A workout regimen I will stick to...hopefully

It's always the same story. I get intrigued by the latest core, strength training, butt, abs, you name it workout. Once I find that it's "do-able" I get really pumped and enthused about it. I stick to it for about two weeks, then end up getting really bored. Dedicating 30 minutes to strength training between my cardio days is apparently too much to ask of me.

At the same time, I, like most of you, have heard of the benefits of strength training: that it speeds up your digestion, increases your metabolism, reduces your body fat and most importantly, it helps prevent the flabby excess skin you acquire as a result of weight loss.

So I enlisted the help of my friend Shari, a personal trainer at Easy Fitness in Marina Del Rey (http://easyfitnessresults.com ) about my motivation problems. She gave me news that was like music to my ears! She informed me that long workouts may actually be counterproductive! Hallelujah!! She customized an extremely stick to-able (yes that's a word) strength training workout that I love and that takes only 10 minutes 2 times a week!!! It's comprised of just 5 exercises a day! I love this workout sooo much that I want to shout it on a rooftop for all of the world to hear!

Here is my new favorite workout, thanks to Shari:

Day 1:

1. Squats


2. Step ups


3. Push ups


4. Back bent over Row w/ dumbbells (5-12 lbs)


5. Core exercise: Planks



DAY 2:

1. Romanian Dead lifts w/ dumbbells (7-15 lbs)


2. Reverse lunges


3. Shoulder press (5-12 lbs)


4. Squat dumbbell Row (5-12 lbs)


5. Core Exercise: Crunches



How many reps?

Week 1: 10-15 reps, 2 sets
Week 2: 10-15 reps, 3 sets
Week 3: 15-20 reps, 2 sets
Week 4: 15-20 reps, 3 sets

** You always want to be increasing your weights each week and/or increasing your sets of reps.

And that's all there is to it...doesn't it sound easy??!?

******************************************************************
******************************************************************

So this is how I factor these exercises into my weekly workout routine:

SUNDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY - Walk/Jog for 30 minutes at the park

MONDAY- "DAY 1" exercises

TUESDAY - Elliptical for 30 minutes

THURSDAY - "DAY 2" exercises

SIDE NOTE: This is a picture I googled to show you what my idea of the perfect body is: healthy, curvy, toned, and definitely not stick-skinny. Of course it would be nice to shed a few pounds along the way, but my main goal is to be fit, healthy and to feel good about myself.