...so goes my favorite excuse to skip my workout for the day. Forget the fact that I've waited until nearly midnight to get my sweat on. It's way too late now, so I better rest up for tomorrow. And then, into the bed with a cup of tea and my current novel, I go.

If this is your main line to get out of a workout, check out these great HIIT workouts that you can do at home. I've tried some of these with great results while others are rather new to me. But the bottom line is, contrary to popular (or maybe just my) belief, you can get a hell of a workout in 15-25 minutes and at home. Consider this a sample of small manifesto of HIIT workouts I've collected over my fitness journey.

Tone It Up's HIIT Workout from the Love Your Body series
The great thing about this video is that the ladies formulated the moves to be super quiet. So, if you have people living beneath you, you can get your workout in without someone banging on their ceiling with a broomstick. Another good thing: it's only 18 minutes total! Wam bam, thank you ma'am. But don't be fooled. This workout (& pretty much every TIU workout) kicks my ass, which is bad, but oh so good too.

24-minute HIIT Routine
I discovered this routine in a workout book I owned a few years ago, and it was a major factor in helping me get fit the first time around. Consider it my "tried & true"; no matter what new exercises I find, I'll always rely on this one. It's longer than other HIIT workouts because it allows for a longer rest period (which you could always shorten to increase difficulty).

There are 4 exercises, performed one after the other, and then the entire set is repeated 6 times. You perform each exercise for 30 second and then rest for 30 seconds.

*note: I = increase difficulty; D = decrease difficulty

Squat Jump

I: Click your heels together when you jump as it requires you to jump higher; D: Do straight up squats.

Pushup to plank 

I: Add a pushup after returning to pushup position; D: Remain in one position for the entire 30seconds.

Alternating Lunge

I = Add weight or try leaping lunges; D: Don't alternate until the next set

Jumping in place

I: Try tuck jumps; D: Lower your jump or just do toe raises.

The Catching Fire HIIT Challenge
Remember that note I left to myself after seeing Catching Fire in theaters? Must be as badass as Katniss Everdeen. Well, I'm trying to make good on it. Or at least I have every intention to. I barely got through one set with modifications and I nearly died. But I mean, even she's struggling through it and she is iinnn shape. It's a killer 12-minute routine and it's an entire 30-day series, which gives you a schedule and variety. I can't wait to start this challenge when I'm a bit more fit, but for those of you who are already there, you may find this to be just what you need. Check the video below; it's tough! (Warning: most of the instructors on this channel believe in very little material as clothing, so only view if you aren't offended by such things).

CHECK-IN #3: In the bustle of Mr. Big & Tall's birthday and Valentine's Day, I skipped the second weigh-in. But I'm down -11 since the first check-in! :)

1; 2; 3; 4; 5 - me. 

No Dessert (Til Brooklyn)!

So remember back when I told you about my Sweat For Summer challenge? There's one small thing that I left out because I wasn't sure if I was really gonna do it or if I even could do it. For the entire month of January, I skipped dessert. That's right for 30 days I said "no, thank you" to what has always been my favorite part of eating. I have a major sweet tooth and can eat pretty much anything with lots of sugar. I'm sure I don't have to go into detail about how bad that is for a fitness journey, and, you know, for life and all.

It all started when I bought 2 glazed doughnuts from 7eleven and gleefully brought them home. After warming them up in the microwave for a few seconds, I blissfully enjoyed these sugary gems. And then I repeated the cycle again, oh and again and again. This is a pretty embarrassing story but you get the picture. Homegirl was throwing doughnuts back quicker and more frequently than she did vodka shots in college at a frat party that only served beer but where knowing one of the brothers there always hooked you up with the good shit in the back pantry while no one was looking. That sounds like an illegal substance, but I'm just talking about the rubbing alcohol in a bottle that is Vladimir vodka, which probably should be illegal. And just like the freshman 15, those little doughnuts had me feeling heavier and sluggish than ever. And so began the idea, "What if I just give these up?" Simple enough. But then I decided it wasn't enough because I'd just eat cookie after cookie, mumbling about how 'it's not a doughnut!' Giving up desserts entirely was my only option. Now seeing as I pretty much subsist on sugar, I didn't abstain from sugar or sweet things in general. By desserts, I mean those yummy bakery things and other treats we loved as children and grudgingly ate our vegetables in the hopes of: cakes, cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts (!), ice cream, and the like. Which means candy and other sweet things were still technically on the table, but, hey, gotta start somewhere.

So what do you eat when you can't have all the cookies, cupcakes and cakes? Here are a few of the treats I enjoyed during the month of January, and I'm still reaching for quite a few of these.

Strawberries & Whipped Cream

Caramel Rice Cakes

Iced Coffee 

Note: I know that it's full of sugar, but it's not a doughnut! :) And it tests my willpower, as Dunkin Donuts is full of yummy doughnut-y options to bypass.

Banana Brown Sugar Vanilla Smoothie 

Recipe here.

100 Calorie Popcorn

½ Grapefruit with teaspoon of sugar

Strawberry Banana Creams 

Recipe here. 

Granola & Dried Cranberry Mix

Peppermint Tea (or any tea for that matter)

It's a small victory, but I'm proud of myself for sticking to it (except for that random golden oreo I ate accidentally :\). Got any recipes for a sweet snack? Leave a comment below, and Happy Monday!

Sweating for Summer: Stocking Your Fridge

When I began my first weight loss journey, this quote popped up everywhere. From the fitblr community to the gym to my own mom, I was reminded in some way that the majority of my battle with fat would be fought in the kitchen. What?! I didn't want to believe it. I love food. Most girls figure out the correlation between unhealthy food and weight gain in high school. But I was a gymnast during most of high school; it didn't matter what I stuffed my face with, I was going to burn right through it during my three hour practice that night. All I knew was that 3 slices of greasy pizza 10 minutes before practice wasn't the best idea (I learned that the hard way), but other than that I ate what I wanted. But when I went off to college where I partied, ate whatever and just went to the gym 3-5 times a week, I learned quickly that those days were over. I was cursed with the freshman 15 and then some. Lesson learned: I love food, but I can't devour all of the milkshakes and fries. Life just isn't fair.

So, if abs are made in the kitchen after all, what the hell am I suppose to eat? Personally, it's not the cravings that get the best of me most days. It's more about what's in front of me. Whether it's a bowl of ice cream or a serving of frozen yogurt, a pot-full of pasta or a plate-full, I'm just as satisfied really. Seriously, it's like my eyes are way too big for my own good. So, the key for me, and I think for a lot of people (although perhaps for different reasons), is to give myself the healthiest choices. My first stop on my fitness journey isn't the gym; it's the supermarket. So I'm bringing you along with me. This is how I stock my kitchen to prepare for battle, err, the Sweating for Summer challenge.

You can skip down to see what I took home - I won't hold it against you :)

Probably my favorite part of Trader Joe's. I love fresh flowers. I just need to learn not kill them. 

I always get my salad here. They're $4 a bag everywhere else!

Walk straight past this and over to the water. Even though they are pretty much the best juices ever :(

One of my favorite snacks. If you've never tried it, you need to.

A lot of people say don't buy frozen fish. And I get it, it's not as healthy as fresh fish. But see, if I bought fresh fish only, it would go bad in my fridge and I'd just end up ordering chinese. You see how this is a better option for me?

 Now, for my shopping cart :)

Every time I go grocery shopping, I pick up fruits. Trader Joe's has one of the best produce sections in the city, and, in general, have the best prices (seriously, I feel like I'm getting scammed if I shop anywhere else). By replacing sugary snacks with slightly, less sugary fruits, I save myself the I-just-inhaled-that-cupcake-guilt. You know that guilt I'm talking about.

Vegetables are an essential part of healthy eating. Of course, there's salad, which is like the golden child of every diet ever made. I also like TJ's prepped mixed vegetables because they make eating healthy so easy.
I've been wanting to whip up some guac for a while now, but it always seems so daunting. With everything right in one place in this Guacamole Kit, I couldn't resist.

Fage yogurt is my favorite brand because of how amazing it tastes and how convenient it is. I love eating it with sliced strawberries, raspberries and granola on top. And I like the one with honey too.

Here are a few good snacks I stock my pantry with. I admit the Inner Peas? Not so yummy. But those dried cranberries and granola bars, I'm known to carry those two around with me. They hit the spot every time! Read what's on the boxes there. I think it's too cute.

And of course, it's not healthy living if there isn't water. Saratoga spring water is like drinking the water of life from a bottle, but I'm not so bougie that I won't grab a plastic bottle too. I'm about that zero calorie goodness no matter what!

CHECK-IN #1: -2.5 pounds. I probably shouldn't have stepped on the scale today. The weather in NYC for the past few weeks has been cold and snowy, and I'm always a few pounds heavier at this time of the month. But I weighed in anyway because I want to do this right.

Sweating for Summer (Even If It's Freezing Outside)

Getting fit (again) has been one of my perpetual new year's resolutions and this year is no different. Two days ago, I stepped on the digital scale I have tucked in the back of my closet for my sanity safe keeping, and the highest number I have ever seen popped up on the screen. I'm currently the heaviest I have ever been. And strangely, this didn't send me into a panic that began with a shattered scale and ended with a blubbering Kari slumped in the corner of my room. I just looked down at the number and calmly put the soul-crushing device back in the closet. My panic then commenced in the form of list-making. When things feel like they're spiraling out of control, I make a list of what I need to do because it grounds me. So, on Wednesday, I tore four marked pages out of an otherwise blank notebook and scribbled out a plan.

I've created a 25 week "Sweat for Summer" plan which will end on July 2nd (it began on Wednesday the 8th). During that time, I will be "checking in" every 2.5 weeks or so, which works out perfectly to 11 check-ins. This checking in business serves two purposes: (1) it keeps me on track for my ultimate goal, and (2) it holds me accountable. Three years ago, when I first lost quite a bit of weight, I had a fitness tumblr, which I'm convinced made a big difference because it provided support but also held me accountable . I won't be dedicating entire posts to check-ins as was the fitblr community norm (ie. no posts solely about how much weight I have or haven't lost & how I did it). But I do plan to add a line or two about my progress on check-in days, and I aim to write fitness- or health-themed posts on those days. Just in case you're interested, here are those dates: Jan 24th, Feb 9th & 25th, Mar 13th & 29th, Apr 14th & 30th, May 16th, Jun 1st & 17th, July 2nd.

Over the next 5+ months, I expect my fitness goals and routines will change, but for now I'm focusing primarily on interval running (one of my resolutions) and secondarily on a Valentine's Day themed workout. I recently discovered the lovely Karena & Katrina over at Tone It Up, whose fitness videos have already taken the YouTube and general community by storm, and I've been loving their Fat Burning Treadmill Workout.

Let me be clear. I do not complete this run as is. Let me be clearer. When I first found this right after Thanksgiving, I tried to run it as is. I died by the end of the first jogging interval. I'm terribly out of running shape. In fact, because I was never a runner, that doesn't really pertain - I'm just out of shape in general. So, I modify the hell out of this routine. I don't increase the incline at all, and I dramatically decrease the mph for each interval (ie. I jog at around 4.0 and sprint at 5.0). Even though I followed this workout on-and-off throughout December, Wednesday was my "starting over" day as I was out of the gym due to the holiday and caught a cold on New Year's Eve. But I'm really pushing myself every time I run, and hope to run at least according to the speeds above by the end of the month. Strangely enough, after downloading an app that beeps with the change of each interval and adding custom songs to each part, I'm excited to hop on the treadmill for 30 minutes most days. It also seems that this routine will teach me to pace myself when I run, making it an easier transition to running outside (which I really dislike at the moment but want to be able to do. I think).      

There's also the Tone It Up Love Your Body Series, which seems like such a wonderful, confidence building workout. I'd love to add this to my routine as soon as I can plan it all out. The ladies of Tone It Up created this 6-week series to motivate women to get fit for Valentine's Day by finding their "confident, fit, and fierce" selves. Every Sunday, the weekly schedule is posted and it's as simple as following it. Plus, they are giving away prizes each week from both TIU and Victoria Secret Sport. I'm talking at you about all of this, and you're probably staring at your screen all like Kari, you're about a year late. Okay, well, why did you didn't tell me about this series then, huh? :)

But I bet you didn't know they have a t.v. show called Toned Up! (If you did, please don't kill my vibe.) I'm watching last week's episode as I type. Tune into Bravo at 10:30pm on Thursdays to watch.

I'm eager to start this "fitness journey". I expect this accountability is just what I need to kick my booty into gear. What are your fitness goals for the year? Let me know in the comments and let's keep each other motivated!

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