The Best At-Home Workouts for Women. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Your price is the same but I get a referral fee which helps support the costs of this site and all the freebies I share. đ All products are ones I use and love! Read my full disclosures here.
It’s been a while since I shared a lifestyle post, but working out is a huge part of my life. If you’ve been a reader a while, you know that having 3 kids in 3.5 years left me with nearly 60 pounds to lose. During my weightless and fitness journey, I turned into an accidental Paleo eater. Cleaning up my eating has been a huge part of my weight loss but the other part is working out!
Not only does it get and keep me fit, my day just goes better when I workout. I’m less stressed, I feel better, I sleep better, I make better food choices, and I’m setting a good example for my kids…all things I remind myself when I just don’t feel like working out!
I’ve been all over the map over the years, wearing everything from a size 4 to a size 14. Today, I’m at a happy and healthy size 8 (and I’m even starting to see some abs…something I never thought would happen after 3 kids). These are the workouts I actually do and gear I actually use! đ
I’ve never loved working out in front of people at any weight. Working out from home means I can do it any time, I don’t need childcare, and I don’t have to pay for a gym membership!
My Favorite Workout DVDs
I did each of these DVD sets as a full program but now I just mix them together and do the one I most feel like doing that day! They all super rock and I can’t really even pick a favorite.
- TurboJam | This was the first set I bought when I really got back into working out 5-6 days a week after having kids. I love this because it’s just plain fun (and it has awesome 90s throwback music)! It’s low-impact which is great if you have issues with jumping but you’ll still workup a good sweat. The 38-minute TurboSculpt workout in the set is my favorite weights based workout ever and I’ve been doing it almost weekly for a few years. (My doc keeps reminding me how important weight training is in your 30s and up.)
- T25 | I actually did Insanity before T25. It’s kind of like Insanity light. I do this one a lot during busy weeks because the workouts are only 25 minutes but you still work up and awesome sweat and “the good kind” of muscle soreness. In fact, I did this yesterday and have that kind of muscle soreness today! This is not a low-impact workout but there is a modifier you can follow to make it low-impact.
- PiYo | PiYo is one of the most affordable DVD sets and it’s the easiest on your body since it’s low-impact. I love that I can do most of the workouts barefoot. I’m not flexible so I find yoga and Pilates very challenging. This workout is fun, has great music, and is a really great workout. I saw my arms slim down and gain definition fast!
- Insanity | I remember watching the infomercial for this one repeatedly during pregnancy #3 while eating ice cream and popcorn, thinking I’m going to do that. It took like two years to get brave enough to order it but I did the whole program over a year ago and it’s still one of my favorite workouts. I love that it doesn’t require any equipment at all. You train using your own body weight. You workout hard for about a minute and then get a 30 second break, which is called a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). I definitely would swear out loud at the TV while I did the workouts, especially when ShaunT would say things like “I’m not trying to kill you, I’m just trying to make you stronger”. I actually think he was trying to kill me, but I did end up the strongest and fittest I’ve ever been in my life. I lost nearly 20 pounds in the 2 months and toned up a ton. (The bottom middle pic of the collage near the top of this post was the day I finished Insanity). This is not a low-impact workout!
- Rip:60 | I was really interested in doing suspension training after seeing some Instagram ladies I follow doing it. It looked challenging but fun. I couldn’t find a suspension training gym near us, so I found this online. I read the reviews of TRX (a similar workout) vs. Rip:60 and ultimately chose this one. You hang the straps  (which come with the DVD set) over a door but my husband anchored the straps to our garage ceiling and we do it in there. I had the set for several months before I worked up the courage to try it, and once I finally did I realized that the hardest part of working out is in your head! This workout makes me feel awesome and strong and I LOVE it. This is the one that’s giving me abs for the first time in my life…at almost 34 years old, despite 3 c-sections, and being hypothyroid. Again, this isn’t really low impact but you can modify it to make it easier.
Next on my list: Insanity Max30. I have a sample workout DVD for this new program and I love it!
The Gear: Basics
These are my main go-to goodies for my workouts!
- Lifefactory Glass Water bottle | Ok, so I totally bought this because of the color. But I’m trying to kick plastic in favor of glass and I love this water bottle. It’s the perfect size to carry everywhere with me.
- Kettlebell | I use a 10 pound one. You’ll need this in week 5 of Rip:60. It was my first time using a Kettlebell in my workouts and I really like it.
- Dumbbell Set | Because for some reason it’s easier to workout with pretty colorful weights. I use the 5 pound most often but the smaller ones are nice for days you’re already sore (and my kids love to “workout” with me using the lighter ones).
- Manduka LiveOn Yoga Mat | I’ve been pining after a Manduka Yoga Mat for years. They’re pricey! And then they came out with the LiveOn one which is affordable. Yay! It’s thick and cushiony, I love the color, and I don’t slip all over it like I did my cheap yoga mat.
The Gear: Running
While you can’t actually run/walk in your house unless you have a treadmill, I still consider it an at home workout since I just can do it around my neighborhood! Before the move we are in the middle of, we were lucky to have a 2.5 mile walking trail around the whole neighborhood.
- Garmin Forerunner 15 | Activity tracker, Heart Rate Monitor, Personal Record Tracking, GPS Running Functionality. And it’s pretty in my favorite shade of teal. Swoon. I never run without it!
- Yurbuds Ear Phones | There’s nothing more annoying than headphones that won’t stay in your ears once you start to sweat. ALL the headphones I ever owned until these did just that…I’ve had this pair for years now. Even during my half-marathon, they didn’t slip out once. THE BEST.
- Revenge Fuelbelt |  I’m someone who has to have water during a run but I hate carrying a bottle. Enter the FuelBelt. I wear this for every run that is 2+ miles. I can run better and farther when I can hydrate along the way!
- New Balance Minimus Cross Trainers | I live in these shoes. They are as comfortable as my slippers. Having a low-drop (minimalist) shoe is important for the workout DVDs I listed above but I also run in them too. AND they’re really affordable compared to the past brands I’ve purchased. I actually own two pairs and have my eye on a third color too!
I hope you find something in this post that inspires you along your own fitness journey.
Wishing you happy and healthy shopping and working out! đ
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This is an awesome resource! Thank you for sharing, I love your suggestions and your gear choices. I just had my first child (17 days ago!!) and when I get back to exercising I will definitely consult this post đ
Hi Sam! Congrats on your new sweet baby! So exciting! đ Wishing you all the very best! -Dawn
So are any of these good for someone who hates to work out? đ I just hit 40, and I’m about 10 pounds above where I want to be. I know it’s not going anywhere unless I change something. I’m already away from my kids enough with a part-time job, so at-home workouts is where I’m looking.
Thanks for the great resource, Dawn!
On the days I really don’t feel like working out or have a really busy day, I usually opt for T25. I like that I can get a good workout in only 25 minutes. I also really like that there’s a modifier that shows you how to make every move a little easier (I have issues with one of my knees so for certain moves I need that option!). On the other hand, I love that most of the PiYo workouts can be done barefoot…but I find yoga/pilates challenging since flexibility is not my strong suit! đ Hope you have a great Sunday and week, Kelly!