Ok, I am at the end of my weight loss trials I think.. haha. I was going to try to get down more, but I don't think it's possible, my body says NO! and I am fine with that.

My problem is that childbirth left me with some serious changes in my body. My stomach is the first target, it's pretty much like a bowl of jello. Loooooose stretched out skin, it's even thin and fragile in most places, and it's absolutely covered in stretchmarks, tiger striped one's that are very large... even up to 2 inches above my bellybutton. My breasts... well weight loss took big saggy boobs and made tiny sagggy boobs. so I need to tone up both those areas. Then there is the obvious butt /thigh areas that all women feel they need toned, and my upper arms.

Now my question is this : I can't afford the gym, nor do I have means to go there as much as I would need to.

So is there stuff at home that can be done , even without professional weight lifting equipment ?

I have a pilates tape, and 4 pound dumbells.. and a yoga tape at home..

anyhow, I guess I just need ideas. Kempy recommended on the support column that I start lifting, since I can't get changes in these areas just by losing more weight.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Well m'dear...the first place I would like to direct you to is the Krista Smash website...IN FACT, I will give you the link to the page on her WONDERFUL site that I'm thinking of...

http://www.stumptuous.com/noweights.html

It's called "No Weights? No Problem!"

DO check it out. In the meantime...I'd also suggest that you check out your local garage sales, Pennysaver, classifieds, etc. for weight training equipment that folks are ALWAYS selling muy cheapo...here in the Bay Area, we have a site that my husband is in LOVE with called www.craigslist.org that has simply tons of those ads...even though I have a membership at a very nice 24 Hour Fitness as well as access to my company's fitness center/gym (which was just remodeled with all new equipment a year ago ) hubby would rather work out at home, so our next project is getting some PowerBlocks, an adjustable bench and a curling bar but I do NOT intend on paying retail for this stuff!!!

As far as the loose skin deal...Meg is our expert on that subject (she's actually in surgery today!). Meg had a lower-body lift earlier this year and wrote about it at length here in various forums. Check out this thread for example:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...threadid=27652

I myself (even though I have never had kids, but have lost 120 pounds over the past 13 years) have a TON of stretch marks and loose skin...especially on my belly. (I have stretch marks on my boobs too - but not as bad as my tummy). I had liposuction earlier this year (thighs, hips, flanks) and hoping to be able to swing a tummy tuck in the future...something that Meg has written pretty much sums up the loose skin issue:
Hope that helps!

yeah, I wish I could afford sugery.. that would be nice hehe

thanks so much!!

i know exactly how it feels to be strapped for cash so i have had to develop my own ways of getting weights untill i could afford to go to the gym.

most of the areas your saying need toning can be done with the basic excersise. push ups (chest area) squats and lunges.

one thing i did was dumbell squats and lunges and for my push up rest the tips of my toes on a chair of the bed to have more focus on chest.

HOME MADE dumbells!. for this you'll need some scales. two really big prefferbly 1gallon milk containers.

put the milk container on the scales and fill with anything to add weight. stones water sand. what ever you can get your hands on as a general rulle 1 litre of water is 1kg.(2.2lb) and there are 4.5 litres in a gallon. (uk gallon) so each one full of water would be around 9lb's or there abouts. and use these till they become to light empty them then add somethign heavier to them i.e sand a gallon of sand is gonna b pretty heavy use the scales to measure out what you want.

instant cheap anyweight you want dumbells

I do have 4 pound dumbells.. that's it though!

great ideas, thanks a ton!

Hi Tonya, remember that abs are made in the kitchen. To lose anymore fat from your stomach you'll need to take a close look at your diet.

Tonya, I can't help you with working out at home, because I am a gym RAT!! But what I can say is this: We luvs newbies so please join us on the main thread...