Days Completed: 4 Days Left: 50

So here it is...the real explanation of our Goals in Motion Program.

Over the past year or so I've been hearing lots about these little private workout studio's that promise with a "little" hard work they will sculpt you into your own living version of Atlas.

I've heard the ads on the radio, I've seen them on TV, I even noticed a flier on my car one day when I was drifting out of Wallyworld with my favorite frozen pizza selection. I knew I shouldn't be eating it but I wanted it.

And, as soon as I saw the flier it reminded me of this place in Denver called the Anti-Gym. I was deathly afraid that someone was going to jump out from behind the bushes and yell at me. Seriously this gym has workout areas based on body fat percentage. You can't be use certain areas of the gym if you are above 10% (or so) body fat. It promotes pretty people to the front windows. Same rules apply for the sauna and hot tubs.

Crazy I know. But check this commercial out if you don't believe me! They also have a stand with cupcakes and Twinkies and whip them at you across the room to publicly humiliate you if you are not working out hard or if your trainer does the flashlight check through your car windows and sees fast food wrappers! To each their own...

Yes, that is a severe example of these studios but similar (albeit not deranged) versions seem to be popping up all over the place. And, maybe I'm just noticing them because I've been trying to find ways to get into better shape and are more tuned in. (Kind of like I notice how many Ford Escapes are on the road now that I drive one).

So back to GIM...My boss's wife and a co-worker of mine have gone through the Goals in Motion program and have tremendous success. One lost nearly 30 pounds in 90 days and the other is down 80 pounds in about a year.

It's a 9 week ultra intense exercise and nutrition regiment to help you live a healthier lifestyle. You must work out 6 days a week (Sundays off). You alternate days of the week between resistance training and kickboxing and the programs are tweaked every 3 weeks so you don't build much muscle memory.

The key to the GIM program...and why we ultimately decided to do this was the nutrition component. You have a personal food coach and you have to keep a food journal all day long and you send it to them at the end of every night. Before the next morning they will respond and help you understand the good and bad things you ate that day. They help you to find a calorie and nutrition balance and they do it within the lifestyle you live. It's a very realistic approach which I believe sets them apart from the other studio.

So the biggest reason I can give you for putting ourselves through this madness is that both Brandy and I turn the big 3-0 this year. I think we both find that we are in shape right now...roughly the shape of a pear...and we wanted to change that before the party cruise we plan to take next summer.

If you continue to read the blog you'll be sure to read the updates. We'll tell you the truth and it probably won't be pretty. Sometimes it'll be entertaining and sometimes it'll be just plain pathetic. But hopefully you'll have fun joining us on the ride!