Health & Fitness: Get swimsuit ready! Weight loss success story & How to workout on a budget.

Health & Fitness: A Weight loss story & how to workout on a budget! By Goodhealthdiva


It's summertime, most people want to have their beach body tight and be swimsuit ready. Are you swimsuit ready? Do you need some motivation? Do you know you can get swimsuit ready without a gym membership?

There's nothing like someones success to motivate and remind us that we too can succeed at a particular endeavor.

Today I wanted to share the story of a beautiful, focused and inspiring woman:Miss M or Missy,a high school math teacher from Lansing Michigan. She's a 35 years old mom of two gorgeous girls (ages 7 and 11)  who is well determined to live a healthy lifestyle. One of her way to do that is to work out from home. If you are new here please read my recent article

on How to workout on a budget.

Some basic facts about Missy, in her own words:

Started my fitness journey in 2009

Starting weight: 140 lbs

Current weight: 137 lbs
Height: 5’ 5”
My journey has never been about weight loss, just toning and overall cardio-vascular fitness.


Since I wrote my article about the importance or benefits of working out from home,I asked Missy to kindly share her experience and motivate others to workout from home and stop making excuses for not taking control of their health.

Why was it important to you to have a home gym?   

I am a busy, working, divorced mom of two.After losing family and friends to preventable health related issues, I was convinced that it was important to live a fit and healthy life.Going to the gym can be an hour to two hour long ordeal and I just don’t have that type of extra time.A home gym was the best option for my lifestyle. 

What would you recommend to anyone who wants to have one? Any tips in shopping for equipments, any equipment more valuable than others?


Start small! Look for equipment at second hand stores and look for bargains.  You don’t have to have everything at once.My first “home gym” was in my living room with basic equipment.I had a yoga mat, some 2 lb, 3 lb, and 5 lb weights, a water bottle, and some workout DVDs.As time progressed, I added other things like 8 lb and 10 lb weights, resistance bands, and a pull-up bar.A mirror is also important so that you can check your form.I had a decorative mirror on the living room wall that I used, but eventually, I purchased four of those mirrors intended for the back of a closet door and mounted them really close together to give the effect of a larger mirror.They cost about $5 each. 

Because nutrition is also a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, I also purchased a Ninja Master Prep Pro system for about $40 for juicing and smoothies.    Eventually, I saved enough for a nice, but used treadmill to complete my

For people who have a very small space to spare what equipment would you recommend as a “must have”?


Must Haves:  yoga mat, dumb bells or resistance bands, water bottle, and something to view videos on.  This could be a television with DVDs or a computer with internet access to get workouts from YouTube.

For those with neither space nor money what small equipments do you think are totally necessary?

When I initially began this journey, I was in this situation.  Again, I just moved furniture aside and spread out my yoga mat in the living room.I had a few small weights and WILL POWER! 

What’s your fitness regimen? What activities do you do? How often?

I currently use Jillian Michael's Body Revolution to guide my workouts.  I am on stage 3…WHOOHOO and I love the length of the DVDs and the incremental increase in challenge.  I have not lost much weight, but that wasn’t my goal.  I just wanted something that would benefit my cardio-vascular system and help me to tone.  I do think, however, that this system would be wonderful for those trying to lose weight as well. 

Following each DVD, I’ve added an additional Cardio strength challenge that will last for 30 days.

 

Are there any video program or Youtube videos you would recommend?

I like Jillian Michael's Body Revolution, but have little to compare it to.The other DVDs that I purchased were hit or miss. 

How long have you been working out? What made you decide to take control of your health in that way?

I have been working out since 2009, which was initially prompted by my divorce.  During this period of my life, I was emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained and needed to turn things around.Couple this with the lose of family and friends due to preventable health related issues and I was doubly convinced that I needed to make a lifestyle change for myself and as a role model for my two daughters. 

What’s the most rewarding thing about exercising and striving for a better and healthy lifestyle?

The most rewarding aspect of this journey was completely unexpected.It has been in the connections and friendships that I’ve made in fitness communities on the Internet.I’ve met so many positive, supportive women that help me when I’m less motivated and I’ve built some wonderfully genuine relationships; true friends for life.Of course, I am loving the way that I look and feel.  I love to shop, but avoided it for some time because I didn’t like the way that clothes fit on me.That’s a moot point now.  

I love it when my daughters come and workout with me.It’s so much easier when you start young and make it a habit/lifestyle. 
I feel so much better, have more energy for work and family, and just enjoy life much more than I had.It doesn’t hurt that swimsuit shopping is much more fun now.

How do you stay motivated to live a healthier life and exercise?

The online fitness communities that I’ve joined have been key.They keep me motivated and give me helpful tips.Also, the smartphone app, My Fitness Pal,has helped keep me on track. 

What advices would you offer to people interested in being fit and healthy but are getting discouraged?

Start small.Use YouTube or something else to help develop a short 10-minute a day workout regimen and build from there.Go for walks, park further away from the door when going to stores or shopping malls,walk during your lunch period,increase your water and fruits and vegetable intake.All of these things will help and put you well on your way to creating a healthier you. 

What advices would you give to some who have absolutely no clue where to start?

When I had no equipment and no clue, I did what I knew how to do.I put on some shorts, a t-shirt, some tennis shoes and went for a walk/run.No equipment necessary.  Just  you and the world.It was therapeutic and did wonders for my stress level.I couldn’t cover much distance at first, but I did what I could.As time progressed and I was able to get some equipment,I lessened the amount of time that I walked/ran and now I do very little of it, but it was all I knew to do in the beginning and it put me well on my way to where I am today. 

I appreciate Missy for sharing her story. She reveals that living healthy is not a solo thing, we have to create a support system to fuel us to keep going but as you see she had to want it for herself, and she did. She is proving many of the point made here!


Missy is the perfect example of how important it is to start small, use what you got, maximize your chances for success by having basic workout equipments and make no excuses for what you are going through or what you can't afford.

Please take the time to check this site for more inspiring articles on Health & Fitness and weight loss.


What about you? What are your health and fitness goals? What home equipment are you currently using?



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