From online streaming services to DVDs and YouTube, at-home workouts have come a long way from the days of doing leg lifts with your mum’s VHS tapes.
Now that there’s a program for everybody, it’s time to let go of the old myth that you have to be a gym rat to lose weight. Want proof? These women share how they saved time and money by working out at home and still got in the best shape ever.
Photograph Courtesy of Kristen Morgan
“I LOST 40 LBS ON THE 21-DAY FIX.”
“As a busy mum, the Beachbody programs have been a godsend. The 21 Day Fix Extreme by Beachbody is my absolute favorite. I started with the original 21 Day Fix in April 2014 and have worked up from there. I love that it’s an at-home workout because I can get the workout done in 30 minutes. These sweat sessions include an upper-body workout, a lower-body workout, cardio exercises, yoga, and Pilates.
“I used to find lots of excuses to avoid the gym—the drive, not knowing how to use the machines, and classes that were at least an hour. But with Beachbody I just change clothes, push play, and I’m done. I can get on with my day. Since 2014, I’ve lost close to 20 kilo and 20 inches. I went from a size 14 to a comfortable size six. Even better, I know I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. In the last race I ran, I came in third in my age group!” —Kristen Morgan, Knoxville, TN
Photograph Courtesy of Wendy Brown
“I GOT MY PRE-PREGNANCY BODY BACK WITH P90X3.”
“I had my first baby at 35 and my third at 39, so the struggle to get back in shape was real. Before I was married with kids I enjoyed going to the gym, but afterward I needed to find something that helped me be more consistent. That’s when I found the P90X series, a workout DVD series featuring a bunch of different exercises targeting different muscles. For example, there’s an abs workout, as well as one for legs and back, shoulders and arms, yoga, cardio, and stretching.
“I started with seven or eight rounds of P90X, not to get ‘ripped’ but to stay in shape. I have also tried and loved the expansion packs, P90X2 and P90X3. I love that I can switch loads of laundry during a water break, not worry about what kind of weather is outside, and work out while my kids are home. The biggest changes I have seen are in my arms, back, legs, and stomach.” —Wendy Brown, Boise, ID
Photograph Courtesy Of Betty Nordengren
“I MADE UP MY OWN WORKOUTS FROM MAGAZINES AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS.”
“I make my own home workouts from YouTube videos, online articles, and magazines. Most of my moves include high-intensity interval training, military exercises, and yoga. Working out at home is perfect for me because I hated the feeling of having to ‘perform’ at the gym, and I felt too intimidated to try new moves and equipment. Now I try new stuff all the time. I had neck surgery years ago, and my workouts have helped me regain my fitness and increase my endurance. I went from barely being able to walk to doing a Tough Mudder race. I’m also so much stronger—I can do pullups and handstand pushups now. I’m so proud of the way my body looks and performs.” —Betty Nordengren, Aurora, IL
Photograph Courtesy of Sierra Schwartz
“I’VE GAINED 5 KILOS OF MUSCLE WITH CATHE FRIEDRICH DVDS.”
“I found Cathe Friedrich on FitTV about seven years ago. I bought her Strong & Sweaty DVDs and fell in love with her workouts. Cathe inspires me because she is in her fifties, but is as fit as ever. Even though I’m a lot younger than her, I still find her workouts to be amazing—and probably the most challenging. Her newer workouts are my current favorites because they are short and intense, utilizing high-intensity interval training and heavy weights. I lost my baby weight (I have three kids), and I’ve put on 5 Kilos of muscle. My kids love that I can do pullups at the playground with them.” —Sierra Schwartz, Buffalo, MN
Photograph Courtesy of Many Powell
“I LOST 10 KILOS WITH THE COUCH TO 5K APP.”
“I’ve always hated running. I was the kid who would get a doctor’s note saying I had ‘bad knees’ to excuse me from running in gym class. But then I heard about the program C25K (Couch to 5K) that is geared specifically for non-runners. The program is eight weeks, and you can do it all without a gym. The first time I ran eight minutes without stopping, I sobbed for joy. Soon enough I was running a full 5K without a problem. That was huge for me! At that point I added TurboJam DVDs to my workout routine on days that I couldn’t run outside. I also started tracking my nutrition using the My Fitness Pal app. It helped me realize I actually wasn’t eating enough kilojoules! I upped my kilojoules and kept working out at home and I ended up losing 10 Kilos. My clothes fit so much better now. The funniest part is that all the running has actually helped strengthen my bad knees.” —Mandy Powell, Mendon, UT
“SHAUNT’S WORKOUTS HELPED ME LEAN OUT.”
“I tried many home workouts but I always end up going back to ShaunT. Insanity Max30 is my current favorite. At 30 minutes it feels like the perfect length and it’s a very well-rounded workout. It’s crazy intense and easily the hardest workout I’ve ever done! I did three, 60-day rounds of it last year and lost some weight. I’m down a clothing size and have been able to maintain my weight loss. I’ve also gained muscle. But perhaps my favorite benefit is that all the interval training has really boosted my cardiovascular fitness. My resting heart rate has dropped by 10 beats per minute!” —Katie Stumpf, Milledgeville, GA
“ONLINE FITNESS VIDEOS HELPED ME LOSE MORE THAN 10 KILOGRAMS.”
“I find I have so much more success when I work out at home. You don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing, what your hair looks like, or what anyone will think of you. It’s also my only alone time during the day. I do high-intensity interval training workouts from FitnessBlender.com. For my strength-training workouts I use Body Pump from Les Mills on demand. And sometimes I just make up my own lifting workouts based on things I’ve read online and podcasts I listen to. After I started working out at home, I also switched to a Paleo diet. The changes have been slow, but I’ve lost more than 10 kilos and put on some serious muscles. I can actually feel the muscle in my arms now.” —Ami Paulsen, Denver, CO
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health Mag
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