no help, no gym, winter month workouts ideas?

[ithappened]

So here's the deal:

The gyms in my town have no child care options, I have no family/friend help either. My DH will occasionally watch DS but only if he is sleeping- then I get 20-40 mins maybe 2-3 times a week- MAX.

My DS is with me 24/7 for the most part.

I caved and bought a jogging stroller this summer which has been a lifesaver. I can jog/walk/rollerblade into the ground with it. I also bought a hiking backpack so have been able to hike a bunch as well.

However- winter is approaching here which means tons of rain and/or snowstorms. . .

I would love some ideas of workouts which are 'fall and winter friendly' which I can include my DS in or suggestions on how to workout from our apartment in the winter which could include DS (last winter I would just walk the stairs of our apartment building over and over again for 30 mins).

I should also add our apartment is VERY small so I don't have space for big pieces of equipment in the house

[nola79]

Have you tried exercise videos? There is a thread on here about good ones to try, and I don't think they require any equiptment.

[Penelope]

That sounds like a good idea to me. You could try youtube videos, too, as there are a bunch of them and they're free. Or if you have Netflix you can watch various workout videos instantly.

Is it possible for you to swap out time with your dh, so that each of you has personal time, guilt-free, to work out or sleep or veg, or whatever? I notice your babe is less than a year, which is a tricky time if you're breastfeeding and he isn't eating a lot of solid food, BUT - you deserve and need and will be healthier with some time to take care of your body. If your dh is not open to supporting you, IMO that's really worth talking about. Happy, healthy mama is important!

[FitMOmmyOf2]

Exercise videos all the way!
Due to my DH's work and our gym on base never having child care, I always depended on working out on my own at home when ever possible (kids still sleeping in the morning or napping or in the evening when they're in bed again).
Workouts don't have to be an hour long in order to be sufficient! Even if you'd split the time up with 20-30 min it would be great already!

For more questions you can also go to videofitness.com

[pacificbliss]

There are some great workout videos out there. Some of them you can do with the baby. If he is up for it leg lifts, etc are great with a baby onboard.

Also agree with a pp who mentioned working out something with DH. You should get some more "me" time.

[ithappened]

yeah I LOVE the idea about trading time- I think I might bring that up as an option-- there is a hot yoga class here I would do about anything to go to 2x a week.

[julie80]

I've tried some exercise videos myself and do enjoy the ones that I can do with my son. but I do wish I would have started earlier when he was a bit lighter!

And definitely work with DH on this if you really want to get into the gym. Just give him the same liberty of doing something that he really wants to do so he doesn't feel like he's not getting anything out of it. It works wonders with my DH.

[e.naomisandoval]

Get some ideas online. Lots of free stuff.

http://www.exercisetv.tv/

Or on youtube, look for videos by any of the following:

• craig ballantyne
• turbulence training
• scott colby
• holly rigsby

The previous list contains lots of quick body weight workouts that you can easily do from home. Holly is also the Fit Yummy Mummy website. Craig and Turbulence Training are one and the same. Scott Colby used to run boot camps mainly for women.

[LeslieB]

Beachbody has some awesome DVDs. I've been doing them for over 2 years now. Along with running, I've never been in better shape.

[ithappened]

cool! thanks for all the links.. ! I have used exercisetv in the past and will check out these others as well (I <3 the free ones). I think if I can do it at home when he goes to sleep/nap that would be the best bet.

I also talked to DH.. looks like a trade would work but so far he's only willing to try 1x a week-- better then nothing!

[julie80]

Originally Posted by ithappened

cool! thanks for all the links.. ! I have used exercisetv in the past and will check out these others as well (I <3 the free ones). I think if I can do it at home when he goes to sleep/nap that would be the best bet.

I also talked to DH.. looks like a trade would work but so far he's only willing to try 1x a week-- better then nothing!

You just have to get creative and up the ante!

[spughy]

How much snow do you get? Is skiing a possibility? Lots of moms where I grew up had a little sled plus a harness - they just harnessed themselves in and skied, pulling the baby behind. My sister still lives there and has a nifty sled she pushes like a dogsled, on runners.

If you're stuck inside, I used to do bodyweight circuits when DD had naps as a baby. Squats, lunges, pushups, squat jumps, lunge jumps, plank, ab crunches, pullups under a chair or table, jumping jacks, single-leg partial squats, etc. I had a Pilates video too. That, plus daily walks, plus one night a week at the gym with some weights, ought to help!

[ameliabedelia]

Could you put him in the backpack or sling and walk around your apartment...or do the stairs.

Exercise videos are great too, if you can sneak them in while he naps (that never worked for me...I need to workout first thing in the morning, or it doesn't get done).

Are there indoor places you could walk (ie. mall, indoor track, etc.)?

[ithappened]

spughy- do you know what this ski/sled thing is called? I assume they use it for cross-country skiing not downhill?

ameliabedelia- I wear him in an ergo most of the day, there is a mall close by I can walk to, so thats a great suggestions. thanks!

[midnightwriter]

we put a bosu in the middle of the living room, put a really high tempo music, and all takes turns jumping over it, on it, jogging on it, and so on. while waiting for the turn i either do jumping jacks, jogg on the spot, dance, or do stretches. it is a fun, unstructured work out that everyone loves!

a mini trampoline / rebounder is also lots of fun. but you need to get high end brand--the walmart ones don't offer the same bounce and stability.

[spughy]

Here's a link that shows a variety of ski-sleds: http://www.xcskiworld.com/family/Parents/sleds.htm

Yes, they're for x-country!!!!