Excercise at home, can it be done?

I am really good at making up excuses not to excercise, it's too hot, I dont have a gym membership, etc.. So I wanted to get some ideas of what I can do at home, videos won't work because I hate them. Maybe something like a fun routine, I wanted you to share your routine with me, wether it be dancing, situps, etc. something that can be done without equipment and at home. I don't plan on doing this everyday but I want to be prepared for those days that I just don't to go out there. I want to be able to burn some calories at home. All your suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

The basics of a home gym.

I only workout at home, and my set up isn't quite Krita's. I've got a bench, squat rack, barbell, adjustable dumbbells, pullup bar, and an exercise ball.

I have weights, stability ball, bench, step, treadmill, pullup bar, and a Wii.

I have a bunch of stuff I can do on the Wii, from DDR, and Wii Fit , to "My Fitness Coach".  The fitness coach is what I've been doing lately on my non-wieght lifting days.

Other days I lift weights following NROL right now. 

I also go swim/play in the neighborhood pool. 

I had a wake up call and had to begin to work out after back surgery (  major fusion) last feb. I need to lose weight, but also strengthen my back and tone up etc.  I needed to start walking right away, out of the hosp, so the second day out I started walking, round and round in my kitchen and living room, I did that for a year,  a few times I went to the track but mostly walked around and around or dance or whatever for an hour. made up my own steps with the dancing.  anyway I also had to do strengthening for my back, pilate type exercise, I was taught how to do them at therapy.  they are basically just like pilates. you can get a book or a dvd to show you how to do them or take a class for a few times to get the handle. I do them nearly every night for strengthening. as you go along also you can add strap on weights to arms and legs and graduate lbs from 1 to 5 on arms and legs.  this will help tone.  you need to start slow on pilates though. maybe 5 reps of each the first week, 10 the next week and so on.  when I got up to 30 they put the 1 lb weight on, then went back to 10 reps and worked back up.  pilates are wonderful. you do not have to use the weights to get results. it will take some time, but the crunches and all will do wonders for tummies. mine is still big, but half what it used to be a year and a half ago.  I was in a size 26/28 to 30/32, and now I am in an 18. I was 280 now I am 210.     the first step is saying that you are ready to do this and are not going to let excuses keep you from doing it.  I wanted to say, " I can't walk because I don't have a tread mill,or whatever. after the back surgery I made myself do it. now it is second nature( almost... not quite) haha.  I also swim in the summer and that is when I really see the weight loss take place.  swimming moderatly  lap for one hour burns 660 cal. compared to 330 cal burned walking 1 hr.( 3 miles.)...  swimming is my fave exercise.. I actaully love it............ hope that helps..   when I dance I use the same " route I use when I walk around living room and kitchen and I will waltz polka two step or whatever  sometimes I line dance( I used to know them all) dancing burns more calories than the walking...  I always turn the music up loud when I am home late at night by myself that really puts a pep in my step.  I now have a tread mill so I use that alot, but like I said  you can walk around and around in house, it works.( I live in the country but it is not safe to walk on our country road --just an oil top-- not hwy....where they drive 70 mph.   the neighborhood kids can't even ride their bikes... so sad)  good luck.. I hope you find something that works for you.

I went from 145 to 115 without stepping foot in a gym. I did Taebo tapes, preferably with the bands. Now, I will go running, jump rope...we have an elliptical at home. I got an exercise ball i do strength training with. And im doing jullian michaels 30 day shred. I much prefer working out at home. If you have stairs you can do lunges. You can just pick a spot and start doing pushups. Its endless

YES, it can be done! I went from 210 to 140 (then had a baby and then lost the weight again) all at home...never been to a gym.  I have exercise DVDs, playstation DDR, a rebounder, a stability ball, a step, and a large yard to walk around.  I usually exercise 45 min. to 1 hour in the morning...this is a good workout that really gets my heart pounding, and then a second less intense workout in the afternoon...like an hour or so of DDR, or a 2 mile walk outside.  Once you start doing it and seeing results, the excuses will stop and you'll be excited to work out!   

For years I tried running, etc. Never kept it up. Last year at 55yo I decided I needed something that was easy, free, and could be done until I get old and die. So I started walking. Never thought it would work but I bought an iPOD and loaded it with rowdy rock music and started. Only a mile at first. Now I do between 2-4 miles every single day regardless of weather. You can see on my weight chart in my profile that when I started walking last September the weight poured off me. Now I am 50lbs lighter and my health measures all came down...BP, Chol, etc. I passed a physical with flying colors.

So...yes...you can simply walk and get healthy. I walk in the streets but my wife walks at a local mall where they let people in early to do loops. Malls are larger than you think. Each loop around is about 3/4 mile at her mall. Easy to get in a few miles in a nice setting.

I am doing a fair bit of strength training at home at the mo, with no weights.  Lots of things around the house can substitute as gym equipment, get creative, have a look around and see what there is.  

I use old text books (1-2kg) for weights.  I'm not too bothered about battering them.  

The stairs are a good option for leg exercises, lunges, step ups and tricep dips.

Find things good for using your own body with a bit of resistance -

Any flat wall (i.e. no light switches, dado rails) will do for chair squats with a book as a weight.

Stand with your back against the wall, legs bent 90 degrees like you're sitting in a chair.  Hold a weight out in front and raise to the wall, arms straight.  Careful not to strain of course.

depending on the height of your sofas or bed, you can do tricep dips or leaning push ups on those too! Lots of creativity goes a long way.  Have fun!

I don't have time to go to the gym, so I've been working out at home for years. I find it more comfortable. I've been buying just enough gym equipment to get me through the current stage in my workout plan. I've been working out to tapes and DVD's for years and recently started the NROL4W. I strap the ipod to my arm and go to it. If you don't have equipment, I'm sure you can find something heavy enough to take the place of weights. I used to use gatorade bottles until I got my adjustable dumbells.

You can exercise anywhere. I went to Tahiti last summer and stayed in a bungalow on a beach - there was no 'main' hotel/lobby or fitness facility - just bungalows spread across a 2.5 mile area of beach. I got some of my best workouts during that week using my own bodyweight, a volleyball  - and the sand on the beach as resistance when running. I even did pull ups from a tree branch.

So yah, if you are self motivated and somwhat inventive, you can have amazing workouts ANYWHERE!