I believe a good workout comes with sweat. Which is why I don’t exercise during my lunch break and also why I prefer to exercise first thing in the morning.

I prefer to do my exercise walking outside. Using a treadmill is a last resort for me. I’m one of those weird people who’s more likely to exercise if it means I *don’t* have to go to the gym.

I’ve written a number of times lately about being committed to figuring out how to fit exercise into my schedule. The farthest I’ve gotten is the part where I say I’m going to think about it. But I’m getting fluffy and clothes that used to fit beautifully aren’t so much any more. Plus, I feel good when I exercise.

So I resigned myself to the fact that I won’t be able to do it in the mornings since I get up so early just to get to work. I started thinking really seriously about going for a walk in the evenings after dinner or after the kids get in bed.

But that wasn’t working for me either. My husband’s schedule varies and our kids are active so there’s no way I can guarantee that I’ll be able to leave the house every evening to exercise.

So I decided to figure out what I could do *in* the house in the evenings that will constitute exercise. Something that will get my heart rate moving and will help my weight and my blood sugar. I don’t want to buy a treadmill, I considered a mini trampoline, I don’t want to buy a stationery bike, and when it comes to aerobics, I’m not very coordinated. Those step aerobics classes leave me so flustered that I don’t even want to think about it.

So I had a minor dilemma. And then I came across a DVD on Pilates for weight loss. I have never been very limber so yoga or Pilates has been on my mind for a while as a way to get stretchy (seriously, I've never been able to touch my toes). I was interested in giving it a try, although I wasn’t sure how a Pilates workout was going to give me enough cardio to really be considered a workout.

And then last night while looking for a birthday present for No. 3 (happy 9th birthday!) a box with weight balls (also called medicine balls) caught my eye. For $17 I could get two weight balls and a DVD that has three workouts: one for abs, one for core body, and one to burn calories, shape and tone. And all intense, high-energy, cardio workouts. I looked all over the box for an indication of “beginner” or “advanced” but saw nothing — I want to make sure I’m not getting in over my head.

So I bought it and will give it a try. I plan to pre-screen the DVD to see what I’m in for. If nothing else, I have two weight balls to help me get rid of the flab on my arms.