Fun At Home

I totally skipped the gym this morning... and I am lazy enough to blame the fact that I stayed up to watch the Olympics - figure skating! But, I woke up with a plan: circuit training at home. 

Right after I had my 2nd baby, I fell in love with a circuit training class... well, after I got over the hatred for it!! But, not only did I lose the baby weight, I totally lost a ton of inches. I have no problem doing cardio and lifting arm/leg weights at the gym, but I know that I don't spend nearly enough focus on my real problem areas: hips, abs, core.

I knew this would be hard for a few reasons. 1) no class setting to help motivate; 2) instead of thumping gym-music, my soundtrack would be kid-noise and PBS cartoons; 3) IT IS JUST TOUGH TO EXERCISE AT HOME.

But I did my best. So here is what I did... and holy crap, if I could do it (with kids crawling all over me) so can anyone:

I chose 5 exercises that would target the areas I wanted to work on, but anything goes. I did each for 2 minutes, then moved on to the next, and so on. (I hope to add more to my circuit as I go... and I am making up some of these names. Sorry!)

• planks - front and sides
  
• leg-lower (to work low abs)
  
• hip & leg lift (on all 4's, lift one leg to the side, like a dog would, then same leg back and up; then next leg)
  
• all 4's curl and crunch (on all 4's again, stretch opposite arm and leg, curl both, then bring in to a crunch)
• hip lifts (on your back, lift your hips of the floor and squeeze)
• others might be: crunches, sit-ups, push-ups, tricep dips... you get it.

So, I did one circuit of 5 for 2 minutes each, without a rest. Now, if I were a cursing woman, my kids would have learned some new words! IT. WAS. HARD. I never realized how long 2 minutes could feel. Then I killed myself further by adding a bit of 5 minute cardio by RUNNING STAIRS. What was a I thinking!? 

 I only lasted 2 minutes. 

Then I dug deep to do one more circuit. (yep, I was pretty sure I was going to vomit when I was done) Dang, I don't even feel that worked after a gym morning.

But, I know what to work on, and that it is possible to work out at home. Sure, I need to add to my cardio time, and a 3rd circuit, and 2nd cardio-whatever in between the last 2 circuits. 

Whew.

**Contest Update: I was totally ahead in points last week!!! But Jamie and I pretty close, so the end of this week will tell who pulls out in front. I am down 5.5 pounds, while she has lost all of her baby weight! 

Great job, Jamie!