New Year - New workout regimen and fitness goals!

With the new year of course comes new year's resolutions. In the past those last through about January, maybe February then fade to the wayside. This year, one of my resolutions is to actually follow through with my resolutions! We'll see how that works out huh?



For Christmas my parents got me the Jillian Michaels book Making the Cut. I love it! Since my middle school days I have always been interested in fitness and diet and exercise. I have gone through all kinds of phases and diets. Competitive sports, step aerobics - Kathy Smith's videos were a daily event! kick boxing, gym memberships and classes, running, swimming... You name it, with the exception of yoga and spinning, I have pretty much tried it. I truly enjoy exercising and the way it makes me feel. The only problem I have is trying to make time for it. When you work 5 days a week and are gone 12-13 hours per day, then come home, make dinner, clean etc. Time slips away before you know it...not too mention energy! But this year I have vowed to take the time I need to make exercise a regular part of my week. My goal is to work out 4-5 times per week. That is not unrealistic by any means.

I started last week and so far so good. Along with my book my parents got me the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD. This too, I love! In case you can't tell I am a big fan of Jillian and her workouts on the Biggest Loser. I love the 30-Day Shred program for two reasons:

1. It's a total body workout for sure. You feel it EVERYWHERE! You do both strength and cardio so it's very effective.
2. It's 20 minutes per day. That's it. 20 minutes and you are done and feel like you had a 45-60 minute workout. It's awesome!

I have started doing level one of the DVD and then combining it with 20 minutes on the treadmill. You do cardio during the DVD but I feel like I need to do more to burn extra calories, so this is a good supplement. But on days that I do not have time for the treadmill, one 20 minute segment still makes me feel good. There are three levels on the disc. So far I have only attempted level one, but plan to try out level two sometime this week.
So that is one of my resolutions for 2009. Making time for exercise 4-5 times per week. In addition to that though, here are a couple more that go along with that...

• Lose 20 lbs.
• Run 4 miles without walking.
• Participate in a sprint tri-athalon. 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 5k run...(This was a goal of mine last year, but I did not decide that until later in the year. Along with being unsure of where to sign up etc., I was nervous about being able to complete the whole thing so it got pushed to this year.)

2009 is just beginning, but so far so good. Let's hope I continue to be successful in achieving my goals! Wish me luck!

~B