I don’t know if it’s in the water or the atmosphere, but I have joined the fitness frenzy.

Mind you, I usually like working out, so it’s nothing new, but I am just getting used to the frequent night-time wakings, or they have tapered down to a manageable two, whatever, but anyway, I finally feel energetic enough to workout regularly.

Last year, I heard about the 100 push-up challenge, and I even started, but I stopped midway through. See fatigue.

This year, I heard about the 200 sit-up challenge. I started that, and I’m still doing it. Even though I thought I had strong abs, I surprised myself by my score on the diagnostic test. It suggested I start on week 3 of the challenge at the highest level. So I started there. . . and it took me 2 weeks to complete the week’s workout. So much for getting the big head.

I stuck with it, though, and, even though it still takes me two weeks to get through one week’s workout, I am doing quite a few situps each session. For example, today’s workout was grueling. I did two sets of 33 sit-ups, two sets of 45, two sets of 36, two sets of 32, and the lovely max session, which is, do as many sit-ups as you can–at least 90. I did 95. Now my neck and back lobe of my head are throbbing!

I also started doing Tae Bo again recently. I was all over tae bo in ’98, when it was the flavor of the day. I did it throughout my pregnancy with Imani. Then I was like, what kind of ab workout was I getting if I could do Tae Bo while 9 months pregnant and not even feel it in the abs? That 8 minute workout was kinda easy. . .

Tae Bo Cardio is the only workout DVD I own, so since the VCR is forever disconnected, it’s Tae Bo Cardio or nothing. I did it three days two weeks ago, and then last week, the kids got me Tae Bo Favorites for my birthday. I love the challenge and the change of scenery. I started doing that on my birthday, and I’ve done it two times since. That has also contributed to the neck pain. Unlike the 8 minute workout, Tae Bo Favorites has a lot of ab work.

I’m not sure whether I’ll do 200 sit-ups every other day once I complete that challenge. Maybe, especially if, as Billy Blanks says on the DVD, my neck muscles get stronger.

Next up? After I finish the 200 sit-up challenge, I will definitely take on the 100 push-up challenge–and finish it this time. Also, next week should find me in the pool swimming the mile for the first time in over a year. Then there’s also girls on the run this spring. . . I might try to run with Imani, now 8 years old.