Can't possibly afford gym membership...how could I lift weights?

Five years ago, I lost a lot of weight and dropped from a size 12-14 to a size eight by calorie counting and exercising. I had only 3-lb free weights, and I alternated between cardio one day and exercise videos using squats/lunges with the hand weights the next day. It took me about four months to lose the weight.

Fast-forward to now. After a frustrating weight-gaining 2008 (due to some really devastating personal circumstances that turned my life upside-down), I'm ready to do it all over again. Yet, I keep reading on these forums that one MUST weight-lift to lose weight and not muscle, etc. etc. Sorry, but I can't afford to go to a gym, and I live in Mexico. I have three sets of hand weights now, 2-lb, 5-lb and 8-lb. That's it. Using those, plus following the same exercise program that I did before, will that be ok? I started 7 weeks ago and have gone from 166 lbs to 158.5 as of today. And it's not water weight, because my pants are looser and people are starting to notice that I'm losing. My "saddlebags" are also smaller and my legs feel firmer.

I like Minna Lessig's Emergency Workout, also Crunch's Belly Buns and Thighs Boot Camp, and dance videos for cardio.

Well, there's no actual "must" in terms of amount of weight loss, but you'll be a lot happier with the end result in terms of body composition if you include some lifting in your program.

 Check out the "weights" I started with - you can put together your own from anything reasonably heavy you find around the house. Shopping bags with water bottles, gallon jugs, backpacks filled with books, small children - anything that's within reach and within your ability to lift.

crazypotato,

I use resistance bands for some of my "muscle work". The set I have has three different levels of resistance - easy, medium and hard. I believe I paid about $20 for them.  They're great because you can work alot of muscles with them, they don't take up alot of space in your home, and they're portable - great for when you're travelling.

btw - good job on the weight loss! You should be proud of yourself.

There are also adjustable weights - Dick's sporting goods has them for $50-60 to get up to 20lb/dumbbell, and you can buy additional plates to go up in weight.

http://www.stumptuous.com/no-weights-no-probl em how to make weights at home.

Um...amethystgirl, I live in Mexico. I don't think they have Dick's and if they did, I couldn't afford to pay $900 pesos for them anyway.

Thanks to the rest for the suggestions...I'll see what I can figure out.

Original Post by crazypotato98:

Um...amethystgirl, I live in Mexico. I don't think they have Dick's and if they did, I couldn't afford to pay $900 pesos for them anyway.

Sorry - missed that part of your post Listen to the other guys 

LOL, that's ok. When you grow up in the States, you really take a lot for granted. Eventually, you get used to the lack of conveniences when you move to a less-developed country and learn to do things "from scratch."

I like the resistance band idea, because although the website ideas of sandbags, etc. sounded interesting, it's probably not something I would do consistently. Mostly with making homemade weights, I'm afraid of hurting myself. Perhaps my hubby can help me to rig something up, using broomsticks & little sandbags or whatever (he's remodeling our new home and has tons of sand). There is a Wal-Mart here in Nuevo Laredo, and I think it may sell resistance bands. I already have a workout dvd with a section featuring those, but obviously I'd never done that section before.

Today I went ahead and, for the first time in a long time, did the Toning section of the Minna Emergency Workout with 5-lb weights. My arms are very sore, so at least it's a good start.

If you are losing weight already... then KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!  It's obviously working so far right???  :)  Keep at it!    If and when you find you need more... then it's time to get creative!!  There has to be a few objects in your house that you can use for some new exercise right?  

Keep up the good work and check back here if you find you want or need more creativity!!  :)

Grocery items such as soup cans can make awesome weights! Plastic gallon and half gallon milk containers, minus the milk, filled with sand and sealed tightly also are good.  You'd be surprised how stocked you actually are in the free weights...just look in your pantry! :)

Oh, hey, I live in Mexico too. I got a range of dumbbells from 1 lb to 15 lb at WalMart and Comercial Mexicana. I’ve seen a resistance band at WalMart but haven't got it yet. Marti also has fitness stuff. I got a DVD (Jillian's 30-day shred) from an eBay seller that mailed it to me in Mexico for US$6 shipping and handling.

Some other things you can try for weights:

Pennies (or an equivalent in Mexican currency). 1000 pennies weighs 6 pounds and will only cost you $10. I made weights out of pennies and small bags. Wrapped the string of the bag around my wrist or ankle and did my knee exercises when I had to do physical therapy. Worked great.

Also try a thrift store. I volunteered at a thrift store this summer and we had three sets of free weights, all for less than $15.

Don't forget body-weight exercises. Pushups (start on your knees if you can't handle a full pushup), squats, lunges. Your muscles don't care whether they are lifting dumbbells or your own weight. Also, if you can find one at Walmart, buy an exercise ball. Abs exercises are much more challenging on a stability ball.