[LovebirdsFlying]

While my cat is still critically ill, I don't want to take extra time to go to the gym. Hubby and I work two different shifts. He leaves for work any time from 1:00 to 3:00, depending on what routes he's driving that day, whereas I am home around 6:30 if I don't go to the gym, 9:00 if I do. I don't want Tuffy unsupervised any longer than she has to be.

How can I keep up the pace while at home?

[orangebelpeper]

Well, when I have days where I don't want to leave I do a workout video. My favs are, Jillian Michaels, and Biggest Loser. Good luck!

[mandalinn82]

Videos are great. If money is an issue, you can even usually check them out at the library...rotate a few in and out depending on what your branch has in stock.

You can also do all kinds of exercise at home with no equipment at all....Lunges, squats, and other lower body exercises will get your heartrate up AND tone your lower body. You can work in minute bursts of cardio (jumping jacks, running in place, high knees, butt kicks, jump rope) with your sets of exercises, and your heartrate will stay high.

[LovebirdsFlying]

Thank you chickies. How much exercise is housework, by the way? In terms of calories burned and muscles used?

[Raichu]

Youtube also has some great free workouts!

But my favorite workout of all... is putting on a great album that gets you moving (mine's Bloc Party's "Silent Alarm," it's rock/electronica) and dancing, cleaning, and just moving like mad! I don't know how it does for calories, but it makes me feel great and break out in sweat!

[LovebirdsFlying]

Thanks for the idea, Raichu. And Jigglefree gave me an idea on another thread: On Demand videos from the cable company.

By the way, just in case anyone was concerned, I'll note that because Tuffy is having seizures, when she is home alone (besides the two other cats) she is in a padded cat carrier. The same for when we're asleep at night. Otherwise she'll try to wander off just anywhere, such as once we caught her trying to hide *inside* the sofa. She'd crawled underneath it and then climbed up under the cushions. We had to turn the sofa upside down to get her out. Animals have an instinct for disappearing when they're critically ill, to be out of the reach of predators. That instinct is really playing on her. We can't have her loose in the house unsupervised, and have her go into a seizure while hiding God only knows where. Poor thing.