Losing weight and exercising, or some variation of those words, are pretty common New Year’s resolutions. This year, Mommyland wants to help you get started and keep going.

This year I’m going to challenge you…and myself to complete a few fitness challenges.

For January we’re going to try out the 30 Day Squat Challenge to get our booties in shape.

Squats are an easy to do and can be done just about anywhere. Ginger Zee of Good Morning America is known for doing squats while she brushes her teeth.

I’ve created the easy to follow calendar below to help you through the challenge. Just click on it for a printable version you can hang on your fridge (or anywhere else you may hang things). By the end of the month you’ll be cranking out 250 squats!

I will also post the challenge on the My Life In Mommyland Facebook page every morning at 6am eastern so you’ll know where we are in the challenge.

Proper form is essential to make sure that you see the benefits of the exercise, and more importantly to make sure you don’t injure yourself. Below is a diagram on what you need to do. If you’re not familiar with squats, please visit Professor YouTube and watch a few videos.

You don’t have to bite it all off at once either. To start maybe try ten squats each commercial break of your favorite show or something similar. As long as you end each day completing the given number of squats you can call it a win.

We’ll start today! Before the end of the day do 50 squats. Come on, you can do it! Don’t forget, check the Mommyland Facebook page to follow along with the challenge.

A punching bag that is.

I’ve been looking for a high impact workout to add to my running and yoga routine but have been a little too intimidated to try many of the classes offered at the Y. I’ve also been way too intimidated to walk into a CrossFit gym. I’m sure the CrossFit people are nice but they seem a little cult like to my ignorant eye.

The place where the boys take karate not only has adult karate classes but they are also an I Love Kickboxing franchise. Our membership allows Bill and I the opportunity to go to kickboxing classes whenever we want. Bill had been going pretty steadily for a while but I never really had an interest (translation: I was too intimidated to go) so I would stay home with my feet up while he went.

A couple weeks ago, with much prodding from both Bill and one of the instructors, I went to my first class.

Oh. My. GOD! It was so much fun. Don’t get me wrong, I worked hard, sweat my ass off and thought I was going to puke when it was all over but I had a blast.

I woke up the day after my first class fully expecting to feel it but all I felt was a little stiff. I went out for a five mile run to kind of stretch myself out and I felt amazing. I was almost shocked since usually a new workout leaves me feeling very sore.

Then it hit me!

Saturday morning I woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a train, beaten with a bat, set on fire then beaten some more. Even just rolling over in bed was painful. By Saturday afternoon I was completely immobile and in excruciating pain. Bill tired to help by stretch out the sorest of my sore spots but all he accomplished was making me cry.

Sunday I felt a lot better, I was still sore but I didn’t feel like I might explode at any moment. I was beginning to understand why so many people give up on exercise, but I was not going to give up.

When the Monday class rolled around I was there ready for action.

Now that I’ve gotten over that initial shock to my system I’m really in love with the class. I enjoy beating the hell out of something and it’s a challenge for me to push harder and farther every time. It’s also fun because it’s finally a workout that Bill and I can do together which is really nice.

I’m kind of bummed that I’m going to miss this week. Bill will be away and I’m not really ready to go to the class on my own yet. Yeah, I know I’m a sissy.

I double dog dare you to find a class near you and try it out. They’re always running specials for classes so what do you have to lose?

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in anyway for this post. I have enjoyed the class so much that I wanted to share my experience with you and maybe, just maybe inspire you to try something new.