Too tired. Too distracted. Too … whatever. We all have those days when we just can’t seem to make working out a priority. And that’s OK. But a fitness-free month or two—or three or more—could spell trouble for your health (not to mention your figure).
We found three women, each with different reasons for skimping on their workouts (which may sound distressingly familiar to you). Then, we asked Valerie Waters, personal trainer and motivational guru to stars like Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner, for expert exercise tips to help each of these women stay motivated and get back on track. Did they really manage to start up their workouts again? Read on to find out.
1. Susan Houriet
Age: 43
New York City
Single, no kids
Her goal
“I’d like to lose 13 pounds and tone up all over.”
What’s getting in her way
Houriet currently manages to run two to three miles once a week and occasionally rides her bike—not nearly enough to help her shed the pounds she wants to lose. “My boyfriend hates exercise, so it’s hard for me to get motivated when I can stay home and have fun with him,” she says. She tries to get up at 5:45 a.m. to squeeze in a run before work, but she isn’t exactly an early bird. “I should go to the gym after work, but I often feel too tired.”
Exercise Rx
“Houriet needs to do whatever it takes to work out in the morning, including putting the coffee pot on a timer and setting out her clothes the night before,” Waters says. “Equally important, she needs to think of exercise as a must, not a should.” Waters gave Houriet a program including two early-morning 30- to 40-minute runs a week, plus two strength-training sessions at the gym to speed up her metabolism. The circuit-style strength workout has her moving through upper- and lower-body exercises with no rest in between to save time and burn maximum calories.
How it’s working
“Once I vowed to exercise no matter what, it didn’t seem so insurmountable,” Houriet says. “I’ve gone from working out maybe once a week to at least four times a week, and I’m planning to stick with it.” After just four weeks on her new plan, Houriet says, “I look thinner and my clothes fit better.” She’s only lost about two pounds so far, but that’s probably because she’s building muscle, which weighs more than fat.
Next page: “I want to tone my lower body”
Comments (7)
HI, IM TRYING TO LOOSE ABOUT FORTY POUNDS. IM IN MY TWENTIES HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WORK FULL TIME. I DONT HAVE THE TIME OR SOMEONE TO WATCH MY CHILDREN TO GO TO THE GYM. WHAT TYPES OR EXCERISE CAN I DO AT HOME TO LOOSE THE WEIGHT AND TONE MY BODY.
THANK YOU
Get a double stroller and take them for a long walk a few nights a week. Then a couple nights of week, while they are playing, you can use free weights for streghnth training.
hi i need some suggestion.i join the gym 4 month ago.d oing weight training.but dint loose weight.i have two kids.one 6 yr.and 2 yr.i wana tone upper body and loose 40 pounds.my lower body is good shape..any help…
I’m a 24yr mother of a 9 month old and work full time five days a week. I have been trying to no avail to lose 60 lbs. I have no energy it seems at the end of the day…help
Hi, I am 27 years old. Always was an athletic very sport and fitness fanatic person until I finished University and got a full time job. Compared to my time before the job I know spend a lot of time at the Computer and my job is busy by seasons where at times I have 5 days in a row to get up at 5am and get to bed at 11pm, pretty much working all the way through. In my off season I definitely have more time on my hands but even then I lack motivation to go to the gym after work. Once home and my husband is there its easy to feel to have to stay home for him and us.
i am a 25 year old mother of 2. i really want to build muscel, and tone up my legs and butt. i tried running 3-4 nights a week, 1-2 miles, but all that did was make me loose too much, and i didnt notice too much tone.
what can i do to not loose too much weight, but still get into shape?
If you want tone and don’t want to lose so much weight then opt for weight training instead of cardio.