With 2017 already in full swing, gyms see a lot of action during January, thanks to the influx of new memberships by people who make it their goal to get fit this year. It's a common goal that I have already seen a handful of my Facebook friends talk about. However, I know that some people don't feel comfortable going to the gym alone; they feel awkward and uncomfortable, and that can stem from a myriad of things. I am one of those people. So, here's my a home workout list that helped me shed 60 pounds and keep it off for over 2 years!
1. Jillian Michaels
I know, I know. Old school DVD workout videos are kind of a thin of the past, thanks to YouTube, but trust me. I used this for the first 2 months back in 2014 and I lost 20 pounds in those 2 months! I also used it back in 2013 to lose some weight before vacation and in 4 weeks, I had lost 13 pounds. Give it a shot! Here are some links to 2 DVD's I tried, a yoga one, a butt and thigh one, and the original DVD I used and my absolute favorite, the 30 Day Shred.
2. Fitness Blender on YouTube
After using various Jillian Michaels DVD's, I began to get bored, and worried, because I wasn't losing weight anymore. Your body can actually get used to exercises and they essentially stop working for you. Because of this, I turned to YouTube and found the Fitness Blender channel, run by husband and wife duo Daniel and Kelli. I found them in the summer of 2015 and I've been using them ever since. They have over 500 free workout videos on YouTube. On their website, they offer cheap programs that can be used over and over again, and they come with a diet plan. These programs put together their free YouTube videos in a way that challenges you and pushes you, without overusing the same muscle groups every single day. A lot of their videos are just body strength, so you don't need to go out and buy expensive weights, either!
3. Yoga With Adriene
When Jillian Michaels' yoga DVD didn't do it for me anymore, I, again, went to YouTube and found Adriene Mishler's Yoga With Adriene channel. I love, love, looooove this woman okay. I found her in January 2015, right as she had started her yoga challenge and I was hooked. She puts out new videos every Wednesday and for the past few years, she comes out with a yoga challenge every January to help start the new year off right. She has videos for anything and everything. PMS? Check. Digestion? Check. Wheelchair yoga? You've got it. She has a lot of videos for yoga basics, too, such as crow pose and tree pose, AKA my favorite yoga pose ever. Burn your favorite candle (eucalyptus mint for me), roll out your mat or get on the carpet and have fun. Adriene doesn't keep quiet; she's loud and funny and constantly talks you through the process, something I admire greatly. If you give me a yoga video with serene music or waves in the background, I will 100 percent fall asleep.
I am by no means an expert, I just know what works for me and what makes me happy and entertained during my workouts. A lot of people get bored and they can't keep their mind in it, but if you try these three vastly different workout options, you won't be sorry. And if you're the type to just get on a treadmill, an elliptical or stationary bike, here's an old article of mine that has some tips for how to keep your mind occupied while you run!
