I’m totally obessed with fitness information. I subscribe to Shape, Self, and Fitness, and I regularly check the websites for those magazines as well. I like to browse Cooking Light, and I regularly read the Hungry Girl blog. The thing is, you could never tell by looking at me. Even though I do exercise, I have some medical issues that slow down my metabolism, and I’ve been carrying around extra pounds for a few years now (it got even worse after I got married). So, I decided to do something about it. This fall, I signed up for a 3-month, 2 semester yoga class. I love yoga, and I was really missing my regular practice. Plus, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get out of the house and get in touch with my spiritual side. So imagine my dismay when I called the day before class was supposed to start (to find out what building to go to) and was told that the class was being cancelled because not enough people had registered. You see, even though I live in the Atlanta metro area, there is a shortage of yoga studios around, so I had signed up at a local park that had a minimum registration requirement. Since they didn’t notify me in advance that the class was cancelled, I didn’t have the chance to try to squeeze into a class at another park. So I’m SOL on that one. There’s still a chance that the October session will go through, though, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I decided to come up with a new plan. I’ve read time and again that the most successful people set small, reachable goals. Even though I know that, I never think that way. I always want to just "lose weight" or "wear a smaller size." This time, though, I’m setting two goals. I started on 9/11/06, with a goal to lose 5-10 pounds by 10/07/06. I know 5 lbs. is more likely, but 10 would be neat! I have reasons for the 10/7 date that are too long to go into, but they involve a football game, the symphony, and my anniversary. In addition to that, I would like to lose a total of 21 pounds by the end of the year. That would put me at a weight I would be happy with, as well as bring me to the BMI that I want (and no, I’m not going to divulge my current weight. No power on this earth could make me do that!). I’m also upping my water intake, cutting back on my Diet Pepsi intake, and trying to eat well and in moderation. I’ve tried many times to keep a food journal, and I just HATE it, so I probably won’t be doing that. I’ll keep you posted on my success.

My inspiration photo. I know Britney is totally insane now, but she had a rockin’ bod before she started poppin’ out kids. Every time I see this picture it makes me want to exercise. I had the opportunity to buy the poster for $2.00 to hang in my home gym, but I was too embarrassed to actually buy a Britney poster. Now I totally regret it.