The Challenge: Konigsberg wants to lose the weight from her back-to-back pregnancies. Even though she used to work out regularly -- and played sports during and after college -- leaving the house in the morning to head to the gym just isn't an option anymore.
The Solution: If she can't go to the gym, the gym will have to come to her. Fitness expert Sharon Monplaisir created an easy-on-the-knees plan Konigsberg can do indoors and within hearing distance of her sons while they sleep or play.
"Exercising at home means I'll actually get to my workouts," she says, instead of trying to arrange for childcare and then rushing to the gym and back in an hour.
The 5-workouts-a-week plan:
* Three days: Get the heart pumping. For 30 minutes, Konigsberg rides her exercise bike in her bedroom. Most of the time, she keeps her heart rate relatively low (so she's sweating and breathing harder, but not wiped out). This helps her burn fat, so she'll see changes in her body more quickly.
* Two days: Build up muscle. After a five-minute bike warm-up, Konigsberg goes through a set of exercises with weights to strengthen and tone her arms, abs, back, and legs. Pumping iron also pays off during her cardio workout because she'll wind up burning more calories. "Plus, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn throughout the day, even when you're not exercising," explains Monplaisir. As she gets stronger, she can increase the weights she uses.
* Every day: Be patient. It's vital to remember that it takes time to lose weight, says Monplaisir. One pound a week is a reasonable goal. "You're patient with your kids, your family, your friends, everybody. Be patient with yourself. It'll take time, but you can do it," she says. Fortunately, Konigsberg is feeling the benefits from her new fitness plan already: "I have more energy for chasing the kids and picking them up!"
