Help! Non-gym indoor exercise

I live in a climate where the weather's pretty unreliable, so while I love to bike, I can't always count on being able to, and I'm not able to keep any sort of large fitness equipment (i.e. - stationary bike) where I live.

I also have had some really negative experiences at gyms, and would rather not go. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for exercises that I can do with minimal equipment, in my own home, that will help tone my legs and core? 

Any help would be really appreciated.

i love doin wall sits (back against the wall with legs at a 90 degree angle to the floor as if ur sitting without a chair). This is also good if u hold something in ur hands at the same time like full water bottles. U could also do plank exercises that strengthens the entire core in about 1 - 2 mins.

I've been doing kickboxing, and I just started yoga.  I Tivo programs from FitTV, and I just invested in some DVDs.   The only equipment I needed was a set of 3 pound weights and a mat.

I just upped my amount of exercise from about 30 minutes a day to about 90 over the past 2 weeks, and I am starting to feel a difference in my core and quads.

I agree with the dvds option.  Go to local library and check out some and if you find some you enjoy then purchase those online or at Walmart or video stores etc..

Question, where do you keep your bike when not using it?

The reason I ask is you can buy a trainer for your bike to fit in, they aren't very big and fold up (takes up the space of a folding chair). there are several companys that make them. The one I like is cyclops, there is also blackburn that is very good.

You could just set a mat or towel on your floor(to catch the sweat that drips off you ) and ride in front of your TV.

I do all my winter riding indoors like this and do around 600-800 miles a month that way.

I also have a total gym, they fold up and can be storied in a closet, I have had great success with this peice of equiptment.

My bike usually sits in my bedroom when I'm not using it, so the trainer sounds like a really good idea for me.  Thanks!

leinad - how do you like the total gym?  We have one but I could never get used to it.  I now do weight class at comm college instead.

debbb13 - I started doing the wall sits you suggested, and it's tough, but really good. Thanks for the suggestion.

You might consider getting one of those big bosu balls (any retailer sells them) as they are very adaptable to any indoor excerise from sit-ups to pushups. You can also combine them with weights to strengthen core while you are working other muscle groups. I totally hate mine (which means I am using it and it works because I can feel it in those places long after I have completed my workout!), and there is no end to how you can incorporate it into a workout.

I also agree that getting some dvds are a good investment as they can shake things up and keep it interesting, which keeps you at it.

Good luck!

you could buy a good dvd series. I am doing Power 90 by Beach Body & have been quite successful in the 70+ days I've been doing it.

All you need is some dumbbells or resistance bands for the weights workouts

If you are more fit or need advanced workouts, they have that too (i.e. Power 90 Masters Series, or for serious fitness Power 90X). I never need a gym membership, the workouts are fast, effective & there's never any weather excuse to not get them done!! :)

Good luck!

Dee

HELP! I love to bike, but its not always possible! It's almost winter, so i need some indoor exercises, but i don't know what to do? So far lots of people have mentioned wall sits, but i don't understand what they are! Does anyone have any suggestions?

By the way, i've heard that 100 sit ups per day is meant to flatten your stomach, but somehow i think this is a bit unrealistic for me! Any help would be appreciated!

Hey I used to have that problem....I lived in an area where there was terrible winters and it wasnt possible for me to go out cuz I didnt have anyone to watch my baby (my husband is a doctor resident so he had crazy erratic hours!)  and we didnt have money to afford a gym membership, so my best bet was using DVD's...I have the windsor pilates dvd, had denise austin dvd's, and now using Lesley sansone's walk off the pounds...which is kind of low impact for the low days....another thing I found is this website that has a lot of exercises that u can print out and do at home when u want....hope this helps....it has a lot of floor exercises also, just look in the archives of the exercise section...

www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49036.asp

www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49871.asp

thanks! that site's really good! I've stuck it on my door & now i've made a weekly plan of the exercise i'm doing!

It's a good idea to keep an exercise journal, so you can see how much fitter you are at the end of a period of time! My friend and i created something called a 10 week fitness program, and at the start of each week we write down all the exercise we plan on doing each day. At the end of each day, we write down the exercise we did, how tired we were at the end, and whether we completed our goals or not. So far its working well because it encourages you not to skip your workouts!

Thanks so much for that web site - it's a huge help.  And the idea for an exercise journal is great too - I definitely do better when I have a plan.

You all are so helpful on this site!  I really appreciate it!

You might also want to use a stairmaster. Mine came with the house, and lies between the first and second floor.