Newbie must gain mass!Help please!!!!

[Mumof2]

Hi, I've been looking at this site for a while and it is so great! Finally decided to join today as I need some help :P I'm 5 foot 7 and weigh 108lbs. Have a 9 month old baby and a 4yr old. I can't get to the gym right now and can't afford to buy any protein powder etc - hubby has gone back to fulltime study so money is tight this year. My question is : I have been working hard - well as best I can given my limitations, to lose my pregnancy weight and to tone/ tighten up. Pregnancy weight gone, but now I'm left with saggy skin on my tummy - did have that after my first child too - and generally looking a bit scrawny!What I want is to muscle up a bit. I want to look fit and lean, not skeletal. I really want to finally see my abs...so have been trying to get my bf % low enough - now about 13 - 14%. I don't want to get any scrawnier looking, but still need to lose some more bf as my abs are still hidden. Really want to bulk up my arms and butt too....just looking skinny :( Poor hubby is complaining! Any advice would be much appreciated!I guess I should probably post in the nutrition section re diet advice?
Just wanted to add that looking at all the super fit and sexy looking women here has really inspired me to aim for a more healthy body shape. You all look so fantastic and I know it is so much more attractive, not to mention healthy! to look that way than to starve away to look like a Nicole Ritchie or Victoria Beckam!Anyway, I look forward to getting any help I can! :)

[Mrs_Muscles]

Hey, congrats at getting the pregnancy weight off. At 108lbs and your height, I'd think your weight is a bit low. I agree, build some muscle! :D I understand that you can't get a gym membership or go to the gym right now. Do you have any equipment at home? You can always start doing bodyweight exercises... push-ups, lunges, dips etc. But keep in mind, you will have to fuel your body to build the muscle. This means eating more than your daily maintenance levels for calories. Lots of women struggle with this because they are scared of getting "fat." In gaining muscle, you will inevitably gain some fat, but its not neccessarily a bad thing.

You mentioned the loose skin... with a good muscle structure under there, it will tighten back up. It just takes some time. The most important part of getting your abs to pop out is your diet. What is your diet looking like currently? That will tell a lot.

Hope that was able to answer some of your questions! Best of luck at growing some muscles! YAY! :D

[Mumof2]

Hi Mrs Muscles thanks for your reply. Have been doing exercises at home for a few years now - prior to that have always had gym memberships. Have just moved countries a couple of months back and had to leave behind my weights. So the last 2 months I have been doing plyometric (is that the right word? lol) exercise rountine from dec/jan Oxygen mag as it is relatively quick and can be done at home. I do that about 4 times a week, plus specific ab sessions maybe 3 times a week. I walk quite a bit, but that is it for cardio at the mo. Diet wise I try to eat sensibly. Always have porridge for breaky, usually with egg whites or with cinnamon and flax seeds. Mid morning can be half a protein bar or fruit and LF yogurt or a low fat muffin I've baked - or other times it something totally crap :P. Lunch: salad with some form of protein, or sandwich with protein and greens. Maybe followed by piece of fruit or a low fat muffin. Or might have soup. Afternoon could be fruit and yoghurt, corn thins and LF CC, LF muffin, or protein bar, or something totally crappy! Dinner I have to eat whatever the rest of the fam is having, so its not always as LF as I would like or low carb. I try eat lots of vege/salad and of course the protein part but try limit my carbs like potato or rice. Evening time I often eat again - usually something bad but sometimes half a protein bar or LF yoghurt or a eggwhite and oat pancake.
So...how that clears things up a bit. Any help / suggestions much appreciated! Thanks

[pengwin]

Maybe milk jug weights would be good for you: http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/derek22.htm

I think you need more resistance training and less cardio, which plyometrics are. I'd do the plyo workout twice a week and do a strength workout to build lean mass 3 times a week.

Do you have a baby carrier? Carry your baby in it and do walking lunges and squats. You can also do push ups of all kinds of varieties. If you think it's too easy to do push ups without added weight, you can add weight with a backpack filled with a bag of rice or sugar. :)

If you take the kids to a playground, you can do hanging leg-raises on the monkey bars, as well as bodyweight horizontal rows.

Get creative, have fun, and good luck!

PS. Abs aren't that important a muscle group. Get strong legs and you'll burn more calories towards your abs showing. But if you must do abs, don't forget the rest of your core muscles. Planks and side planks are great for overall core strength.

[Mumof2]

Great suggestions penguin! Have been thinking bout taking my son down to the park and doing an outside workout.
Any suggestions ppl bout a resistance workout - as in can u spell it out for me :) Thanks heaps