I hope you’ve been following along with my January challenges! If so, by now your skin and energy level will be thanking you (if skin and energy could talk), and you’ve removed the Frankenfood from your diet. You’ve probably dropped a pound or two or three, and it hasn’t cost you a dime.

If not, it’s never too late to start. We’re improving by small increments, so you can easily catch up, and I’m totally rooting for you!

Here’s the next challenge … MOVE IT! (You had to have seen that one coming.)

At least three times a week, do … something. Walk around the neighborhood. Ride a bike (outdoor or stationary). March up and down the stairs. Walk the dogs. Go wogging (that’s a combination walking and jogging).

Let me share with you my win-win method of exercise, which I use All. The. Time. Basically, I trick myself into it.

I commit to 15 minutes of whatever I’m going to be doing, usually walking or riding my indoor bike. 15 minutes is completely confrontable – we can do anything for 15 minutes, right? After 15 minutes I can stop, and I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do. Win! But what usually happens is that by that point, I’m into it and ready to do more, double win!

The reason this works so well is that it overcomes your biggest hurdle – inertia. Remember back to science class and Newton’s First Law of Motion; a body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion?

(By the way, 30 minutes or more is ideal, but we all have to just put a stick in the fan and start somewhere. And my “trick yourself” method is a great way to get the ball rolling.)

Here’s what you have to look forward to –

Your stamina is going to improve. After a couple of weeks, what was challenging will become easy peasy.

You’ll have better heart and lung health, and reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

Your blood pressure and cholesterol levels will improve.

You’ll have improved muscle strength and reduced body fat.

You’ll have a greater sense of well-being and accomplishment.

We want all that stuff, right?

Please let me hear from you – I’d love to know how it’s going so far!