New year, new you. That’s a motto you hear swirling around a lot every January.

Everyone is looking to change, slim down, eat better, feel better, and improve their lives. I think that is all well and good but I think it also puts a lot of pressure on yourself. That’s a lot of change (and probably a lot of habits to break) but definitely attainable too.

Yet at the same time I love the start of a fresh year. I always do feel like I have a fresh outlook, feel invigorated, and am ready to just put down the candy already (which I tend to hit a little harder than most).

I’m pretty good with regular exercise and am also training for some upcoming races in the next few months but am still feeling motivated to get more fit and toned. I thought as we all strive for better fitness together I would share a great workout routine that I’ve been doing for a couple of months that is really working well for me. (Big thanks to a co-worker who wants to be a personal trainer for putting this together for me.)

The beauty of it is that it can work for all fitness levels! I’ve put what I do below but you can cater the pounds of the weights and the reps to what challenge you and then build from there.

My 6 Day Fitness Routine

Fitness Equipment Needed:

• Weights (I use 10 pound and 5 pound weights currently)
• Exercise Ball
• Exercise Band

Day 1: Chest Day

• Dumbbell presses on the ball – 5 sets of 12
• Pushups – 4 sets of 10
• Tricep kickbacks – 5 sets of 10
• Flies on ball – 5 sets of 10
• Triceps (skull crushers) – 5 sets of 12 on each arm
• Abs (see end)

Day 2: Back

• Bentover rows – horizontal – 5 sets of 10
• Bentover rows – vertical – 5 sets of 10
• Uprights – horizontals – 5 sets of 10
• Dead lifts – 2 sets of 25
• Bicep curls – 5 sets of 10 each arm
• Abs (see end)

Day 3: Shoulders

• Arnold press 5 sets of 12
• Front raises 5 sets of 10
• Lateral raises 5 sets of 10
• Abs (See end)

Day 4: Leg Day

• Squats with dumbbells 5 sets of 12
• Lunges 5 sets of 10
• Calf raises with dumbbells on stairs 5 sets of 15
• Calf raises with bands 3 sets of 10
• Abs (see end)

Day 5 & 6: Cardio 

I usually run every Saturday and Sunday morning as my cardio but do what feels good to you! Power walk, bike, elliptical machine, jump rope, a favorite sport…the list goes one. Find what works for you and make it work!

Everyday: Abs

• Jack knife with ball (I use an exercise ball) for 2 minutes
• Windshield wipers – 20
• Superman crunches – 25
• Bicycle crunches – 25
• Butterfly crunches – 25

I tend to do the strength training Monday through Thursday in the order listed above, have a rest day on Friday, and then run on the weekend. That’s just what seems to work for me!

I’d love to know how you like this workout routine if you try it. Or if you have stellar workout tips I am all ears! Now stop reading and go burn some calories!