100 lb. Club - Losing Weight without Gym membership

How is it possible to lose weight and get lean muscle without having to go to the gym? I don't want to go to the gym because I feel very intimidated. I was even more embarrassed doing water aerobics so I choose to walk, but I know that in time, walking will not be enough and I will have to find a way to add strength training. Anybody help? Robin? Anybody? :carrot::?:

I used to belong to a gym but I haven't been to a gym regularly since I weighed 290.

I have a small weight bench at home with some weights. I also walk or run every morning. I've lost weight doing exercise DVDs, weights, walking, using my elliptical, etc.

It is very possible to lose weight without a gym membership. I'd recommend going and reading some of the stickies on the weight lifting forum. There is some good information there including a workout just using resistance bands.

Something I forgot to add is there are a lot of exercises you can do with your own body weight as well...

Pushups (modified at first)
Tricep pushups (hands closer together than regular pushup)
Tricep dips off stairs or piece of stable furniture
Squats
Plie squats
Lunges
Crunches (all sorts!)
Step downs (from stairs or higher object as you improve)

Those are a few off the top of my head but if you search for bodyweight exercises, I am sure quite a few will pop up.

I would agree with Nelie about strength training bands and DVDs. There is some great stuff out there to do at home, and these are fairly inexpensive. However, I think walking is a great part of any exercise program. I love to walk, and still do it almost daily five months into my journey. And if you're interested, the walking could even bloom into running, which is something that I am proud to say that I CAN do now!

As for the gym membership, though, I would encourage you to reconsider it. Especially in the beginning of strength training, it is so nice to be able to have some help with form, etc. And I have found that most of the people who go to the gym love to answer questions -as long as you don't ask too many. Sometimes, the morning folks are much less patient, as they are trying to get their work-outs in before work, but the afternoon and evening folks have almost always been very kind and patient with me. And really, which is more embarrassing? Having people know that you are working hard to lose the unwanted weight, or walking around with all of the unwanted weight in the first place? If you go to the gym, you may have to deal with the first, but eventually, you are far less likely to have to deal with the second.

Whatever you decide, good luck to you! Exercise is such an incredible help with so many aspects of life.

In the beginning, I used PUSH for my strength training. It sends customized DVDs to your home. I've taken a break from it to use other methods for strength training(Turbo Sculpt and what not). You don't need a gym membership to loose weight. I have a membership and still do not use it. I've lost 51 pounds with walking/tapes alone

Walking and resistance bands can be the perfect combination to help you reach your goals.

hi,
I have lost 65 lbs without a membership, I was given a membership 18 months ago and only lost 10 lbs in 3 months. I have an elliptical trainer that I use 5-6 days a wk. I have free weights that I use 4-5 days a week, I have a weighted ball, and ankle weights. I think anything is possible if you want it bad enough.
cheryl

You can still lose weight without a gym membership. I lost 159 lbs without stepping foot into a gym. Walking, using WATP DVDs, resistance bands, body weight exercises, that's what I have been doing. On October 1st, I joined a gym for the first time; I'm struggling to get the last 20 - 30 lbs off and felt like I needed to kick it up a notch to get the it off.

That said, I was also very intimidated by the thought of a gym. It has been nothing like what I thought it would be. I love my gym now; everybody does there own thing and any comments from anyone are very supportive.

I've been losing weight with walking, a stationary bike in my living room, pilates and a single resistance tube I bought at walmart.

Sure! I've been doing it at home. I have a treadmill that I use daily, as well as a $7 swiss ball that I use 3x a week. DH is big into lifting weights and working out, so we have free weights (I use the 2-5 lb. jobbies right now) and a home gym thingy. We also have the bands (which I've never used) and a skipping rope. I know myself, I hate going to gyms, but when I can do all my stuff in the privacy of my basement it's so much easier. My kids know not to bug me when I'm working out, so it's also my "me" time.

My exercise story is very similar to that of Tammy's. I've lost 165 lbs without walking into a gym. But, if that's what you are truly interested in doing, please don't be intimidated. Everyone is so into their own things, they really don't have any inclination to notice others.

Walkiing is my main form of exercise. I also use the Walk Away the Pounds DVD's. They're fabulous. There are plenty of other exercise DVD's out there as well. I do stretching, sit ups. All sorts of stuff. I dance, though not as much as I did in the beginning. I use the resistance bands for strength training - I love those things. Here's a link with some band workouts:

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/l/blresistanceban.htm

Robin, thanks for that website. That's some good stuff! I've been trying to get myself into resistance training (and failing miserably... I'm a cardio girl, I guess), this looks like something I can do!

I am not sure about the gym membership right now as I have a small gym right here in my apartment building that the guards will open at 5 am for me. It has about 6 treadmills and one elliptical. I am going to try those for now. Ellipticals tend to be easier on my knees for some reason.

Robin, thanks for that website. That's some good stuff! I've been trying to get myself into resistance training (and failing miserably... I'm a cardio girl, I guess), this looks like something I can do!

Yes, yes - go for it. I use them every single day. They've done wonders for me. Wonders. Stength training is vital. You definitely want to build muscle mass.