Exercise, need encouragment and ideas.

[bobbysgirl]

Dh and I had it all planned. Started Atkins today after planning for a week and I turned in an application for finanacial help for the YMCA. Well, we got pretty much turned down. A discount of $100 off for 6 months, but nothing we can afford. This year has been rough and it's not getting any better. What can I do? I have 4 small children and no babysitter or day care. (That's what I was looking forward to at the Y. They have a day care so I could exercise without worrying about them.) We can't afford any exercise equipment right now. I have tried videos before but never stick with them well, part of the reason being we don't have much space to do it. The living room isn't very big and we don't have a basement. I'm just so discouraged right now. Any good ideas for me? Well, during the day I only have a 3 yr old at home if that helps and gives any ideas. Thank you.

[not2late]

Hi and welcome!

Exercise equipment: you don't need it. Push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, windmills, and knee-bends and they require only enough space to stand or lie flat on the ground. If you carefully watch the exercise videos, they all do variations of those standard Phys. Ed. exercises.

Walking is free: walk with your 3 year old around the block or to the park. If your 3 year old is still small enough to fit in a stroller, push the stroller and when he/she gets tired, put him/her in it and you push the stroller. The added effort will help burn more calories for you.

Jogging/running is free too! If you have stairs, you can run/walk up and down those for exercise.

The bottom line is you don't need to work out at a gym and you don't need big machines to exercise. The last time I was in a gym was high school. I exercise at home, doing those school exercises, walking, etc.

[Bren]

Yep, Megs is right!

Also, you can go to your local library and get video's for free! You only have them for so long, so you won't get bored. Walk-Away-the-Pounds is great for beginners!

[bobbysgirl]

Thank you. I'm feeling better about it all now that I've calmed down and thought about it. I'm going to try to work out in the house tomorrow. I've also started looking for a cheap used jogging stroller. That way I can go out during the day with my little guy because he will get tired quicker than me. That's what I'm hoping for. I would much rather be outside. Also my Dh said we can go to a park nearby and take turns with one walking and the other watching the kids. So it should work out. Now I'm just bummed cause I was hoping to have Dh as an exercise buddy. Maybe someday.

[misslili]

Bobbysgirl: I too can not afford a gym or a babysitter. I have a 8, 5, and 3 year old. When the two oldest are in school I take my 3 year old and go running (my speed is so slow that he passes me) and he rides his bike. And if he looks sleepy (I wish) I put him in the jogging stroller. And before I had one I just put him in the regular stroller and jogged or speed walked. I do situps and let him sit on my stomach. I bought some cheap exercise videos from Walmart and do that if it's bad weather outside. You do not have to join a gym in order to exercise with small children in tow. You just need determination. I've also went to the mall and put my 3 year old in his stroller and power walked the perimeter outside of it and went inside and did the same thing. It only cost me the gas to get there. You want to lift weights and can't afford them. Find some heavy (not too heavy) things around your house. My kids love the idea of exercising with mommie. I run and they bike for 30 minutes every morning. I've even went so far as to put my littlest one on my back and take him for a piggy back ride around the block. Just get creative. You can do it.

[Elsie150]

You don't need a jogger stroller. A regular one will do to start. And outside is great for the kids. And if there is time after dinner have the whole family go for a walk to promote a healthy life style in the kids.

When my kids were little (1&2) I had one of those mini trampolines (I think they are $20 in Walmart) and started off by committing myself to 5 minutes of exercise the first week. Believe me that was long enough for me to start...when the kids would come to the tramp I would jog over to the stairs and just go up and down the one stair...then back to the tramp when they came over to the stair.

I worked hard enough to break a sweat before my 5 minutes was up but by the end of the week I was more than willing to add 5 more minutes...LOL...can you say babysteps.

Or just tuen on some music and set your timer and dance like crazy..the kids will love it and it doesn't seem as much like exercising.

[bobbysgirl]

Great ideas! And the kids should have fun too!

[Elsie150]

Let us know how it goes!

[not2late]

Just a thought...If you live within walking distance of the children's schools, you can walk them to school (staying at a discret distance of course, because who wants to be seen walking with mom right?) and walk them back. This will give you peace of mind your children are safe and exercise.

[bobbysgirl]

Ok, so I am sooooo out of shape I didn't get much exercise before I was beat. But I raced my son to the bus stop this morning and played with him while waiting for the bus. Then I did some sit ups and a push up also some jumping jacks. And I played with my 3 yr old by laying on my back and lifting him up over my head so he could 'fly'. He really enjoyed it even though I could only do it a few times. I'm going to start walking but it was rainy today, so maybe tomorrow. Or after the first couple of days of induction tiredness wear off. I just have to remember that I can't do it all yet and I need to work up to it and every little bit helps.

And I wish the school was within walking distance because that would be a great habit to get into, but unfortunatly it's a little to far.