I have a gym membership that I use maaaybe three times a week. I kind of use it just because I feel guilty paying for it and not using it, but also because when the weather is too rainy/cold to run outside, I utilize the cardio equipment. My routine is to go to the gym Tuesday and Thursday mornings before work (5 am wake up call), and generally one day over the weekend with my husband. However, I feel like I get a much better workout at home. Which is good news- because working out at home can cost you a fraction of the price as working out in a gym, and it can save you time (AND I usually have a really cute buddy to keep me company). Here are my favorite workout DVDs and online resources:
1. Tone It Up. This program is definitely not free, but you can get some of the workouts free through their website. If you’re looking for just the DVDs and not the nutrition plan, you will spend about 40 bucks. It’s honestly worth the money. I LOVE these DVDs and do the workouts all the time. I also do the workouts on the website for added variety. Some workouts are short at just 10-15 minutes, and some are longer at close to 40 minutes.
2. Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred. I think I got this DVD on Amazon for less than 10 dollars. It has three, 20-minute workouts that are short, but effective. Each workout is more difficult than the previous one, so you can easily vary your intensity.
3. The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga. Once again, I think I got this one for less than 10 dollars. You can customize your workout with a warm up, three different yoga routines, and a cool down.
4. PopSugar Fitness. This app is amazing. It is totally free and there are SO many workout videos and routines. I prefer the videos, but I have also used the still photos for some yoga practice, as well. You can find videos as short as 5 minutes and as long as 40 minutes. There are cardio workouts, yoga, boxing, tabata, HIIT, literally anything you could ever want.
It’s important to note that I don’t just do one type of exercise. Here a sample of a week of workouts for me. I try not to schedule rest days because usually something comes up and I wind up missing a day, so that becomes my rest day:
Sunday: Elliptical/Bike cardio workout at the gym
Monday: Tone It Up video: Coconut Core and Booty
Tuesday: Run on the treadmill at the gym, abs
Wednesday: Weight Loss Yoga
Thursday: Elliptical/Bike cardio workout at the gym
Friday: PopSugar Fitness arm workout, abs
Saturday: Run outside/at the gym
For most of these workouts you will need a set of dumbbells (5-10 lbs) and a yoga mat. For Tone It Up and PopSugar fitness, some of the workouts call for other equipment (like resistance bands and kettle bells), but you could just skip those particular workouts if you don’t have them. I got both my resistance band and kettle bell at TJ Maxx for maybe 10 bucks each.
