Most people probably started off the new year with great intentions of finally getting into shape in 2011. Well, now it is the beginning of February and some people may be feeling like they already blew it.

Well, Fitness 21 is currently running a promotion called "Resolution Rescue"

They're inviting South Florida to print the coupon and come into the gym for free (OK, that's a straight promotion thing...)

Here's where it gets better, though: The Fitness 21 experts will be on hand to help people state their resolutions on camera. The gym is the home of Phil Kaplan, who is a national fitness expert of some repute, going back to the late 1970s as a part-time fitness instructor at Jack La Lanne Health Spas in Little Neck, New York.

Go to Fitness21.com.

Sun Sentinel assistant sports editor Robyn Sortal shares her reason for joining Weight Watchers in this guest post.

I recently rejoined Weight Watchers for its much advertised new program, hoping to shed 25 pounds -- again. That was how much I gained since I became a lifetime Weight Watchers member five years ago.

Let’s just say a newly slim and fit Jennifer Hudson inspired me. Well, that and the fact I couldn’t button my favorite black pants. So I plunked down my $125 for 12 weeks (there’s a discount for lifetime membership). Otherwise, it costs $24 for the first week and $13 for each week after.

Here’s what’s new about the overhauled program:

Forget Core and Flex plans. Now it’s PointsPlus. The biggest difference: more daily points and more freebies (all fruit and veggies).

The focus is not on calories but on counting protein, fiber, carbs and fat in your foods. You have to buy a $12 WW calculator to figure out the points of the food you are eating. It also calculates the points you are allowed per day and keeps track (if you want to bother inputting points in the calculator every time you eat something). I prefer the old tracking method – writing it down in the little booklet.

The WW products you buy at the grocery store are currently in transition. For example, one WW lunch, which was 4 points, is now 6. The WW blueberry muffin that was 3 is now 5.

Like any program, it takes commitment. Instead of grabbing pretzels while I cook dinner, now I grab baby carrots. After dinner, when I want something sweet, I go for the pint of blueberries instead of chocolate covered raisins. The great thing about the new plan is that I’m more satisfied and no points are deducted from my day’s allotment of 29 because you can eat all the fruit and veggies you want.

And dieting alone doesn’t work me. I’m walking in the morning before work (twice a week is better than I used to do which was none.)

In the first week, I lost 3.5 pounds. The second week two more.

The WW class is full of folks like me trying to start the new year right. We’re off to a good start.

Visit WeightWatchers.com to find a meeting near you. New members can join for free through March 12 and pay only weekly meeting fees.

South Florida chef Calvin Harris has teamed up with the Biggest Loser brand to create a new line of refrigerated, precooked meals called Simply Sensible that debut in stores this week.

Not only do they meet the standards of the Biggest Loser meal plan, but they are also endorsed by the American Heart Association for being low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

All five entrees, which include beef tips and gravy, lasagna, pot roast, zing chicken and Mediterranean style chicken and pasta are less than 250 calories per serving.

The meals come in a two-serving pouch and will carry a retail price tag of around $6.99.

The next big question: Do they taste good? I had the opportunity to sample both the zing chicken and Mediterranean pasta and here’s the breakdown.

Both entrees had great flavor without tasting too salty. A lot of precooked or frozen foods labeled as “healthy” can hide an ugly secret – too much sodium. In general, you want to look for the ones that have 500 mg or less per serving. The Simply Sensible meals meet that mark.

The portions were satisfying for me but not so much for my boyfriend. Follow the box’s suggestion of adding 1 cup of steamed vegetables to make it a complete meal. If you’re tracking your daily calorie intake and have some to spare, I would even add a little more chicken.

Having to add more ingredients doesn’t exactly make it as convenient as some other frozen meals on the market, but as a dinner option it will save you lots of time over cooking something from scratch.

Work friendly lunches these are not unless you’re have access to more than one bowl and a sharp knife. The food comes in multiple packets that must be cooked separately and are impossible to open without scissors or a knife.

Overall, these are quick, healthy meals that are best enjoyed at home. If you get a chance to try any of the Simply Sensible meals, let us know what you think. Please leave a comment on our message board.

I got back to the gym today after a hard fall off of the workout wagon. The holidays and a job change threw my schedule and my eating habits into disarray last month, but I can't let bad behavior get the better of me forever.
The workout was brutal, but the first day back is always the hardest, right? I am really disappointed at how much my strength and endurance dropped off in a month, but my trainer assures me that I can be back to where I was within a couple weeks.
I'm also trying to get back on track with my eating habits. Three weeks of holiday parties and treats really adds up, and I had serious sugar-withdrawal grumpiness for a few days. I'm increasing my veggie and fruit intake and cutting out baked goods. My goal is to get back to 50% raw foods in the next two weeks.
When I've been in this position before, I felt really defeated about starting over, but today I'm just eager to get back into a comfortable routine. I miss my exercise endorphin rush, and I'm happy not to see another piece of peppermint bark until next Christmas.
What's the difference? Well, I kept my New Year's resolution last year. I got into a groove. I got stronger, I met my fitness goals and I lost weight. I know how to do it now, and I know the results I want will come eventually.
But, that doesn't mean I can't use a little motivation to get off the couch and back on track. What are you doing to help you meet your 2011 fitness goals?

Flickr photo, Charlotte Astrid

Everyone is beautiful.

No matter your size or age, the road to self-confidence and positive self-image begins with caring about yourself.

Just as it is important to exercise and eat right, it’s also important to not leave the house looking like you rolled out of bed after a long night of partying. Act like you don’t care how you look, and you’ll make it hard for others to see beyond the mess and appreciate your best character traits.

Get started to achieving the best you by keeping these in mind:

Skip casual Friday: Dress appropriately with clothes that fit well and enhance your best assets.

Keep that smile bright: There are all kinds of affordable, easy-to-use teeth whiteners on the market. Get familiar with them if you love coffee, tea and wine … like me.

Grooming isn’t just for your pets: Guys, you should get regular haircuts. If you must have facial hair, keep it neat and trim. Ladies, a little makeup goes a long way.

Still think you need a little help putting your best face forward? Join a live chat on Sun-Sentinel.com Friday at 1 p.m. with Dr. Leslie Baumann, board certified dermatologist, researcher and expert on skin care.

She will answer your questions from acne to wrinkles and everything in between.

From celebrating my engagement to office holiday parties, I’ve been indulging in decadent dishes for two weeks and I’m about to declare this month a bust. So instead of participating in another orgy of desserts, I’m hiding within the short walls of my cubicle pondering ways to boost my diet plan in 2011.

If you’re like me and need a little new year’s resolution inspiration, you might want to check out the new iPad app from Weight Watchers.

Called the Weight Watchers Kitchen Companion, the company says its interactive tool will show you how to create healthy meals from start to finish.

The app is free and you don’t need to be a Weight Watchers member to download it. Basic features include a limited number of recipes and how-to videos.

If you’re on the Weight Watchers plan, you have access to even more like the recipe builder that lets you convert classic family recipes into low calorie versions.

Follow this link to read more about it at Apple’s app store.

Another week, another race invitation on Facebook. It seems everyone I know is training for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon or marathon, and while I admire the effort (and the fundraising for charity), I am not inclined to get in on the trend. Long-distance running is fashionable fitness, and, as usual, I am not in style.

Running is certainly great exercise, and I regularly run sprints, intervals and stairs. I can run a few miles on the treadmill or around my neighborhood. I even get the much-vaunted runner's high, but it's not something I have any real desire to chase.

Continue reading "Workout confessions: I hate distance running" »