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<p>Cool. </p>
<p>As for iPod, I have a nano. I usually just stick it in my pants pocket and run the wire down under my shirt. It gets everything tucked out of the way.</p>
<p>The only equipment you need for the iPod workouts are a stability ball (I recommend getting a good one) and dumbbells. I was about as strong as piece of overcooked spaghetti when I started, so I used a pair of 5 pound weights and a pair of 8 pound weights for the first couple months. WalMart sells a set of “Jillian Michaels” dumbbells – a 3 lb pair, a 5 lb pair, and an 8 lb pair and a plastic holder – for $29.95. After that, you can either go into the hex dumbells – 10 lbs, 15 lbs, 20 lbs, etc. – or various options for adjustable sets.</p>
<p>That’s all the equipment I had for most of the iPod workouts – except I did buy a Schwinn Airdyne exercise bike. We had a $10 yard sale exercise bike that was an injury to an ol’ fat guy waiting to happen. Any piece of cardio equipment will work – treadmill, etc. Or, you can do that part of the program with jogging in place, high knees, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, or other calisthenics. Having said that, the Airdyne has been well worth the price. I’m not sure I could have lost 70 pounds if I hadn’t bought it and used it regularly. It is pretty much the ideal “interval training” cardio machine. I can’t believe I’ve got over 600 miles on it so far.</p>
<p>Lots of people workout barefoot, so you don’t need anything very fancy for these workouts. I found that I enjoyed walking and got some nice running shoes for that. </p>
<p>With all the plank and side plank exercises, an [Airex</a> pad](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011YY86G]Airex”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011YY86G) is a welcome addition. It’s a memory foam pad that can go under your knees or elbows. Or, an exercise mat or any number of improvised alternatives would work. I just got the Airex and it sure would have saved a lot of wear and tear on the knees and elbows.</p>
<p>An “interval” timer is just a timer that can be programed to beep after “X” number of seconds of exercise and again after “x” number of seconds of rest. You don’t need with the iPod workouts because he’s in your headphones telling you went to stop and start.</p>
<p>There are lots of other goodies for a home gym, but nothing else really essential.</p>
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<p>You might want to put the workouts on your iPod and do them concurrently with your husband. Not togther at the same time, but each on your own schedule. It’s a terrific program that can be scaled up or down depending on your fitness since it’s all time-based. I tried like heck to give the workouts to somebody else in my family. I think it would have been highly motivating to trade war stories. I couldn’t get any takers.</p>