Monday, March 5, 2012

Hey, it's me again...

I'm a stranger to my own blog…. How sad is that?
Left the damn thing high and dry without any rhyme or reason.
I didn't even check in to say happy Valentine's Day either.  
I can't even boast that I've been busy doing super cool things like traveling the world or meeting A-list celebrities on the red carpet.
Nope!

In all honesty, I've been a slave to my job: chained to my desk and locked up in my cube.
I do get out occasionally, though. I'm actually on my second week of The New Rules of Lifting for Women.
Remember when I said that I'd tell you all about it? Vaguely? Yeah, that's what I thought..

Well, I'm on my second week of said workout and I feel……… fat. 
(Seriously, I have gained weight, but I can't blame it solely on New Rules)
The schedule is different from what I'm used to, so I'm trying to adjust to it all, but it's not easy.
Here's a quick breakdown..

The New Rules Workout is only 3 days/week with light/restorative workouts on rest days.
I can't complain with a yoga class every other day.

It uses a high protein diet.
I'm somehow supposed to consume around 100 grams of protein in one day. I'm not big on counting my grams or anything, but that sounds like a lot to me.
And the book gives almost no nutritional guidance on obtaining the holy 100g status for vegetarians except for a couple measly lines directing non-meat eaters towards "soy proteins" like tofu and seitan.
Sadly, I'm not a huge fan of that stuff.  I like my veggies.

In stage one, it's all weights, no cardio.
I hardly sweat!
I miss my long, lost friend, HIIT, I miss sweating (is that gross?), I miss huffin and puffin on Mr. Treadmill.

It's super quick.
One workout has 1 warm up and 5 exercises with 2-3 reps.
I honestly can't complain about this. I tried to think of a reason why I want to spend more time at the gym, but I can't. It's quick and it's simple: I'm in and out of the gym in probably 30-40 minutes (counting locker room time, too, people).

Overall, I'm skeptical.
Maybe this just ain't for me?
Maybe I should've put the book down and dismissed the whole thing after I read the nutrition section?
There's this small, rule-following voice in my ear telling me that I won't get the "desired results" if I don't follow The Plan exactly how I'm supposed to (protein!), but I refuse to break my vegetarian ways just for a stupid book.
But, I also don't want to be so quick to quit, so I'm gonna give it at least two months and try my daily best for the 100g club.
(Okay, maybe less than two months, I'm in a friend's wedding in June. Perfect timing, right? Sorry Miss Seamstress, I just gained a couple LBs because I'm following this stupid workout, can you actually let the dress out instead of taking it in?).

I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Win-Win Situation

Look what I got myself for my birthday....
 
Oh yeaaah. A book all about lifting for women.

The amount of excitement I have for this book makes me feel extra nerdy, but I don't care -- 
this stuff is cool, this stuff is interesting.
But when Rob asked, "don't you ever get sick of reading about all this fitness stuff?", it occurred to me that this book (or any book similar to New Rules) isn't for everyone.  
But then I got to thinking... 
There's an opportunity here -- 
I do my nerdy thing with the book, find the good stuff, and then blab about it on the blog. 
What do you think?! 
I think this sounds like a win-win situation for everyone!

 

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fit Friday

Portions.... Boring, but important!

Controlling portions is a great way to lose weight without depriving yourself, but studies have shown that people often overestimate portions during mealtime. 
And I'm no exception:
I pile on the food and eat it all so quickly that I fail to realize maybe only half of the plate would have been enough.
Needless to say, portioning is definitely one of my weaker points when it comes to watching what I eat, but I've found that eyeballing portion sizes is easier when referencing tangible objects like baseballs and light bulbs. And after a while, it becomes second nature. 
So next time you're piling on the rice or pasta, think about baseballs!

And since I've been MIA lately, here's a peak at what I've been up to...
 
 1- Rob and I went skiing in Vermont last weekend with his family... So much fun!
2- My sweet mama treated me to a salon session for my birthday. I'm normally a long hair kinda gal, but the upkeep has been driving me crazy. Hopefully the shorter locks will cut down on dry time.
3- this week was filled with lots of salads and lots of veggies

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Love and a Rant...

I saw this on Pintrest last night and couldn't resist posting it today...
 This is how it should be.
I instantly fell in love.
(Sorry Rob, I'm cheating on you..... with a food pyramid. Wait, what? ...Nevermind)
It's perfect, it makes sense.
Eat the most of the things that contain vital and naturally-occurring nutrients.
It's how we should all eat.

Eventually, I cooled my jets and stopped lusting over a food pyramid and started to think about the old pyramid...
What I was taught in grammar school.

Do you remember this bad Larry? Yeah, it's bad.
CEREAL is listed as one of the food groups in which you should consume the most of...
Last time I checked, most brand name cereals had more than the recommended daily sugar allowance in just one serving.
What, did General Mills produce this thing?
It's not on the pyramid, but I'm sure whoever developed this would have put bagels in the same category, and I know from first hand experience (uh, nothing cures a hangover better than a bagel and cream cheese) that a bagel everyday will only make you fat.
Nevermind the recommended 6-11 bagels.
 That thing is archaic.

Anyway, I digress.
 I just wanted to show my beloved pyramid with you all.
Print it out, tape it to your fridge, and live by it!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Chia Seed Pudding, a Date, a Run, a Foam Roller, & Snow

This weekend was quite exciting....

I made chia seed pudding,
 ran outside in the city,
went on a date with Rob,
 purchased a mini foam roller,
and it snowed!

Oh... and the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl, that's kinda cool, too! 

Friday, January 20, 2012

Fit Friday

Yesterday I received a special request for a Fit Friday topic.
Can I tell you how psyched I was when someone actually ASKED me to blog about something!?!??
It pretty much made.my.day.
awkward attempt at an arm pic..?
 The special request was arms.
Hot, sexy, lean, toned arms.
NOT steroid, gym rat status, arms.
Somewhere between Kirstie Alley and Kelly Rippa.
....But, probably more towards Kelly Rippa... Because she's cute.

So, arms it is!

First and foremost: drop the light weights.
Did you drop them?
Ok, good. Now find the HEAVY weights.
heavy weights = zexy arms.
Seriously, do not x-out of this post or dismiss me completely because I'm telling you to use heavy weights!!!
You need muscle for tone and definition and the only way to build that muscle is heavy weights.
Heavy weights DO NOT = big, dude-like, grossly toned arms.
It takes years to develop huge muscles like those women you see at the gym.
You will not be heavy weight status by lifting 6-12.5lb dumbbells 3-4x/week in combination with HIIT.
But, you will have sexy and toned arms!

Okay, so "heavy" is a relative term -- if you're in moderate shape, start with 6-10lbs.
I started with 6s, quickly moved to 7s and 8s, and now I use 12.5lbs.
I was a newbie though, and I didn't figure this all out until later..
So start around 8, feel it out, and then adjust accordingly.
The last couple reps should be HARD.
Like you got that angry weight lifter face going on.
Veins poppin, mean muggin, gruntin it's so heavy.
Ok, maybe not grunting, but you get the idea.
hahahaha, i had to
Have I convinced you yet?
If you're still not convinced, you should read this and this.
And even if I have convinced you, you should still read those little nuggets -- lady's a professional.

Personally, I don't have a specific "routine"  for arms, I just have a bunch of exercises that I prefer.
I choose 5-6 of these exercises for 3 sets of 10-15 reps with 12.5lb DBs and combine with 40+ minutes of HIIT (HIIT newbies should do less) OR I'll do 3 sets of 10-15 reps of 5-6 exercises before/after spinning (the class I take can be defined as a form of HIIT).
I know, I sound like a broken record, but I really do believe that HIIT is vital for weight and fat loss.
So seriously, don't skip your interval training.

Here's my arm faves:
the tricep push up
biceps curl (obviously)
21s biceps curl (I use weights, but resistance bands are cool)
alternating shoulder press (and non-alternating, too)
hammer curl
reverse fly
skull crusher on stability ball
armpit fat? watch this!
and, I've never tried this, but it looks fun! T row

I feel like I should also mention food in this post, because you don't want to gain weight and build muscle.
In my own experiences, I've found eating clean to be very helpful when combined with weight training.
Eating clean means no preservatives, no chemicals, nothing you can't pronounce.
I'm no expert at clean eating, but it's definitely something I keep in mind on a daily basis.
I find the easiest way to eat clean is to cook your own food. 
Make your breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you know exactly what's going into your body.
Also, I'm a fruit and vegetable crack head (did I cross the line?).
Eat your fruits and veggies, peeps!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

High School Burnout

we were BABIES! sorry erin, sorry jess :)
Wait.... what? That doesn't even make sense.
I hope you didn't see the word "burnout" and think that I was about to explain how I've burnt out on the gym and that I plan to eat bonbons all day and cancel my membership tomorrow.
Nope. Not this post.

This post is about how to prevent burnout...
Because we all know that the same work out day in and day out is torture.
It's like a real life Groundhog Day starring YOU as Bill Murray's character.
Not only is the same workout every day torture for you mentally, it actually loses effectiveness each time you do it. That is, your body actually remembers routines/runs/intervals/etc. and adapts over time to operate more efficiently.  So your once killer workout isn't so killer after the 5th time in a row.
(HIIT vs extended steady cardio is a similar concept)
Neat, right? The human body is so cool!  
nerd alert

So the best way to beat burnout and burn more cals is simply: mix it up!

Here's how you can (should!) mix it up:

Fit Friday.  SorryI had to do it. Use FF to add a little spice to your gym routine.
Workshops. They're always happening where I practice yoga and I'm sure there's lots where you are, too. You'll learn new postures and usually there's some kinda added bonus (i.e., adjustments-- my favorite, a more intimate setting, typically more advanced)
Find a new spot. Getting a day pass at a random gym or attending a class in a foreign studio is a great way to learn new stuff that your body has never encountered before.
Groupon (or any other discount site). Use Groupon to find said "new spots". And, um, hello?  How can you not pass up insanely cheap prices for typically expensive classes/memberships?! Some offers are pretty random,
too -- pole dancing? That counts!
Mix it up.  Wait, am I on repeat? If you go to spinning every Tuesday, why not try some HIIT on the treadmill instead. Just be sure to work as hard and as long as you would at spin.
Explore What Mr Tready Has to Offer. Using the incline option on the treadmill is an awesome way to surprise those skinny legs of yours. Or what about those cool (but maybe kinda scary) "fat burning"workouts they have pre-programmed into it's little computer brain? Hey, it's worth a shot!
Run outside. It's completely different than running on a treadmill. Trust.
Dive into different machines. Use a machine you've never used before. I'm sure you'll be sore tomorrow!
Use Your Friends. No, not that way. Have your homegirl bring you to her favorite class or let her show you her running loop.

I'm very conscious of this whole "burnout" thing and it's something I think about a lot.
And if the day comes when I'm no longer physically active, I surely don't want the reason to be, "I burned out".
I also don't expect to have the same workout regimen/routine 5, 10, 20 years from now.
That'd be a lot of Groundhog Days.
So I make it a point to not get burnt out on whatever I'm currently interested in.
If I start to feel the itch, even just a little bit, I'll back off and direct my daily workout attention elsewhere.

Do you have any tips or tricks to avoid burnout?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Twelve Items

I recently read somewhere that you should have no more than twelve items in your closet.
Twelve quality and versatile items that can be mixed, matched, and accessorized to create endless outfit options. I don't think I could possibly exist on so few pieces, but this "twelve items" concept got me thinking about starting my own closet slim down.

Soo.....
one afternoon,
4 overflowing XL trash bags,
9 pairs of jeans, 
15 pairs of shoes, 
and a countless number of hangers later,
my closet is finally complete!

Yes, on my day off I decided to clean my closet.
For the first 3 hours, it was a great idea... but, the last 3... hm, not so much.
But it's done and I feel so much better!

I discovered things I forgot existed, like...
an Abercrombie sweatshirt from high school,
(uh, does anyone even wear Abercrombie anymore?)
a pair of shoes that has to be almost 10 years old,
a couple things that still have tags on them,
(oops)
and lots of blackmail-worthy pictures.

don't judge... it was out of control.

definitely an improvement...
can you tell i tried to sort by color? we'll see how long that lasts...

i don't even know where all these hangers came from!?

adios designer jeans, you were a fad i will not miss
(painful throwing away all that $$$)

left- these two pairs of shoes were probably the hardest things to part with. alotta days spent in those bad boys. 
right- WHY was i hoarding ALL these running shoes? 


Have you heard of this "twelve item" rule? What do you think?
What's one thing in your closet you can't live without?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Fit Friday

HIIT.
You've heard me talk about it before, but what exactly is HIIT and why is it so amazing?
HIIT is technically defined as: an exercise strategy alternating periods of short intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods.
Basically, sprints.
Doesn't that sound lovey?
It's like you're back in high school sports running up and down the field working your ass off.
Lovely.
Well, take those memories and preconceived notions and FORGET THEM.
And then try HIIT.
You'll thank me in a month.

But, back to the technical stuff. I need to be somewhat credible here.
(This is super simplified, some of this stuff is way over my head, but believe me, it just works.)
Basically, when you're going all out, your body uses different muscle fibers that are not normally used during extended periods of steady cardio.
Somehow the use of these different muscle fibers enhances your body's ability to burn carbohydrates, which in turn, causes your body to burn fat…. For hours after you exercise. 
Now, that doesn't happen with long/steady/boring cardio

Here’s why I love HIIT:
1. Fights Boredom: I used to LOATHE the treadmill. Like, really loathe. Like, I couldn't stay on the thing for more than a mile. But then, I was introduced to HIIT and now I actually look forward to my time with Mr. Tready. Seriously, there's nothing better than challenging yourself to finish those sprinting intervals and then rewarding yourself with a recovery period.
2. Increases Cardiovascular Endurance: So when I do have a big chunk of time that I want to spend running, I can, because HIIT helps to build endurance.
3. Less Time, More Results: I mean, could it get any better than that? You burn more calories in 40 minutes of HIIT than 40 minutes of steady cardio.
4. Versatility: HIIT is so versatile --  you can use it in almost any physical activity (cycling, running, walking, swimming, and even yoga) and can be altered in any number of ways (i.e., your tolerance for sprinting intervals may be drastically different than your friend's, but that's ok, you'll build up endurance and speed as you do more HIIT).

 
1- fishing/snorkeling/sunset cruise
2- enjoying the first sunset of the vacation
3- eagle pose
4- rob with puppy. awwwww

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Life After Pura Vida

Finally, I'm back!
Why is it that you always need a vacation after a vacation?
I spent most of this week catching up on work and life.
And now I'm exhausted.
But life goes on...
And the weekend is in sight!

I'm not sure if it's the exhaustion or what but, I've been struggling to write this "vacation" post since I got back.
I have 5 different drafts and several different ideas on how to communicate/display/post it all.
I really can't make up my mind.
So, I'm gonna stop wasting time and share a few pictures today and maybe some more tomorrow.
I hope that's okay with you?

  
 
 
 
 1- we weren't able to go hiking (huge bummer), so we zip lined!
2/3- fishing/snorkeling/sunset cruise. i think this was rob's favorite part of the trip. if there's an open bar and free food, he's there!
4- we took some yoga beach pics. i'll share more tomorrow... maybe.
5- fishing is a nightly ritual for the Ticos of the surrounding villages. they used a tin can and fishing wire to catch their dinner.
6- on the second night i treated myself to a piña colada at happy hour. it.was.amazing. (and gone in seconds.)

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Vacation!

I'm off to Costa Rica tomorrow! ..... And only bringing a carry-on!
Oh, it's so liberating! 

Here's what I've got stuffed in my tiny suitcase (relatively speaking, I'm usually an obsessive over-packer):


I packed lots of versatile pieces that can be easily mixed and matched and used for more than one purpose (i.e., stripped tank top can be used as a top and beach cover up). 
And, from what I've read/heard, Costa Rica isn't the most "glamorous" vacation, so I'm not bringing anything over the top. 
active wear: 1/2/3/4
beach basics: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8
day wear: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

Friday, December 30, 2011

Fit Friday

The very last Fit Friday of 2011!
Crazy, ain't it?
Hello, 2012!
(I've finally caught on to the whole it's twenty-twelve, not two thousand twelve thing. So proper)

....Anyway! Back to what I'm here for...

I've been digging this kettlebell workout from Women's Health Mag for the past two weeks.



It's so quick and so simple and I'm left feeling it for days.

BUT! before the kettlebell comes HIIT (which really burns the fat).
Ooh... Is this a two-for-one FF?
HIIT & KB? Lucky you!

This is my super simple HIIT routine:

Start with:
10 minutes easy to moderate pace

Repeat this 5-8 times:
2 minute sprint (huffing and puffing, can't talk you're running so fast)
1 minute rest (easy to moderate or uphill FAST walk)

End with:
10 minutes easy to moderate pace

I'll occasionally switch it up with an incline or mix up the intervals.
Do whatever works for you.
Be creative.
 
I hope you all have a wonderfully groovy New Year's weekend!
Be safe and have fun!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Gateway

 I was a late bloomer.
While nearly everyone around me had taken up the hobby of running, my big butt was glued to the couch watching re-runs of The Newlyweds on MTV.
I mean, I'd occasionally dabble in the sport of running, but it never went further than a couple [miserable] runs.
My attempts at becoming a "runner" were often road blocked by one thing or another:
too hungover from the night before, too tired from studying all night, lack of confidence, lack of motivation...
The list of excuses went on and on.
But, to be honest, a big part of me never took to running because I thought I was bad at it.
In high school, I was the punk who WALKED the mile which was a requirement for every student's annual fitness assessment.
Yeah. I would never be caught doing that today. Ah, high school.

Anyway, with the encouragement of friends (primarily my college roommate, Frankie), I made a commitment to myself to give running a chance.
Without excuses.
I wanted to be a good runner.
I knew what I had to do. I had to practice running to be a good runner.
I wasn't a natural Olympic gold medalist runner (and nor will I ever be!).
So, I started small (about 1 mile) and worked my way up to longer runs and even ran a half marathon in 2010.

BAA 10/10/10 Half Marathon

Even today, I am by no means a "great" runner, but I'm sure as hell better than I was in high school.
And I'm not even a diehard, life-long runner like my college roomie, Frances.
I'm practically a newbie in the grand scheme of things.
So, so what if I'm not running as fast as I'd like to be?
I'm RUNNING! I'm doing something ACTIVE! And it's FUN!

Looking back, running was my gateway into the world of fitness and a healthier lifestyle.
Running got me off my ass and into shape.
(There is a lot more to "getting in shape" than just running, but just the act of being active helped push me in the right direction)
 I just needed a little help from friends and a little reality check.
And after running for several years, I've accumulated a couple tips I've learned along the way that I'd like to share with you.

Just in case you too need a little help from a friend.
(or, for the seasoned runner, these are just some things I've learned along the way -- maybe they'll help you too!) 

LM's Top 10 Running Tips:
  1. Pace yourself. Start slow and gradually pick up the pace. You don't want to end up exhausted half way through your run.
  2. Invest in a good pair of sneakers, it will truly make a huge difference. If you're from the Boston area, Marathon Sports specializes in finding you the right running sneaker. Frankie recommends Fleet Feet as good resource for people outside of the Boston Area.
  3. Try running outside -- it's fun and certainly more entertaining than the treadmill. Take in all the scenery around you.
  4. Before hitting the road, map out your run with online apps like mapmyrun.com. Knowing your distance before heading out will help you pace yourself and you'll be more likely to stick to your plan.
  5. If you run the same loop everyday, try switching it up. It's good to shock your body with a new running loop!
  6. Make sure your belly isn't full or empty: wait about 1-2 hours after you eat before hitting the road.
  7.  Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. It's hard at first, but after a while it becomes meditative and almost second nature. Also, inhale through your belly (not chest) when you breathe.  This article talks about belly breathing.
  8. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if you need a break, don't stop completely -- just slow down to a manageable pace.
  9. Watch your posture. Don't slouch forward, keep your head up and shoulders back, pick up your knees!
  10. If you find yourself at a brutal hill, repeat the mantra: "NOBODY BEATS YOU UP THE HILL!" (Frankie, the true diehard runner, taught me this one. Thanks Fran!)
Happy running!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A Life Update: Holiday Weekend

Did you all have a fabulous holiday weekend?
I know I did
I spent lots of time with family, ate lots of food, opened lots of gifts (I was spoiled this year), and I even lit the Menorah!

 christmas eve/the aftermath/lilly/rob/christmas cioppino/
christmas morning run/lilly/christmas eve dinner/brian

Now it's back to the grind... Kind of.
Maybe not totally back to the grind until after the New Year.

Speaking of the New Year.. Have you thought about your New Year's resolution?

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Non-Fit Friday


I don't have a Fit Friday for you today, but I wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah! 


I hope you find some time between friends and family to do something for yourself: 
practice yoga, go for a run, or take a spinning class. 
We all need to get away from the fam every now and then!


xoxo

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas week and happy Hanukkah!

Are you guys all pumped up for the upcoming holidays? 
I am! 
Which is totally weird because I've forever been known as the Christmas Scrooge...
But, something's different this year. 
I've put a lot of thought into my gifts and I'm even digging the occasional cheesy Christmas song.
(Maybe even a whole Christmas album. Shhh.. don't tell anyone!)

egg nog challah bread french toast / christmas cheer
In the next few weeks I'm really looking forward to...
Spending time with family and friends
Lots of good food
The family Yankee swap
Giving Rob his gift
Cooking from my new cookbook
Reading this book
Skiing
Running outside in the cold 
(I don't get to run outside very often in the winter -- it's dark when I wake up and dark when I leave work)
Relaxinggggg......

  Oh.... And I'm also excited for my trip to Costa Rica with Rob! :)

Last night I did this kettlebell workout with some HIIT and I'm feeling it today.

Have you tried using kettlebell yet? If not, you should!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Fit Friday

I like my Fit Fridays short and sweet. 
I give you the goods and then I'm gone before you know it.

this looks fun, doesn't it? via
Anyway... I've known about kettlebells for a while now, but never really considered adding them into my usual routine. But, after I stumbled upon this post, I'm thinking about giving the cute little things a try. 
(cute? what? they kinda are!)
 
Check out the link, read it, digest it, do it. 
I'm gonna.
 
Have you tried a kettlebell routine before? What do you think?

Have a good weekend!



Thursday, December 15, 2011

Question For Ya

Hi Friends, happy Thursday! 
I hope you are all well :)

I think I caught the blogging bug because I've been itching to blog ALL week. 
If I could, I'd blog every day. 
But, I'm sure you'd all get sick of my instagramed pictures, weird posts, and silly Fit Fridays.
(PS. I did this Fit Friday last night and I'm sore today. My armpits are killing me! I'll definitely be spending more time with the assisted pull up machine. That thing kicked.my.butt.)

Anyway, I have a long list of stuff I want to blog about, but I wanted to get your opinion. Is there something you're dying to know more about?
Nutrition? Fitness? Healthy living? Something about me?
Comment below, tweet me, facebook message me, or send me an email if you're shy.
If I have an answer or something to say in response to your question/topic, I'll be sure to blog about it!
(click on the little picture of me on the left hand side of the page to find my email)

Fit Friday coming up tomorrow, yeehaw!

So, I might've had half of this treat before dinner last week..

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Resolutions

While everyone is endlessly going on about the holidays, I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. 

What's yours? Have you even thought about it? 
I have two: use less toilet paper and read more. 
(Is that TMI? Whatever, it's real!

I'm not even sure what the word "less" means, really. Like, only use 2 or 3 squares per wipe? I don't know about that.  Maybe I'll make it more general and change my resolution to: "be more mindful when using paper products". I mean, I know I could definitely cut back on all paper products, including printing paper (my job entails LOTS of paper. It's disturbing, actually).

Revised New Year's Resolutions: 
be more mindful when using paper products
read more often.
I like it.

Anyway. What I'm trying to say here is that you should be thinking about your New Year's Resolutions.
Think about it for a day or two... or a week...
It should be a reasonable, achievable, AND sustainable goal. 

Do your research. 
 (did you know I work in research?)

Your NYR can't be, "I want to lose 20 lbs by the end of the week". It should be more like, "I want to make an effort to work out at least twice a week" or "I plan to run at least 3 road races in 2012".
AND
Your NYR can't be, "I'll run outside every day" if it's darker than dark outside when you wake up at 5AM and when you're done with work at 5PM. 
Make sure your NYR is plausible.

Also, consider things/events/people/feelings that could potentially keep you from achieving your NYR and come up with solutions to these "obstacles". When you have a goal, it's good to have a back-up plan just in case sh*t hits the fan. 

After you've thought it all through, create a reasonable plan and make your sweet little NYR happen.

winter sky via Rob
It takes more than just a quick thought to come up with a New Year's Resolution. 
Take some time now and think about it, plan it, and make it happen. 
You'll be happy you did come January 1st.