Need some at home cardio ideas..

Hi

I'm a single mom of a 3 years old.  I would love to go out and run, but i can't leave my dauther alone.  I don't have any equipment or anything to run or bike...

What can i do to do cardio that ica n do at home? anyone have ideas? I tried dancing but it's kinda hard to get in the mood.. anything else? thank!

I would say go to the library check out some dvds and try them out.  I've heard many good things about Walk Away the Pounds.  YOu might try to find a "family" workout and then you and your little one can work out together.  I know when my kids were little they were always "working out" with me.

I do fast paced step-ups on my stairs... and push it to like 10 minutes or at a medium pace for 15. I'm getting really bored with it though and would love some new ideas too!

lol Sarah i know what you mean... ! i tried the stairs but hated it! couldn't do it for more then 2 minutes!

I love Walk Away the Pounds.  A friend introduced me to Leslie Sansone's Miracle Mile DVD and I was hooked.  She has tapes that go from 1 to 3 miles and it is easy and fast and fun.  Highly recommend them.

How about jump roping, this is a great work out!!! Or you can go in the back yard and do sprints.

I'm not sure if this is what it's for, though that's the only use that would make sense to me, but many sports/fitness stores sell strollers for kids for when the parents want to go running. And I've seen many 3 year olds also doing activities outside, like skating. So that might work.
But if you really need to stay inside, borrowing dvds will work well.

I run up stairs, walk down stairs. Maybe you could play chasies with her? Go to the park and throw a frisbee? Even playing hide and seek, but crawling around to find her would keep you active. Not very good for staying fit tho. Can you dance with her to dorky kids music?

If you're pretty fit and also want to build some inner/outer thigh and bun muscle (though many other muscles are used), try watching a half-hour to hour television series and doing jumping jacks for the entire half-hour to hour.  I only do half-hour sessions and I always feel it in my outer thigh and buns espeically.  But if you run marathons you might need to do it for longer.  You'd be surprised how much more intense jumping jacks are.

If you're not up to jumping jacks (you need lower-impact), you can try running on the spot.  This is an activity you can do with your daughter (until she gets bored).

Jumping rope is also a great way to burn calories and build muscles extremely quickly and cheaply.  Plus you can cool down and warm up with your daughter!

Also, if you like dancing, you can just turn on the radio, computer, television, ect. and dance for 45 minutes.

All of these excersizes are completely free (unless you don't own a television, music player, or skipping rope) but you should probably get a good pair of indoor running shoes with nice shocks (at least $65 on sale) as jumping jacks are even harder on your joints than running.  As a runner, I'm sure you have a pair (or more).

Have fun!

Oh, sorry.  I see that you have already tried dancing.  To get yourself in the mood, you can always try dancing with your daughter to some of her television shows.  You can use her like a weight!  When I was little, my mom used to dance with me in her arms up until I was about 60 ibs. 

She also used to go on her back, balance me on her feet, hold my hands (so I wouldn't fall and for extra balance), and do leg-raises.  I was always very encouraging because I wanted her to do it forever (I have home videos of me being rather amused with this exercise).

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/sirDea thstrike/mommyexercises.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a> (I wish you could edit your posts)

Thanks for all you're ideas

I think i'm gonna have to get a video...

I love playing outside, but here in canada, It's COLD!! lol it's about -20°C so i don't realy go outside.  I do have a jogging stroller, but in the snow, it's not pleasant. 

I realy need to focus here... i'm starting to gain weight.. :o(

I need you're opinion on something...

Last night, when my dauther was sleeping, i when jogging in my nabourhood for about 15 minutes.. Leaving her home alone.  What do you guys think about that??

If you need help getting into the dancing mood, I've gotten recommend grabbing a cheap dance pad and either DDR or Dance Factory.

Dance Factory is awesome because you can set it to play to any music cd, so you can dance to whatever music you like.

courtbarb's idea is really good! ddr is a great workout. but leaving your daughter alone, even for 15 minutes, is not really a good idea. anything can happen in those 15 minutes and if she's alone she'll be completely defenseless.

I do a lot of iso metrics.  You should have someone build you a home work out program such as a "daily seven".  This would involve: jumping jacks, pushups, leg lifts, arm rotations, side to side bends, knee bends, and supermans working your way from 15 to 30 repetitions.  I bet you might find someting on U-tube or google to see how to perform the exercises.  Add music or your favorite TV program and have your 3 yr old join in!  This only takes about 20 to 30 min a day.  This is to be done daily just like you would take a shower or bath as a habit without thought.

I have two kids 4 and 7 so I understand what you mean about it being hard to go out and run.  I have a treadmill so I do get to walk that way.  I also have the biggest loser one video.  I really like it and the kids will join in.  Also the kids have a toy that is dance jumper.  It has a rope that swings in a circle and you jump over it.  Really good as well.  If your into it garage sales - they always have cheap exercise equipment or bikes really cheap.  We bike ride alot in the summer or kick around a soccer ball.  I can't wait for spring when we can go outside more.  Good luck!

Go to www.ivillage.com. ; There are several exercises listed that you can do in your home, no equipment required.  There are several that would work great during a tv show.  Good luck! 

my gym was closed yesterday for presidents day... instead of doing nothing i searched on utube for fitness videos! I found 8-minute abs which was great, and various intensities of aerobics.  You don't even have to leave the house now to find work out videos!

I highly recommend yoga for exercise at home.  Google Yoga Today and you will find a website that posts free yoga classes every day.  You can download them and practice them when it's convenient for you.  I know that yoga isn't generally considered "cardio" exercise, but you might be surprised.  Some of the ashtanga classes (also called flow yoga or vinyasa yoga) really get you sweating and breathing hard. 

courtbarb:

Is Dance Factory a game on Play station? if it is, it's quite an expensite workout for me since i don't have one.. But it does sound interesting!