Maybe you have a newborn and can barely find time to shower. Or you shuttle three kids around all day. Or you work 50 hours a week. Whatever your situation, there's good news on the fitness front: You can work your heart, jump-start your metabolism, and lose weight (and the muffin top that won't stop) in a few minutes a day. To prove it, four of the country's top fitness pros have created workouts that a mom will actually do. They're quick and effective, house- and park-friendly, and require minimal gear and—hallelujah!—thought.
5 Minutes + 5-Pound Weights +
Flight of Stairs
TRAINER #1:
Los Angeles trainer Ramona Braganza, who whipped new moms Jessica Alba and Halle Berry back into shape.
GEAR CHECK: Hand Weights
Vinyl dumbbells, $8 each, Troy Barbell, ParagonSports.com.
- Walk up and down the stairs three or four times to warm up.
- Walk up and down while doing shoulder presses with weights. From the shoulders, press them straight up, then lower them.
- Do a flight while doing bicep curls with weights.
- Repeat, doing lateral shoulder raises with weights. Keeping your arms straight, lift them out to the sides to shoulder height, then lower them.
- With a foot on the first step, bend forward. Do 15 tricep kickbacks.
- In that position, do 15 bent-over rows with weights. Let your arms hang down. Keeping your elbows close to your body, bend your arms to pull the weights up. "A lot of moms focus on abs, but you also need back strength," says Braganza.
Next Page: 15 Minutes + Jump Rope + Floor
