Take the "Spring Into Fitness" Challenge

There was a time not too long ago when I exercised every day. At least thirty minutes, and usually 45-60 minutes. I used DVDs five days a week and walked several miles on the weekends. Several different variables conspired against me, and eventually the workouts no longer worked out.

And there came a point at which my favorite jeans no longer fit.

Do you know how hard it is to find the perfect pair of jeans? I do not take jean-shopping lightly.

There are other reasons I need to get back to daily workouts: 

• I'll have more energy and
• better over-all health
• I need the stress relief
• my back pain is much less when I'm active
• I need more strength to haul all these books around

My pedometer broke a long time ago, so I ordered a new one last night. (Yay for Amazon gift cards!) Along with the pedometer, I thought being accountable to all of you - and maybe having some company - would keep me motivated until I either got back into the habit of exercising or started to see results.

So, starting Monday, April 15, I'm issuing a 30-day challenge. Thirty minutes of activity each day for 30 days. The CDC recommends 150 hours of activity a week; 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That's great, in theory, but we have to do something for 21 days before it becomes a habit. So every time we stop for a day off, we're breaking our routine. But 30 minutes for 21 days just doesn't have the same ring to it.

The 30 minutes don't even have to be consecutive minutes. You can take three 10-minute walks throughout the day.

I'll check in every day. It'll be short; just a quick note about what my workout was that day. I get bored easily, so I rotate through a possibly-larger-than-normal fitness DVD collection. I may even throw in a tip or two for you along the way. 

If you want to join me, all you have to do is jump in. Take the usual precautions: 

• If you have any health concerns or if it's been a while since you participated in any kind of physical activity, check with your doctor (or chiropractor, or some kind of licensed professional) before starting an exercise program.
• Drink plenty of water. 
• Pay attention to the temperature. If it's too hot or too cold outside, find something you can do indoors. 
• Don't ignore your body's signals. "No pain, no gain" is stupid. The slight discomfort you feel when you work a muscle is completely different than actual pain. 

Now that you've got your common-sense hat on, the actual activity is completely up to you. Find something you enjoy doing so that it's not a never-ending battle to get yourself to do it every day. (There will always be those days when you don't want to do anything.) You can chronicle your own journey on your blog or you can just stop by here every day and leave a comment telling me what you did for the day. (Leaving a comment with your "report" blog post link is fine, too.) 

This isn't about weight. This is about moving. If you'll be joining me April 15- May 14, leave a comment below so I have a reason to come back here Monday. ;-)

If you are considering a pedometer, this is the one I ended up getting. (This is my Amazon affiliate link.) Make sure any pedometer you buy is not easily reset or you'll lose your steps. Even if you prefer to buy from a store, I'd suggest checking online reviews before purchasing. About.com has a good pedometer guide.