the day. I even have a resistance band at work that I can do one or two sets of something on my breaks. Then at home in the evening, I have a mini jogger, a treadmill, two more stability balls (different sizes) another resistance band, and some hand weights as well as an assortment of dvd's. In your situation, I'd do the evening exercises after your son goes to bed at night. It doesn't have to be much, but every little bit helps. Hope that helps!

If you have Cable or dish TV there are a lot of exercise programs on early in the mornings and in the evenings too.  Could you walk a little at work during lunch?  If nothing else take your son with you for a walk after dinner.  He will love it and it can become a special bonding time for you and him.  Wal-Mart has a lot of exercise DVDs that are not expensive.  They are too varied to mention but you should be able to find something that you think you would like.  You could also check your local newspaper for used exercise equipment if you think you'd like a treadmill or stationery bike.  Or even get a bicycle and ride it in the evenings.  You're young and you might like that better than a piece of indoor equipment.  If you put your mind to it I'm sure you can manage to get in exercise at least a few times a week.  It all adds up and it is all beneficial.  Good luck.

Liz

I take my kids with me on my walks and they love it. I have only been with the alli program a week, and have lost 11 lbs. I work 11 1/2 hrs a day so if i can do it you can too. In fact your five year old will in fact love the idea of the outdoors.

I know it's hard to afford a gym but it's worth it. Find out if a gym in your area gives workplace discounts. Or go sign up when they are having membership deals. I only pay 30 dollars a month to go to Golds. That's 30 dollars WELL spent and they have free childcare. I go right after work 3 days a week. And all the classes are free like spinning, yoga, pilates. The variety keeps me interested and motivated. Consider it health insurance! That is 30 dollars I do NOT feel guilty spending and it's ME time. Every mommy needs and deserves that. If not then find a local park and invest in a jogger. Start off walking then maybe running. It's fun for you and son.

i know its hard too, thats how i got so fat before i decided to make MYSELF a priority.. Now i kind of schedule my workout in just like an important appointment.. because it IS!!.. sometimes i have to move or reschedule my appointment , but I am important too.. my health and well being is important.. showing your son that you need a few minutes each day to tend to YOUR needs is a valuable lesson.. what do you do with him if you need your hair done?? what about doctor or dental appointments??.. maybe sometimes you can incorporate him into your workout time, but i really think that it is important to have at least 30 mins a day to yourself.. ok since i have turned 50  i have become rather selfish maybe, but i am convinced that i need to take care of myself.. the kids grow up and move away (hopefully)  and  i want to be healthy in my golden years..  council j18  is on the right track.. but if you STILL think that the gym is not for you, then at least do something 20 mins a day for YOU!!!  Good luck  and let us know how you are doing....kathy

Understanding the 9-5 thing...you should start walking group at your place on employment.  I have the type of job where I am sitting most of it and it's just a few steps to the vending machine where there are sodas and candy bars galor.  With starting this little buddy system of ours, a co worker and I have started walking for 30 mintues 3-times a week (on top of any exercise that I may do on my own).  I think that it's beneficial for those men and women that have children, families, etc and other things to tend to after work (and those that make excuses).  Let me know what you decide to do..it's helped keep me motivated..

I work full-time and have a million excuses for not having the time to exercise, such as my son's sports, band concerts and school activities; my mother's need for me to be with her and do her chores, my husband's need for me to make his meals and pick up after.  Back when my son was 3 or 4, we used to have sit-up and push-up contests where he'd do ten, then I'd do ten, and so on until usually I gave up so he'd win.  We both won because I was a lot thinner then.  I guess it is time to bring these contest back, although my son now 13 will definitely win hands down.  While watching his sports I will walk as I watch.  I, also, used to do sets of squats by holding the back of a kitchen chair while setting the table for my family's meals.  It's time for me to do this again.  Thanks for your inspiring me to remembering these exercising opportunities.

Cherie

I do know how you feel.  I think we've all gone through lamenting that there simply is no time to do the things we say we'd like to.

With two kids with autism, a very busy teenager, and a husband who travels extensively with his work, I thought I'd never find the time to....write a novel, exercise, cook healthy.  Clean under my bed *g*.

When I came to terms with the fact (with a little help from my DH and yes, I wanted to strangle him when he said it,)  that I wasn't doing all of those things because I chose not to accommodate for them in my life, I found creative ways to add the things I kept saying I really wanted  to my life.  That is, I found the time after I got done ranting about all the reasons I couldn't do those things. :)

The time I used to spend vegged out in front of the tv is now spent on my elliptical watching DVD's of my favorite series or movies I've wanted to see. If I haven't done my exercise, those shows don't get watched.

My husband put a nursery monitor in every room so I could keep an eye on my sons and still be free to cook healthy meals.  I write when my kids are asleep.  Granted, it's still a mess under my bed :)

I take my laptop out to the pool now so that while my kids swim, I can work on my writing.  All the time I spend waiting in cars to pick up my kids, I now spend dictating stories into my handheld voice recorder.

Since I agreed to actively rearrange my life to accommodate for some of my dreams without sacrificing my family's needs, it became doable. I left the 200 pound mark behind several months ago. I sold a novella a couple of months ago to a respected publisher and have another going to contract in the next couple of weeks.

I know it sounds awful to put in writing, but every day brings with us a set of choices.  When we make a new choice, we change how the people in our lives respond to us, and that, in turn, changes how we view ourselves.

There is room in all of our lives for dreams. I truly believe that. I choose to be happy, fulfilled and healthy.  By doing that, I am a far more effective mother, teacher, and advocate for my children, and a better wife to my husband. 

And I'm so happy to have Alli as a little extra support in a frantic life!