watchin' my weight Wednesday

What keeps you from exercising? If you're like me it could be any number of a million reasons... lack of motivation, it's cold outside, I'm sick (this has definitely been the reason lately), I'm exhausted, not the right equipment, no one to exercise with, Jersey Shore marathon, you name it, I've used it for an excuse at some point over the last 20 years or so of exercising for fitness.

Probably the excuse that really does make exercising difficult for me is the lack of extra time to workout. I really love to exercise. Before kids, I exercised a hour or two (yes, I said, two!) a day. I never missed a day. I loved it that much. I had the abs to prove it too. **sniff sniff** Not so much now. I still love to exercise but now I have three little munchkins (and animals- do they count too?) who need me a whole lot. Time for exercise just slips away sometimes.

On most days, when I am not in the depths of total sickness/recovery from sickness, I get up around 5:30 to exercise, before they all wake up. It stinks. Yes, it really does but I have tried to exercise while they play and it just doesn't work. They drive me crazy. Doesn't mean I don't love them, but they won't leave me alone. A lot of times I wait until they go to bed at night but that is tough in the winter months for me. I think because it gets dark so early, I have no motivation once the sun goes down. In the summer, this is great because it stays light so late, I often work out late but it doesn't seem so late, you know what I mean?

Occasionally, I sleep later than I want to and have to do my time crunched workout. I developed this one myself and it works for me. I feel like I am getting a decent workout in a shorter time.

First, I jumping jack or jump rope for a couple minutes to warm up.

Next, I do a set of deep squats. I don't count, just do as many as I can until my booty is screamin'.

Then I grab these... (I have a set of 2 pounds, and a set of 3 pounds)

Then I hop on my treadmill (or hit the pavement outside if it is warm enough).

While I am walking quickly (about 3.9-4.0 pace) I do sets of arm exercises. I do bicep curls, shoulder presses, lateral raises, front raises, punches, jabs, upper cut punches and finally more biceps. I do these over and over. I don't really count reps, just do it until my arms are tired and I move to the next exercise.

While I am walking, I try to find hills if I am outside and go faster or I put my treadmill on an incline. I like to keep it around a 5 or 7, not too high because flinging my arms like that makes me feel kind of clutzy.

When I get tired of the arm exercises, I finish up my treadmill on the highest incline, a bit faster (4.5 speed) for 5 or 10 minutes.

I hop off (or stop if I am outside). I do two to three sets of walking lunges and some tricep dips and I am done. If I am feeling super motivited I do some abs and pushups too but I am usually whooped. In case you are thinking, no way does she do all these outside, but I swear I do. My neighbors have seen me and I don't care. I just go for it.

This is not my most favorite workout. I'd rather do lots of other things, run then lift weights or spin but for a time crunched kind of day, it works for me. I can finish this whole body workout in less than forty minutes. If done to high intensity, I am definitely feeling it the next day.

I thought I'd try to share some of my favorite workout songs with these posts. Music is a huge motivator for me. Most of my friends know I love the Black Eyed Peas, who doesn't? I just got their newest CD and unless you live under a rock, you've been hearing this one a lot lately. This one is hard not to run to, it has a great pace and it is made for going fast.

You'll probably see Fergie and the guys on here a lot, they turn up all the time on my playlists. Sometimes I have to physically stop myself from dancing when they come on if I am at the Y, so embarrassing.

I would also like to say I am not a fitness trainer and I just like to share my workout tips. I hope no one gets offended by my ideas. I like to share any and all tips that I find helpful in my everyday life.