Excersise is often a popular topic here, of course, and many of you choose to exercise at home while many others have joined gyms.  It's no secret that the month of January is the biggest sales month of the year for all gyms, everyone is trying to keep to their New Year's resolutions - in fact, a large number of us joined the 17DD in January, no coincidence there.  Many others go out and buy treadmills, eliptical trainers, excersise DVD's, yoga mats... I could go on forever .... for use at home.  

I've done both in my life.    I had a basement full of home exercise gear, most of which ends up in a spring garage sale at one point or another.  Funny, I'm just now remembering that most of that stuff was purchased at a garage sale in the first place - kind of a "circle of life" for Thighmasters and Ab Rollers.  I also used to sit on my couch and do "isometric exercises", you know, just tightening your stomach or butt muscles for a short time and then releasing.  None of it actually worked - well except maybe for one - watching a half hour sitcom while doing Kegel exercises may not shrink your waistline but can do wonders for your marriage!  ;-D  

Why does all that stuff end up in the basement or garage?  Same reason folks who join the gym in January are usually no longer going by May.  We get tired of it and give up. I chose joining a gym over buying more equipment for one simple reason:  if I actually get my behind in the gym I kinda have to actually do something when I get there.  It would look pretty strange if I just stood there watching Regis and Kelly or something on the treadmill monitor without moving my feet.  Peer pressure at work in a positive way!  

My husband often points out that if I just walked the dog for an hour instead of using the treadmill I'd get the same effect.  Well maybe, but a) there are not enough hills around here and b) I don't think my dog would appreciate it if I attached a flat screen TV to his head.

I need distraction when I do cardio.  I have tried aerobics classes, step classes you name it and during the agony all I can think about is when does this end???   If I am distracted by a funny or interesting show I can get by.  Same thing for weight training, that's when I let my imagination fly and daydream along to rocking tunes on my iPod.  In my daydreams I'm a rock star on stage at Madison Square Gardens, I'm strolling down a beach in Cancun in a hot bikini, I'm giving a tearful yet eloquent Oscar acceptance speech for best original screenplay, I'm gently turning down a proposal from George Clooney  or picking up my $50 million lottery win.  I have a lot of fun in my daydreams.

Whichever you choose, exercising at home or at the gym, find a way to make it work for you.  If you are working out at home - DO NOT leave all that stuff downstairs - bring it out where you have to look at it every day.  Use your guilt in a positive manner and make it force you to use the stuff.  If you have joined a gym, don't overthink about when you are going to go, you will always find an excuse to go "later".  Pick up the car keys and go.  

Above all, I think using the distraction method is very effective while exercising, whether at home or the gym.  If it is TV, music or daydreams, taking your mind off of your sweaty, straining body really helps the time to pass, you're done before you know it.  

Good luck everyone - have a great day!

Love, Lisa