Let me first assure you all that I have not given up on my fitness goals. I finished my initial program over the weekend, as I already wrote about. This week, I have been taking a look at what other programs are available and trying to decide which one is best for me.

So far, I have done several Pilates workouts. I truly do love Pilates. Yoga too. I love anything that stretches my body. Do you ever get that feeling like you are going to jump out of your skin? If you do (and you get it often), you might want to give Pilates or Yoga a try. It could just be your muscles’ way of saying “Hey, we need to do something over here!”

However, Pilates/Yoga alone will probably not be able to help me accomplish my goals. The one thing both exercises are missing is cardio — and you all know how I feel about cardio!

So bear with me folks, as I try to come up with a program that fits my fitness level and will help me accomplish the objectives I have laid out.

My Objectives
1. Feel better overall in my own body.
2. Be more healthy.
3. Lose weight/inches.
4. Increase endurance, flexibility.

Even in just two weeks, I have definitely seen improvements in all of those areas. So not only do I have no doubt that I can do it, but I know you can do it too!

Day 12: “Strength Interval” with Kendall Hogan
Weight: 158 lbs. (eee!)

Today was the last day of the “2 Weeks to a New You” program. I didn’t work out yesterday due to some work issues, but I did go to the dog park and run around with the pups.

So Kendall Hogan’s “Strength Interval” was actually a lot of fun. I think this would be a great workout for any fitness level. Furthermore, from what I read on the wonderful Internet, Hogan’s many other workouts are similar, in that the pace is not so intense as to scare people away, but just intense enough to get even the fittest person going.

Well folks, I cannot tell you how much better I feel since I started this program. And, it has sort of become a habit for me. Every morning, I get up and workout for half an hour. As I seem to be getting closer to accomplishing my goals, I have decided to keep going. Only this time, I am going to try another program.

Thanks again for all the support!

Day 10: “Cardio Sculpt” with Steven Maresca
Weight: 160 lbs.

If you have ever heard me talking about working out, then you know that I am all about the cardio. Though experts disagree amongst each other, I personally feel that cardio can go a long way in helping you attain your goals.

Why is that, you ask? Well, cardio is all about the heart. If your heart is working more efficiently, then you will burn calories more efficiently. And isn’t that the whole point of working out?

Furthermore, anyone can do cardio. And I mean anyone. As exercise fitness has become more and more popular and modern, trainers have developed many workouts for any fitness level.

However, that doesn’t mean you should just sit on a bike or walk a treadmill day after day. You need variety. While biking or walking will definitely get your heart rate going and will also help to burn calories, those particular exercises leave many muscle groups out of the equation. So be sure that you are including exercises that not only target your core (your torso area) but also your other muscles as well.

Given that, I would say that today’s 10-minute cardio workout was fantastic. We worked legs, arms and abs. And even though I did break a sweat (and found myself gasping for air… I blame the smoking) I didn’t feel overworked. I think that if anyone is considering staring a workout program, but their fitness level is on the lower end, this should be what they try, and work up from there.

There are only two days left in my two-week program. I once again thank all of you for following along with me. Blogging my progress has been a great way to keep myself accountable. I encourage all of you to try it as well if you are having a hard time motivating yourself.

Day 9: “Abs and Back Workout” with Amy Dixon
Weight: 160 lbs.

This abs and back workout was probably the simplest exercise I have done so far. And, it was only 10 minutes long!

There were more crunch-like exercises involved in this video, but I really liked the way they were done. It was still not your typical crunch. For example, instead of doing crunches the normal way (with your knees up and bent), she had us lay down with our legs outstretched and feet relaxed. I still felt “the burn,” but in a much more pleasant way than a normal crunch.

If any of you are thinking of starting an exercise program, or want to learn more about health and fitness, check out the folks over at MakeYouHappen, a health and fitness social community. The founder of the site is a friend from high school (if you can believe that) and he is a wonderful personal trainer. Kevin Orr has even written a book on how to improve your health and body in just 10 weeks! Having edited the book, I strongly recommend it to anyone.

Keep up the good work and thanks again for your continued support!

Day 8: Back to “Cardio Shred” with Jillian Michaels
Weight: 162 lbs.

First, I want to apologize for not posting on Sunday. But, hey, it was Sunday after all.

Anyway, on Sunday, I sweated to Cindy Whitmarsh’s “Fat Burn.” It was a quick workout, but I have never felt so uncoordinated in my life! The moves were not complicated, but having never done them before, I was definitely not auditioning for the ballet.

And I think this is something we should discuss for a minute. While doing these workouts, it’s easy to give up simply because you feel like a clod. That is the wrong thing to do! Over time, your coordination will likely improve as you exercise In fact, that is one of the goals of exercise: coordination. It is a secondary goal, at best, but exercise will definitely help even the clumsiest person reduce their clumsiness. (And I should know!)

After the workout, I managed to talk my husband into doing a Yoga workout with me. Yoga is great because it not only helps you relax and center, but also stretches your muscles. after a week of workouts, with very little stretching post-workout, I figured it would be a good idea to try some Yoga. And, we (my husband and I) are considering doing Yoga a few times a week at night before we go to bed. This should not only stretch out our achy muscles, but should also help us sleep better – and who doesn’t like that?

Monday was my first day off from the program. I admit I spent most of the day lounging on the couch, but I did take the dogs to the dog park. So I got a good 30 minutes of activity in (although, given that I ate an entire grocery store over the weekend, I probably should have done more!).

This morning, I went back to the beginning. I repeated the “Cardio Shred” workout with JIllian Michaels. It was a little easier this time, but still kicked my ass!

With the end of the program in sight, I am pleased at how well I have done. Sure, the number on the scale has gone up, but that could be due to water weight, building muscle… or all that food I ate over my three-day weekend. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

I still have faith that I can not only complete this program, but continue it. I feel fantastic. My clothes are literally falling off of me. I had a doctor appointment on Monday and after sneaking a peek at my chart, I found that I had lost at least 15 lbs. from around the same time last year. That was a real boon for me. I knew I had lost weight, but it was nice to see actual physical evidence that proved it.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another round of abs workouts!

Day 5: “6-Pack Ab Burn” with Cindy Whitmarsh
Weight: NA

Whew! I am definitely feeling yesterday’s workout. It’s not as bas as I have ever experienced, but I feel like I have a 6-pack. (I looked…I don’t.)

Today was yet another abs workout, once again led by Cindy Whitmarsh. I am starting to really like this girl. Not once during this morning’s workout did I do a crunch. What’s that you ask? No crunches? Impossible! Trust me, there were no crunches.

I think that part of the reason the past two workouts have been crunches light is because a) a lot of people do them wrong and b) they do not necessarily work that well, in as much as they are not targeting a variety of muscle groups, like most of Cindy’s exercises.

At any rate, it’s Saturday and I have chores to do. Which means more calories to be burnt! El yay!

Day 4: “Incredible Abs” with Cindy Whitmarsh
Weight: 159.5 lbs.

Whew! Today was a little bit harder for me. I am not sure if it was because I was kind of rushed this morning (the bond market closes early today, which means I have to get started on my real job earlier than normal, or maybe because I was on the tired side, having woken up at 5 a.m.

Anyway, today was my first ab workout (I have another tomorrow as well). Honestly, I love love love ab workouts. I don’t know why, as my abs are definitely the most out of shape part of me, but I always feel so good afterwards.

The workout was a 20-minute long intensive session with Cindy Whitmarsh. Now, this lady must know what she is talking about. Her abs were ripped! It’s always nice when doing an ab workout to see your instructor actually has great abs. Otherwise, I think they are just full of it.

But this exercise is a little on the difficult side. Especially being only four days into this program. I did my best, but I admit I didn’t do very well. And, it didn’t help that my dog thought that she was “helping” me by laying on me. I guess that’s just more resistance, right?

So while this exercise was great as far as it really made you work, if you are a beginner, I might try something else. Personally, I am a fan of the “8-Minute Abs” series. (There are also videos for legs, arms, etc.)

For being only 8 minutes, this exercise program will knock your socks off. It’s hard, but not so hard anybody can’t do it. The only drawback of this particular video is they don’t do a warm up. So get that heart rate going before you start!

Tomorrow we hit the abs again. Let’s hope I will be able to stand up straight by then! Wish me luck!

Day 3: 10 Minute Bootylicious Buns
Weight: 159.5 lbs

In the immortal words of Yosemite Sam, “My biscuit’s a-burnin’!”

Today was “10 MInute Bootylicious Buns” with Stephanie Vitorino. Wow. 10 minutes of pure pain in the ass. Literally.

But it wasn’t so bad. My problem is that I am so completely out of shape that my hips don’t like to move too much. That can cause massive problems when trying to work those glutes! But I managed to push through it (with a little help from Luci, my dog).

And, again, as I said in my “Motivation” post, who can’t spare a measly 10 minutes if it means they will (eventually) be able to bounce a quarter off their ass?

Thanks yet again to all for your support! Check back tomorrow to learn how my first ab workout goes!

If you are anything like me, getting motivated to exercise is a process. Maybe the idea comes in and you think, “Hey, I should start working out.” Then, just as quickly as that thought came in, it’s gone.

Motivation is therefore a key element to success. This is true of any aspect of our lives, but is especially true of health and fitness.

So then, how do we get motivated and, more importantly, stay motivated? Motivation varies by person, but here are a few things to think about.

1. What is your goal?
Do you want to lose weight, get toned or are you just concerned about your health? Maybe you have an event coming up and you want to look your best? Whatever your goal is, write it down and keep it in the forefront of your mind.

2. Time
It is so easy for time to get away from us. After all, how are you suppose to fit in a workout between working, running errands, getting the kids to their various activities, etc.?

But that is a dangerous frame of mind. Consider this: Think about the time you spend in front of the computer or television. Don’t you think you can take 30 minutes out of that to workout? Trust me, you can.

Another way to make sure time plays a small role in unmotivating you, try to workout at the same time every day. Personally, I have been waking up at my normal time, doing a few things (check e-mail, eat something, etc.) and then getting ready for the day’s workout.

3. What if I don’t have the right equipment?
As I said in my Day 2 post, necessity is the mother of invention. Don’t have dumbbells? Use cans of soup or something similar. No balance ball? The edge of a chair or couch usually works just fine. If you are creative, you can find something around the house to use, so don’t let the lack of equipment deter you.

4. I have an injury. Should I not workout?
Sometimes, we hurt ourselves and that can make working out more difficult. But it doesn’t mean we have to not exercise at all. (Note: In cases such as this, talk to your doctor first to see what kinds of exercises you could do.)

But most exercises can be modified to fit any fitness level. For example, if you just want to get some cardio in, but you have knee problems, then do this: Stand with you feet shoulder width apart and slightly bend your knees. Don’t bend so much that it puts too much pressure on your knees, but enough that your knees are not locked. Also, do not let your knee go over your foot. Then, do a series of punches. First, bunch straight out, moving your arms across your body. Do that for about a minute. Then alternate between an upper cut and a hook, each for a minute. Then, stand up straight and do arm swings. Simply rotate your arms in wide circles at your side, letting your arms cross your body. This will not only help get your heart rate up, but will also stretch you arm and chest muscles.

These are just a few ways to trick the motivation monster. There are plenty of others (and I’d love to hear your tips!). Just figure out what works for you and run with it! Good luck! If I can do it, so can you!

Day 2
Weight: 159.5 lbs.

Welcome to Day 2! I woke up this morning and my legs were still a little achy from yesterday’s workout. But they were much better than last night. I was having quite an interesting time sitting down and then trying to get back up!

Anyway, today’s workout was “A-List Arms.” I was actually suppose to do a different video, but couldn’t find the one I was looking for. So, after a little searching, I found this one, instructed by Patrick Murphy. This particular workout is actually part of the “Hollywood Body” plan.

The workout started with a 4-minute warm-up. It was pretty simple, and according to his on-screen instructions, could be used at any time for a quick warm up.

Next, we went right into arms. For this video, they used a medicine ball, a balance ball, two dumbbells and a yoga band. Unfortunately, I did not have a medicine or balance ball, so I improvised. I also do not have dumbbells, so instead I used 2 cans of pineapple. (Necessity is the mother of invention.)

For the next 15 to 20 minutes, we alternated between biceps and triceps. The last few exercises I thought were particularly interesting. He had us go from a standing bicep curl, then bring our arms up into a tricep extension. In another move, one arm was doing a bicep curl, while the other was doing a tricep extension. Then you switched. It was a little odd, as I almost felt uncoordinated. (Oh wait, I am!) But he did say that the exercise would help with coordination.

So, I am now two days into this program and I feel pretty good. Despite the muscle pain, I want to keep going and see how my body will react. Less than 2 weeks to go! Wish me luck!