Why are there days where I am just glued to the couch, watching TV or reading? It seems all the fall shows and stacks of books I want to consume are conspiring to make me a couch potato. Well, not this year, I’ve got all my fitness stuff scattered behind the couch to get my bootie in gear.

We have about 90 days before the year ends and for some reason, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to lead a fitness challenge to get in the best shape EVER before the the year ends. Some days, I kick ass and other days I want to kick myself. Anyway, one of the goals for the fitness challenge is to exercise for at least 30 minutes, 6 days a week, totally doable, right? Not so much on colder days, when comfy sweats and my favorite blanket are much more inviting than getting all sweaty. On days I don’t want to workout, I set the timer on my phone for 30 minutes and head out the door for a walk/jog or do body weight workouts like burpees, push-ups, scissor kicks, planks, squats, tricep dips and jumping jacks. I moved the stepper, exercise ball and bands to the living room to workout while watching TV.

So last night I had the PERFECT excuse to skip my workout, I was making dinner and while cutting a baguette for garlic bread, the knife slipped and cut my finger. I had to ask Mark to wrap my finger because blood was dripping all over the bathroom sink. It’s crazy how a little cut could produce so much blood! Part of me said, “you should probably skip the workout so you don’t bleed to death” while the other said, “don’t be a wimp, nobody ever died from a kitchen cut.” Anyone else have this constant battle inside your head where part of you wants to workout except your body doesn’t want to move?

Anyway, after he wrapped my finger, I finished making a paleo version our meal. Then about an hour after dinner, I put on my heart rate monitor and went to the park to go jogging. This time, I managed to jog 2 miles nonstop and came home 30 seconds faster than the last time. The best part was I felt like I could breathe like a normal person instead of like a crazed zombie.

No Excuses Workout
Cardio: 30 minute walk or walk/jog around the neighborhood
OR
BEGINNER: REPEAT 2x, take breaks as needed
INTERMEDIATE: REPEAT 3x
75 jumping jacks
25 squats
50 leg levers (beginners: do this with knees bent)
75 jumping jacks
50 sit-ups
25 burpees

The body weight exercises usually take about 30 minutes to do 3 rounds, a little longer depending on how many breaks you take. That’s it, don’t forget to drink 64 oz to a gallon for water a day!

It’s not too take to join the fitness challenge, email, FB, tweet or leave your email in a comment.