Ok, I am trying to get back into shape after having my baby 9 months ago. I am thinking about ordering Billyblank cootcamp elite (http://www.billyblanks.com/product/store/bootcampelite/all+titles/billy's+bootcamp+elite&trade-.do). I understand he really give you a work out. Any CCers have his DVD or VHS tapes. What is your views? I dont expect to drop a ton of pounds in a week. Just looking for more energy. lose ome inches in those awkward places and look good. I cannot go to the gym, just dont have time and no one to babysit the kids so I have to execrise at home.

What is your excerising routine? Do you eat healthy meals? To be honest I dont eat junk food, I am a bit conscience of what I eat but dont go out the way to buy healthy food.

Macmom let me hear from you? Your advise the other day was excellent about the weight loss issue.

I'm not a mom, but I am a nanny and have been with the little boy since he was a newborn, so that's why I am responding. For me, the easiest and most effective way for me to keep my weight in check has been to take him on walks in the stroller around the neighborhood every morning.

I actually ended up dropping more pounds. It's also a learning experience for baby because you can describe the things you see as you are on a walk. It's good for them to have outside time also.

Since babies have a routine, obviously, It's easier walk in in the morning right after breakfast, when he was generally refreshed and happier. It also wasn't too hot. I also matched my eating schedule to his. I don't know if you are a stay at home mom or not, but an evening walk might be better if you work out of the home.

7 AM - breakfast
10 AM - or mid morning - light snack
12-1PM - lunch then a nap
3 PM snack then a nap (if i didnt take the earlier one)
6 pm - dinner
10-11pm bedtime (although I'm struggling with this one right now)

I have a ton of DVDs/Tapes...but honestly, i never do them b/c they're not motivating for me. 45-60mins goes by a lot faster pushing a stroller outside, listening to an ipod, versus watching a tv screen.
If I do use a video...it is because of a rainy day or something. Usually I will just add in a longer walk the next day though, if I happen to miss. I also use a video when it's super cold, but that's it.

I personally tend to get bored pretty quickly if I am using the same video over and over again.
I do have some videos of Billy's from years ago and did enjoy using them and will probably use them again. I've pull them out from time to time and for a starter I don't think you can go wrong with them. I now try to use the free exercise video's that are available on the on demand channels. There are such a variety available that you can change your routine a lot of times.

I also wanted to mention that some gyms offer free babysitting with the purchase of a membership. Perhaps they have something similar up there in Nova Scotia, that way not only could you have some "me" time but you could get a work out in at the same time

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I've found that it is easier to go to the gym than working out at home. My gym has babysitting, so I can work out for a nice, hard workout then have time for a shower-without any kiddies hopping in with me or bothering me. Plus, the kids love it there, playing with different kids and different toys.

I used to go to the gym but I didn't want to get tired so I had to quit. I had invested in nice heavy utensils--that way my arms will get a workout while eating.

Eversince, I love working my arms out. I did realize a slight increase in my weight but I knew that it was probably just muscles. Remember, muscles weigh heavier than fat.

RylanTy --- That was hilarious!!!!!!

Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it.

When I was a talent scout for a modeling agency (you guys had no idea I was so versatile, did you?), my job was to walk the malls looking for good modeling candidates. I actually got paid to walk the malls for hours at a time.

I lost 8 lbs in a month. And I only "worked" 4 hours a day.

Now that I'm a caterer, I laugh at my well-meaning daughter when she tells me I should join a gym. As I heft the 50-lb bag of flour out of my van, throwing it over my shoulder to carry it into the shop, I ask her, "Why? So I can pay a monthly fee for the privilege of lifting a 50 lb weight over my shoulder?"

the exercise and it's calorie equivalent


Beating around the bush - 75

Jumping to conclusions - 100

Climbing the walls - 150

Swallowing your pride - 50

Passing the buck - 25

Throwing your weight around (depending on your weight) - 50-300

Dragging your heels - 100

Pushing your luck - 250

Making mountains out of molehills - 500

Hitting the nail on the head - 50

Wading through paperwork - 300

Bending over backwards - 75

Jumping on the bandwagon - 200

Balancing the books - 25

Running around in circles - 350

Eating crow - 225

Tooting your own horn - 25

Climbing the ladder of success - 750

Pulling out the stops - 75

Adding fuel to the fire - 160

Wrapping it up at the day's end - 12

Opening a can of worms - 50

Putting your foot in your mouth - 300

Starting the ball rolling - 90

Going over the edge - 25

Picking up the pieces after - 350

Surfing the net - 15 (unless its surfing CC and salivating over all the cakes -- 150)

Doug and Indydebi just hiliarious.

I hate to follow the comedy show here...but on a serious note, I LOVE Billy Blanks. I have several of his DVDs and have never found one that I didn't like and they're all fantastics workouts. It's the only workout routine I've ever been able to stick with. And you will get pretty quick results. I love his motivation, he keeps you going without being silly about it. If I skip a workout, I hear Billy in my head all day long..."You gotta give some to get some..." LOVE THAT GUY!! I do like the boot camp workout, but the Amped series is my favorite.

I just discovered yogajournal.com today and I'm looking forward to using the free yoga videos. I just did a couple of yoga workouts from that site today and I was really pleased that the level of difficulty was just right. The video quality was great too.

I LOVE the Billy Blanks BootCamp dvd's. My favorite is the Abs Bootcamp. I also have an elliptical that I try and do at least 30 minutes on each day. I lost 10 pounds in the first month. The second month I didnt really work out that much, but instead focused on keeping that 10 pounds off. I've kept it off, and have just started working out again! So hopefully I can keep at it and keep dropping the weight! Good luck. It sucks in the midst of it because it's so hard, but it'll be worth it in the end. I keep telling myself that at least!!

I LOVE the Billy Blanks BootCamp dvd's. My favorite is the Abs Bootcamp. I also have an elliptical that I try and do at least 30 minutes on each day. I lost 10 pounds in the first month. The second month I didnt really work out that much, but instead focused on keeping that 10 pounds off. I've kept it off, and have just started working out again! So hopefully I can keep at it and keep dropping the weight! Good luck. It sucks in the midst of it because it's so hard, but it'll be worth it in the end. I keep telling myself that at least!!

I since ordered the Billy blank boot camp elite. My son goes to tennis pratice everyday near a field, whiles he is practing I am jogging (very slow) around the track to get my heart up and my body use to execrising until I received my Billy blank DVD. Just last night I went on youtube and exercise with billy boot camp DVD #2 without the band, instead I used 2 pound drumbells and boy oh boy, I was sweating like crazy. Believe it or not I do feel better after I execrise.

I've never tried the Billy Blanks videos, but have been using Netflix to try out different DVDs before I buy them. The Billy Blanks videos are on there, and some of the DVDs are available for instant viewing on the computer (or tv if you have that set-up). The instant view option is great because you don't have wait until the DVD arrives in the mail. I've been able to try out all sorts of workout DVDs this way -- and a month of Netflix is even cheaper than a single DVD. Good luck!

I lost all of my baby weight (60 pounds!) by taking him on walks everyday. Easy peasy. It's the post-marriage weight that has me working hard!

Do you get FitTV? They have all kinds of different workouts from yoga and bellydancing to aerobics with weight segments. And it's free!

No I dont have FitTV? I refuse to purchase cable or satelite TV because I am entering my 4th of university and I dont want The View, Oprah to name a few to distract, lol. I am too bit to busy to go on walks.
Thanks for all your help

Walking is actually one of the best exercises for you.

I find it very easy to not let Oprah and The View distract me.