A new decade...here's to 2010!

Home For The Holidays
I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year! As they say, "cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." With 2009 out the door, I'm ready to start fresh and be even more mindful of who and how I want to be in 2010. I've declared my resolutions and I'm thinking about writing them down and posting them somewhere to keep me focused and on task all year long.

Last night over dinner my husband and I reflected back on our 2009. I realize how much I am continually grateful for so many blessings including my health, my family, my happy marriage, my amazing job and coworkers, and my truly wonderful friends.

I have to say, I've really been enjoying my Christmas break this winter. I'd even go as far as to say I feel ready to return to school bright eyed and bushy tailed (...and ready to begin my count down to summer vacation. Let's be honest).

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This break was really relaxing. One of my first breaks without something like wedding planning, graduate school papers, or teaching work. I spent quality time with my family and husband in Ohio and caught up with lots of old friends. We did plenty of eating, drinking and celebrating, a little skiing, lounged around in our pajamas, saw some movies, slept in late and went to the gym longer than we usually get to.

While visiting, my older brother, Wes, took me and my husband to Ohio State University's R-Pac facility to workout. The R-PAC is one of the newest physical activity centers on OSU's campus...and it has so many amazing amenities in addition to their cutting edge cardio and weight training equipment. There's a golf simulator, squash and badminton courts, a childcare/playroom for kids, basketball courts, a state-of-the-art acquatic center, a cafe and juice bar, in addition to a bunch of multipurpose and activity spaces. While we were there, we took full advantage and played squash, badminton, watched a cricket match (rando...yes), soaked in the hot tub, and used all of the training equipment.

Tar Heel Tough

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So during one of our workouts, Wes reminded me of an abdominal circuit he showed me a few years ago that I haven't done in a long time. It's a tough core workout and I'm definitely feeling it today after doing it two days in a row. I thought I'd share it today before I forget about it again!

The circuit is called the UNC 200 (or as the Tar Heels call it, the Med Ball 400) and it's a routine that's taken from North Carolina's basketball training handbook. It has 2 names b/c the average person, like you and me, does the UNC 200, which includes 200 reps total. But Coach Jonas Sahratian refers to it as the Med Ball 400 because the team does 400 reps each and every practice. How cool is it that you and I can do a version of the same strength and conditioning program coach Sahratian uses to whip the Tar Heels into championship-game shape?! The circuit is designed to give you a toned core and improve your overall sports performance. And trust me, you'll really feel it in your abs after doing it just once. I really like incorporating it into my workouts because you use your whole body (with all the squats and presses) with just a 4-8 lb. medicine ball. You can do this workout in under 5 minutes, any place and any time.

Learn the UNC 200 workout here, courtesy of Men's Health (don't worry, ladies...we're tough enough for this workout).

1. Big Circles (10 in one direction, 10 in the reverse direction)
2. Woodchoopers (20)
3. Standing Russian Twists (20)
4. Squat Press (20)
5. Medicine Ball Sit-ups (20)
6. Rocky Solo Twists (20)
7. Toe Touches (20)
8. 45-degree Twists (20)
9. Suitcase Crunch (20)
10. Diagonal Crunch (20)

I'm off to big tailgate for the bowl game today. The Buckeyes faceoff against the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl this afternoon. Send your good thoughts to the Bucks while they battle it out in Pasadena!

Wishing you and your loved ones love and happiness in 2010. Here's to a beautiful and HEALTHY year!