Happy Belated New Year!

I don't have any New Years resolutions, because I just don't make them.  Instead, I set goals and achieve them, no matter what time of year it is.  Everyone I know who makes resolutions makes them to lose weight.  I was already planning on/working on losing my "relationship weight" for my wedding and then the rest of my life! It's going well and it really helps that I am working on learning the PiYo choreography.  Here are some of my favorite workout tools/motivators.





I love watching shows that make me want to work out.  This new one, Wicked Fit is basically Jerseylicious at a fitness club in Boston.  Season 1 just ended and I hope they return for a second season.   It's funny, campy eye candy.

Whether you're already working out or just beginning, Jackie Warner's first book 

This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever): Eat More, Cheat More, Lose More--and Keep the Weight Off is so important to read.  It's full of useful real information (no stupid fads) about exercise and nutrition, workout plans, menus and recipes.  I've made quite a few of the recipes she provides and they have all been delicious.  

Mixing up your routine constantly challenges your muscles so you see quicker results, so in addition to my weight and cardio and PiYo workouts, I like to try new workout videos at home.  I tried a 20-minute Bethenny Frankel Skinny Girl workout on On Demand and it was fantastic.  It's an "excerpt" from her DVD Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout, which contains 3 yoga workouts you can do every day or do one or two, according to how much time you have.  I like it because Bethenny's trainer takes her through a workout and offers modifications for each pose and they discuss which muscles they work and/or stretch.  

Another fun one to try is Crunch's Fat Burning Pilates.  It's from 2003, so it's a little old, but not outdated.  It's a great introduction to Pilates, as it's an energetic, creative, and it encourages you to develop long, lean sexy muscles.  Ellen keeps you focused on perfect posture.  

The routine starts with a dance-based cardio routine.  She incorporates standing Pilates moves into a low-impact, but rather fast-paced cardio section.

The second mat-based Pilates Floorwork Routine is best done in bare feet and a yoga mat is quite useful, but not necessary.  I actually did this whole workout barefoot.

The only criticism I have of this one is that it's called fat-burning, when my heart rate never once reached the fat-burning zone, so I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.