This was easier when I was a kid.

So as loyal followers of my blog know by now -- hi mom! -- I have been trying to lose weight for my impending nuptials. The overall goal is 25-30 pounds. Since May, Jeff and I have gone to the gym nearly every day (I'd say 75-80% of the days). We stay for at least a half an hour (usually 45 minutes). I do somewhere from 30  minutes to 45 minutes of cardio, and some crunches. Every once in a while, I'll do some weight machines. And while I can absolutely feel my legs toning up, I've only lost 5 pounds.

There's a diet factor too -- I've been trying to watch what I eat better, but that will always be a struggle.

I feel like the main culprit in my slow weight loss is my inactivity during weekdays. Working from home, you're not given a lot of opportunities to get up and walk around. My job relies on me being by the computer for my ENTIRE shift. Therefore, I've struggled to find ways to exercise during the day:

• I can't see myself doing a workout video. When I was in college I had my ex-boyfriend buy me the Billy Blanks Tai-Bo series on VHS. (Yikes, I already sound dated). I think I watched it like four times. I always felt like I was doing it wrong.
  
• Crunches. Sound easy enough. But I'll get bored and I don't feel like I'd be motivated to do 5-minute sessions of crunches during the day.
• The most common suggestion I've gotten is, "Take a walk during your lunch break." Well, I don't have a lunch break. We haven't exactly worked out the break situation at my job now. Right now, I'm getting like 20 minutes at 3 o'clock and I use that to go get a coffee (milk only, thanks).

So I was still stuck seeking an alternate solution. Well, I think I found it. The other day I had Jeff take a stroll to Target during his lunch break (HE can walk on HIS lunch break) and buy me a ... jump rope.

I thought -- it's perfect! I can still be by the computer, I don't have to leave the house, it's definitely something that will get my heart pumping, it's great.

Well, I took it for two test drives this morning and I have this to report:  I'm not as young as I used to be.

Wasn't jump roping easier when you were a kid? I could rock a jump rope or a Skip-it for hours. Well, I was huffing after a minute straight of 'roping (nevermind feeling like a doofus in my living room which has a wide open window facing out). But, my lack of dexterity and embarrassment aside -- I think it's a winner. My heart rate definitely gets up. I'm sweating after 30 seconds. My calves and thighs are burning -- in a good way.

I'm going to try and do this for five minutes, every hour, which will add 30-45 minutes of increased heart rate on top of our nightly workouts. According to a few calorie counters I've consulted, you burn around 350 calories per half hour of jump roping. That should make a difference right? 

Stay tuned.