By Linda

With two small kids at home, a part-time job, and a smattering of freelance assignments, it’s not always easy to get to the gym. I’ve been on a fairly steady exercise routine for about a year now, and for me the critical element to staying committed to working out is the ability to do it at home.

Truth be told, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to lace on my Nikes and put in some sweat equity while I’m in the same living room that has the nice inviting couch with a butt-shaped dent built just for me, but it’s the exercise option that’s almost always available to me—even if I have to do it last thing at night, after the kids have gone to bed.

Here are a few of the products that I’ve come to rely on for a good workout without leaving the house:

Exercise DVDs.

DVDs are a great way to get in a solid workout, even if you’re like me and don’t have a lot of space for
jumping around. Some of my top favorites are:

• 30 Day Shred
• P90X
• Turbo Jam

I actually have a fairly large collection of exercise DVDs now, which is nice because I never get bored of one particular routine. I often put one in around 7:45 PM, after I’ve put our 15-month-old to bed but while my 3-year-old is still up — he gets to watch a couple Curious George episodes on the laptop nearby while I do
my thing in front of the TV.

Kettlebells:

If you haven’t tried a kettlebell, it can take some getting used to—but you can do a lot of really great strength exercises with them. I have one 17.6-lb (8kg) bell that I’ve been getting great use out of.

Fitness Ball:

The downside of a fitness ball is that it takes up a fair amount of space when you’re not using it, but the upside is that there’s so much you do with one. Use it to do pushups, leg work, improve your flexibility, or just bounce on it while holding a fussy baby. They’re perfect for strengthening your core, and hey—your kids are sure to love it.

Your floor. You may think you have no time for working out, but what are you doing while American Idol is on? Get down on the floor and give me twenty, girlfriend. Seriously, any time you’re watching a movie or TV, you’ve got an easy opportunity to do crunches, pushups, leg lifts, and anything else that falls under the “mat work” category. Five minutes a day will do wonders, even if it just makes you feel a little more badass in general. You’re probably multitasking in every other aspect of your life, so why not do something fantastic for your body while you’re still enjoying the unique musical stylings of Adam Lambert?

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