Exercise at home programs

Hi all!  I am in need of some advice!! (Aren't we all!)

Anyways, I am 5'7" and currently 199lbs.  I started out at 209lbs, so I've lost 10 lbs and 10.5" in just short of a month!!  I'm really excited to keep going, but I'm having some issues with exercise.

I joined Curves, and am going 3 times a week, but I haven't yet started doing cardio the other days of the week, and I'm sure that it would help a lot if I did.  Herein lies the issue.  I am a single mom, and can't figure out what to do with my 4-year-old while I go for a run or something.   I need to figure out how I can get a cardio workout at home.  I've been looking into Slim in 6 and Power 90, but I don't know if they are good or not.

Can anyone give me the names of some good home cardio workouts??  What are some of your experiences?

A 4 year old?   You want to go for a run?

You need a jogging stroller if you want to get some real world cardio in at a track or walking the neighborhood or whatever.   They aren't really that expensive either.   The one we bought at walmart has lasted us probably 6 years now and I've only had to change the tires on it once.   It was a great investment.

Another option...

If you have a paved bike trail or something nearby then you could get a bicycle and mount a kid chair on it and haul your kid around with you.   Bikes are not expensive (you can get a decent bike at walmart or other big stores for $100 to $150)... and the extra seats are around $50.    Then you can seri ously get some cardio in.

BUt I'm sure there are some good tapes and so on.  A lot of people here do tapes like Slim in 6 and my wife even has a lot of various tapes for fat burning that she's done in the past.   But real world running and biking and so on is great... expecially when you can share it with your kid and create a little family event.

I enjoy in home walking tapes, like Leslie Sansone.  I usually try to get up before everyone else and get my walk in, but I get bored if I do the same thing all of the time.  I also enjoy walking outside, but get spoiled by always having the perfect temp when walking inside.  (It's still cold where I live) I also like riding my bike.  Somedays my daughter & I just put on the CDs and dance, fast, for an hour or so. The time flies by!   We also like to do DDR together, but your child is still a little young for that.  We had a stroller that converted into a bike cart also, it was perfect!  Just get moving!  It's worth it. March around your house and up and down stairs if you have to!

Do you know other moms? Maybe you could take turns babysitting for each other while the one of you runs.

I have this same problem I have a eight month old. It is hard to get anything done since she is crawling now. Maybe my workout should be chasing her around! But if you have digital cable they have a fitness channel that has all kinds of different workouts. It is on the ON DEMAND feature its really good they have everything from walking to pilates.

I'm a single mom as well. I go to the gym when my daughters in school, but on her days off I do Tae Bo Boot Camp. It's a great mix of cardio and resistance training. I actually think it's better than a gym workout.

Alot of people here use either Slim in 6 or Power 90.  I just ordered power 90 myself.  Maybe an indoor cardio workout would fit you best.  Do you have FitTV on cable?  They have these awesome workouts, All Star Workouts.  They are very easy to follow and really work you.  I have 2 at home, 3 and 3 1/2 months, so I sympathize with you.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!  I would love to buy a bike and a bike cart, but I'm afraid they wouldn't do much good...the only available times I have to do this stuff is early in the morning (if I can get my butt out of bed before work) and late in the evening (after the little one is asleep).  So I think the indoor cardio is a must, unfortunately. 

I'm just nervous to buy the SI6 or Power90, or any tape for that matter, because I am afraid that the workouts will be boring, in which case they will just end up sitting around collecting dust!!

if your into trying something a little different, yoga or pilates are two options that I always turn to.  Once you go through the tapes a few times you can usually find out what is best for you and even make up your own type of routine.  Crunch - Burn & Firm Pilates
uses hand weights to add even more cardio and muscle building. 

I usually do my cardio at that gym - running 4 miles everyday, but sometimes I like to change it up.

I have a series of tapes at home - tae bo, pilates, yoga, I dusted off my Power 90 which I had purchased a few years ago (LOL). 

This is my third week on Power 90 and have already lost a few inches.  

Since starting my workout regime in March I have lost 31 pounds.  I think you need to find something that you will enjoy doing. 

If you are worried about getting bored with the workouts, or not liking them, Netflix has some workout dvds - you could see which ones you like best and buy them, or do a contant rotation.  Just an idea.

That Netflix idea is great!

Thank you all for your suggestions!

Happy Calorie Counting!

I have lost 17.5 pounds using the dance dance revolution (ddr) game on xbox. I am up to the lite level and go for about 30 minutes, burning between 350 and 400 calories, depending on which songs it throws at me. It even keeps track of my progress for me! I love it. Also it can be kind of pricey but I bought my mat at a second hand store for four dollars and the game on ebay for 25, so I got a fantastic deal. So if you do consider this; shop around a bit and you can probably save some money.

Well, I just discovered a way last night, which will work great with my school schedule, when I can't spare the time to dress and drive down to the gym, but I can take 20 minutes here, and 20 minutes there....

Do you get cable?  My provider has a FREE On Demand fitness channel with a wide variety of workouts (did I mention they're free?) - aerobics, tae bo, balance ball, LOTS of ab-focused stuff, pilates, yoga, the list goes on....

So, the one I tried was with Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser.  I just adore him, his style is perfect for me: gentle, encouraging and funny.  Well, workout was excellent - wasn't too hard, only lasted 20 minutes - and boy, do my abs feel it today!

The video I selected is also available through something called Push, which is a subscription service that sends you a new DVD with a variety of workouts each month, which I think is pretty dang brilliant, wish I'd thought of it.  When I no longer have free membership to a gym after graduation, I might well try the Push thing, assuming that they're still around in a couple of years.

nightc1: Awesome!!!! I just figured out I have the same thing... but i'm moving in a week and won't have this cable anymore.