Excuse-Proof Your Workout

What's up with me lately?!? I'm just NOT in the mood to exercise. It's gotta be the weather, right? Winter just takes the motivation right out of me. Blah. :/

I stumbled across this idea through Self Magazine that suggested a way to exercise proof your workout with a stack of index cards. Here's what you do: write down your biggest 'exercise barriers' on the front side of an index card. On the back, brainstorm all of the ways you can bust through those blockades. I know this may be a stretch, but bare with me because I'll pretty much try anything at this point. Here are my two biggest excuses: I hate winter and I'm too tired. Even just writing out these index cards gave me more motivation to get my be-hind moving! I'll let you know how it works out! :D

My Fave Playlists!

Elliptical/Treadmill

• Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z feat. Rihanna
  
• Work It – Nelly & JT
• SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
• Jump – Van Halen
• Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
• Dirt Off Your Shoulder – Jay-Z
• Rehab – Amy Winehouse
  
• Cupid's Chokehold – Gym Class Heroes
  
• Womanizer – Britney Spears
  
• All the Single Ladies – Beyonce
• Bad- Michael Jackson
• Weapon of Choice – Fatboy Slim
• Gossip Folks – Missy Elliott
• Stronger – Kanye West
  
• My Hero – Foo Fighters
• Don’t Let Go – Weezer
• Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
  
• All for You – Janet Jackson
• Hung Up – Madonna
• Wind it Up – Gwen Stefani
• Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Wasted - Gucci Mane
• Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner
• Lady – Lenny Kravitz
• Temperature – Sean Paul
• Superman – Soulja Boy
  
• My Life - Kid Cudi

Running

• Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5
• Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
• I'm In Miami Trick – LMFAO
• You're a Jerk - New Boyz feat. Bow Wow
  
• Thunderstruck – AC/DC
• S.O.S. – Rihanna
• What are you Waiting For – Gwen Stefani
• All Things Just Keep Getting Better – Widelife
• Crazy – Pitbull
• Push Up – Freestylers
• Work It – Nelly & JT
• Just Dance – Lady Gaga
  
• Back to Back – Bomfunk MC’s
• On To The Next One – Jay-Z feat. Swizz Beats
  
• Whenever, Wherever – Shakeria
• Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z feat. Rihanna
  
• Hey Ya – Outkast
• Running Down a Dream – Tom Petty
• She Wants to Move – N.E.R.D
• Video Phone – Beyonce feat. Lady Gaga
  
• Pump It – Black Eyed Peas
• Barracuda – Heart
• New Shoes – Paolo Nutini

Aerobics

• Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
• Let’s Go Crazy - Prince
• Going the Distance – Cake
• Legs – ZZ Top
• Runaround – Blues Traveler
• Smack My Bitch Up – Prodigy
• School’s Out – Alice Cooper
• Ring the Alarm – Beyonce
• You’re All I Have – Snow Patrol
• Clocks – Coldplay
• Toxic – Britney Spears
  
• How Bizarre – OMC
• Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
• Black or White – Michael Jackson
• People are People – Depeche Mode
• Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – Bruce Springsteen
• Don’t Phunk With My Heart – Black Eyed Peas
• Maneater – Nelly Furtado
• Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
  

Strength Training

• Ray of Light – Madonna
• Beds are Burning – Novaspace
• We Will Rock You – Queen
• Beautiful Day – U2
• The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
• Momma Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J
  
• Whenever, Wherever – Shakira
• Set Me Free – Velvet Revolver
• Only If I – Kate Ryan
• In Your Life – La Bouche
• Let’s Get Loud – Jennifer Lopez
• California Love – Dr Dre & Tupac
• Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner
• Temperature – Sean Paul
• Barracuda – Heart
• Elevation – U2
• Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
• Brand New Colony – The Postal Service
• You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
• Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy – Big & Rich
• Let’s Go – Trick Daddy
• Kick Out the Jams – MC5
• Gold Digger – Kanye West
  

Yoga/Pilates

• Shelter – Ray LaMontagne
• Wild Horses – Rolling Stones
• Quiet 3 – Shelia Chandra
• Sweet Lullaby – Deep Forrest
• Thank You for Hearing Me – Sinead O’Connor
• My Friend – Groove Armada
• Hidden Place – Bjork
• Simple Things – Zero 7
• First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
• Times Like These – Jack Johnson
• She’s Only Happy in the Sun – Ben Harper
• Arms of a Woman – Amos Lee
  
• Begin – Ben Lee
• Watermark – Enya
• This Woman’s Work – Maxwell
• Cherry Blosson Girl – Air
• Pastime Paradise – Stevie Wonder
• Let Me Roll – Seal
• Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation
• Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Happy New Year!

Ohhhhh yeah, I'm back. New Year's Eve was celebrated with friends...until I realized I was feeling tired and old (simultaneously) and decided to sneak out and head home. I spent most of the last half hour of 2009 trying to decipher what Dick Clark was saying and why J-Lo bugged me so much. All the while, I couldn't believe this year was almost over! I counted down 3--------2--------1 and *BAM* it was here. Wow, 2010. It's like a date from a science fiction novel except it's real. I actually feel inspired to write a blog...

Dear 2010,

I wanted to write this letter on NYE, but I went to bed as soon as the big shiny ball dropped and the shots of everyone kissing made me want to kill myself. I'm guessing that's not a good way to start 2010. You, my friend, are a new year, a new attitude, a new beginning.

I'll start with this...a lot is expected of you.
If you haven't heard, your predecessor was kindof an asshole. And by kindof I mean a complete and total asshole. You need to make up for that in a big, BIG way. For starters, please keep my family and friends healthy and happy, and heal those who are not.

You are the year Connor will start t-ball and kindergarten. You are the year I will begin my third year of college, even if it kills me. You are 'hopefully' the year I will get accepted into nursing school...let's make sure that happens mmm'k? Don't forget...you are the year I will win the lottery and become a walking Health & Fitness magazine cover model. Please and thank you.

I'll make a pact with myself to enjoy life more...because 2009 was yet another reminder that life is short.

You are my year. I WILL OWN YOU.

Love,
Jillian

P.S. Tell 2009, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!"