Let 2010 Begin!

Even though my track record for resolutions isn't that great...I sort of can't help but outline a few things here in writing to help me focus.
I really do want to only read one book at a time, which I plan on instituting (after I finish the five I'm currently reading).
I also would like to finish writing a second book. We'll see if the sequel to Between the Letters or the magical realism piece gets finished first. Maybe it will be both this year?! But just one would be a great accomplishment.
It would also be ideal to land an agent this year. I'll keep trying until I have 200 rejections.
Losing 15 pounds sounds GREAT. And while it may be reachable, how many years have I been trying to lose, and have only gained since landing a cubicle job? Exactly. So, the goal this year is to make better choices, exercise more consistently, and feel better about myself. No pound numbers in the official resolution. Just get healthier, and the rest will follow.

As an aid to this goal, I will be posting weekly health tips that I run across. I will try to get these up on Mondays to help start the week out right. But since today is the start of a new year, I have to share one today! And, I know that every tip has a conflicting opinion, but what it comes down to is finding that solution that works for YOU. This one comes from SELF Magazine:

"Divide it up. Exercisers who did two half-hour stints of moderate cycling with a 20-minute rest in between burned 10% more fat afterward than when they cycled straight for one hour. The repeated bouts triggered a release of hormones that helped metabolize fat more efficiently so that fat supplied a greater percentage of the total calories used later."

While I don't love cycling, I imagine any straight up cardio like the treadmill or elliptical will suffice. After reading this, I thought, well that's great, I'll do 2o or 30 minutes of elliptical, 20 minutes of weights, and then 20-30 minutes of the bike or treadmill. But then I found THIS:

"Lift First. If you tone and do cardio in the same session, start with weights. Participants in a study who did a total-body strength workout 20 minutes before cycling burned 10% more fat than those who simply cycled without weight training. Lifting taps those hormones that guide fat into the furnace. The reverse - doing cardio, then weights - doesn't."

Now I don't know who has 2 hours to spend in the gym to space all this out, but it does help to give an idea of the order to do things, and how to mix it up. Try intervals, do LOTS of stretching after muscles have been warmed up, and after the workout to alleviate soreness.

2010 is brand new, with no mistakes in it! Happy New Year!