What do you do for exercise???

I cannot afford to go to a gym. After I pick up my kids which are at two different schools. One's at a day care center, the other is the after school program at his school. By the time I get home (if I don't have errands to run), get supper cooked, eat, dishes & pots & pans washed dried and put away, kids bathed and ready for bed. Its like 9PM and I am exhausted. Is there anything that you feel that you do that I could do in my living room once the kids are in bed that I could do? (Thats if I haven't collapsed in bed by then.) I need to exercise. I have NOT done it since surgery on September 2nd. I have the flabby belly, the skin on my legs & butt are all crinkly & droopy and I have the bat wings on my arms....I look gross. I am not *****ing about losing the weight (I am so glad I had this life saving surgery) but I need to tone before I look like a flabbly lump of loose skin. HHHHHHEEELLLLLPPPPPPP!!!! Does anyone else do anything that they find that works for them....that doesn't belong to a gym. Something they do at home. Any help is appreciated... Erin

Erin, I go to the aqua arobics at the pool 6 days a week. I still have wrinkly flabby skin. You can only see my bat wings when I move in a paticular way I think it goes with the surgery and each of us have skin that reacts differently. I look great in clothes! butt...pun intended! Get some hand weights or the rubber band things they use in therapy and lift them every night. At least you will be doing something and that is better than nothing. Also my doc is big on walking. He wants us to walk walk walk!

I have been quite limited in what exercise I can do due to health reasons. But, here are some things I can do. I always just lie across my bed to do them (or my back will hurt too much). I do 10 inner thigh lifts, 10 outer thigh lifts, and 20 leg lifts (laying on my back with legs together - to exercise the stomach). Then, if I can, I lay on my stomach and lift my legs one at a time upwards. By laying on my bed, I can avoid the excruciating back pains that accompany muscle movements for me. Also, you should check into your local YMCA. The Y offers financial assistance to families who cannot afford membership, PLUS they usually have onsite babysitting to help with childcare.

Hey Erin, it's Jae again!! I'm extremely busy like you. I work full timeM-F and I go to school full time M-Th and Sat. I bought a walk away the pounds 3 pack DVD set form walmart. It's by Leslie Sansone and it has 1,2 and 3 mile dvd's and a stretchy band to work your arms while you walk. I'm up to the 3 mile and it takes less than an hour to complete. If you can't find it at walmart, they have it on ebay. It's not expensive. Good luck.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I will definately do that. And that is great Jae. I will take a look at Walmart (my favorite store to shop in) and check to see if they have it. Thank you so much for your ideas. I will definately take you up on them. Keep em coming..... Erin

I agree with the Walk Away the Pounds suggestion but you may also try using a therapy ball (also at walmart). They usually come with an instruction poster with different exercises. These stretching type exercises can really give you a workout. best of luck! Leslie

Hi Erin, After bearing all my weight for many years. my knees have now gone on strike.(ouch!) So. I do the walk away the pounds too, I'm at home to start with and I can fit in 15-20 when it works best for my day...and my knees. I just wanted to mention that Leslie has a good new book out that includes information about her tapes. I cheated by going to the library and makng copies of the few pages of photos of the moves she uses during the walks. The neat thing is if you ever get bored, you can make up your own walk with the pics and a kitchen timer. Just an idea, and here's hoping we all keep moving! Ruth