• Lack of Specifics?  On first glance, just saying you are going to “do something” all year for 30 minutes a day sounds like a plan that would fail, but anything beyond simple, and I feel like I would fail.  And stressful–even for the trainer!  Hence, I stripped it down the bare essentials–30 minutes of dedicated exercise per day of some sort of movement.
• Variety:  You’re supposed to get weekly cardio, strength, and flexibility.  My plan is to just use variety– do some of this and some of that.  You can have the best laid plan… but c’mon we’re talki’ 365 days.  Unless I’m racing, I don’t use progressions of macro cycles, micro cycles, or get hung up on any other complications for general fitness.  I’d rather spend my time working out instead of tracking the workouts!
• 7 Days Per Week: Did you know Jack LaLanne has exercised seven days a week for over 50 years!  Even by my standards, this is extreme, but he made a point and got me thinking.  I had to ask myself–is exercising each and every day better for my health or would it be worse because of the stress and pressure of trying to never miss a single day?  For purposes of stress reduction, I am deciding to proceed with the daily plan with a twist.  The twist is I  will never put a requirement on intensity or mode of exercise–I will just do something.  I figure an easy walk for 30 minutes is better than sitting around stressing about money, kids and work.
• Overtraining & Burnout?  A lot of people are asking me if what I am going to doing is healthy because I will never have a day off.  My answer is yes–but only because I am not going hard all the time.  I used to go hard nearly every day when I trained for Tri’s.  Now, for purposes of general health and fitness, I just go!  You need to understand that many of my workouts will be just casual walks on the bike path or in the neighborhood.  Again…. 365 days people!  Doing something this easy does NOT require a day of rest or time off!  Easy walking IS rejuvenating, so why would I need a day off from something that is restful in the first place?  I don’t!  Just move.  Keep it simple.  It will all workout just fine.
• 30 Minutes Minimum Duration:  I chose 30 minutes because this is the basic recommendation for daily exercise.  If I get more, great, and many times I will, I’m sure.
• Intensity:  There is NO requirement on how hard!  As long as I am doing something that is “dedicated” EXERCISE, this will meet my goal.  That said -  exercise for 30 minutes–period.  Slow, moderate, fast, easy, hard…it doesn’t matter as long as I am doing it.
• Mode or Type of Exercise:  It doesn’t matter! 
• “EXERCISE” vs. Activity or House Chores:  This is probably one of my biggest points to make–I am making 30 minutes per day ONLY for exercise.  I thought about counting random chores around the house, parking further away from the mall entrance, taking the stairs at work, mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, or any other utilitarian-type tasks.  But I am not counting those. Why?  Because I see too many people using house chores as an excuse to not do anything harder.  The chores around the house and random walking around the office become more of an excuse than a method to significantly improving fitness.  A textbook definition of exercise is: “to practice, strengthen, or condition the human body through physical activity–more deliberate than just general activity.”  My suggestion is this–DEDICATE true EXERCISE time each day.  If you have to mow the lawn and it’s hard–great!  But you’d be mowing the lawn regardless of needing to exercise.  There is a higher level of dedication to health when you specifically set time aside to EXERCISE instead of just counting this and that, because doing it that way is usually just a cop out.  Interestingly, “exercise” has become a bad word to many and not politically correct.  We now refer to just being physically active instead of exercising for fear of turning someone off.  It is what it is!  Physical activity is one thing–exercise is another…and better!  Exercise is not a bad word–it’s one of the best words!  Don’t just be active–EXERCISE!  It’s truly a higher level.  You can BS or lie to yourself all day, but at the end of the day are you better off for not exercising?  That is the question you will have to live with–and maybe die with.  The choice is yours.  The choice is mine.
• Results:  TBD… December 31, 2012
• The Discipline:  I’ll be honest, it was hard to never miss a day of exercise all year!  Do the right thing for your health by exercising, and you’ll reap the benefits of health.  Don’t BS yourself.  FORCE the fitness if you have to, but get it done.

As I reflect back on the challenges of past year and consider the opportunities that lie ahead in 2012, there is one sentiment that lingers in my mind that I would like to share with you. Most of us had our fair share of hurdles to overcome in 2011; jobs, health, and challenges we face every year were only amplified by the economic crisis. Reflecting on 2011 makes me remember that sometimes we really don’t know what we are fully capable of until our back is against the wall and we are being tested. Often we find that we are capable of more than we realize – and a previous weakness becomes a new area of strength.


In 2012 I am deciding to be the most grateful person I can be. I am grateful for 2011’s newfound strengths, which perhaps made 2011’s challenges “blessings in disguise”, as these strengths were built only through the challenges that the year had to offer. Recognizing the value created from these challenges has brought me two powerful tools, appreciation and optimism, that I know will serve me well in 2012. For me it has been opening the doors to Coastal Motion Fitness and welcoming all of you … not just members, but friends!