Back, well kind of, by popular demand, is SUITE's Brand New series. This time we'll be concentrating on getting toned up for an important event in your life that is only a few months away...like a wedding. And since that big day is coming up for me at the end of October, I will be the guinea pig, er, I mean, the subject, this time! :-)

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Okay it's month number three of this column and so another update and bit of soul searching. I finished my allotted time with the personal trainer. Keep in mind, I wanted to learn some of the tricks of the trade to share with you, not break the bank! LOL. Having a personal trainer can get very expensive, and with everything else that goes on in our lives, most of us can't afford this. So I knew I wouldn't be spending too long with him.

In the grand scheme of things, he got very frustrated. As I mentioned before, I'm not a big eater, I keep very active, and my weight is stubborn. After losing one inch off my waist and one inch off my hips, my weight fluctuated between a five pound gain or loss. He got frustrated. I got frustrated. He kept telling me I had to be eating more than I was. Which I knew I wasn't. Then he said I had to have something wrong with me internally that was causing me not to lose the weight or inches. So I had ultrasounds done...everything was fine. I had blood tests done, and basically everything turned out fine there as well. So I'm back to square one. No clue why the weight won't come off.

Sigh...

The biggest thing I learned is that we can all add some working out to our daily lives. Sometimes it just takes creativity. So below, I've outlined some exercises that I've found along the way to help keep you moving, keep your muscles stimulated and keep your blood flowing without taking up too much time. Next month I'll have a modified circuit of exercises that takes only a half hour three times a week. I'm working on converting the equipment we used to stuff we have around the house.

1. When you first wake up in the morning do 10 minutes of continuous exercise. Choose only three movements and perform each in succession without stopping for 10 minutes. For example, Monday you can perform modified push-ups against the wall, followed by crunches for your abs followed by stationary lunges. On Tuesday you can perform free-standing squats with hands on hips, double crunch for abs, and close grip modified push-ups (hands 3-inches apart) for your triceps. Just 10 minutes!

2. Take timed walks in your neighborhood or at lunch. If it takes 10 minutes to walk to a certain destination near your office or in your neighborhood, try to make it in eight minutes. You can also do this first thing in the morning before work as well as on your lunch break, or at night when you get home. Keep trying to make the walk take less time.

3. If you have stairs in your home or at work, take the stairs a specific number of times each day. Tell yourself that you'll take the stairs six or eight times a day (no matter what). As it gets easier, increase this number.

4. While you're sitting down, perform isometric exercise to help strengthen and tighten your muscles. For example, while sitting, simply contract your abdominal muscles for 30 seconds while you breathe normally. You can also tighten and contract your legs for 60 seconds. Perform about three sets per area. You'll feel your muscles get tighter in just three weeks if you perform this a few times per week.   more >>