Nothing is more motivating than taking on a challenge, especially when my blogging partner, Staingirl Kaye, does most of the work. Thanks, Kaye (even if it’s mainly about David Cassidy, and again, seriously?). But I am proposing a new challenge that I cannot delegate to a partner, although I hope she will occasionally join me: walking 30 minutes a day for 30 consecutive days as prescribed by Dr. Oz.

Dr. Oz is a fantastic Oprah discovery. He taught us that regular lovin’ is good for a man’s heart. I subscribe to his Real Age newsletter in the hopes that by osmosis his fitness and health tips will get me fit and healthy. No such luck yet! I have been a bit of a couch potato and I know it’s time to do something. Also, my sister has yet again mentioned that it would be fun to run a half-marathon together, which would be a disaster in my current state.

So I got excited when I read Dr. Oz’s most current article on the key to beginning a fitness plan for a couch potato. The article explains that walking 30 minutes a day for 30 days replenishes two deficiencies in out-of-shape muscles: mitochondria that generates juice for your workouts and contractile proteins that give the muscle strength. At the end of the 30 days, your body will be able to take on new challenges. Who knows, maybe we could start training for a half-marathon?

Today I begin my first day of this fitness challenge: walking 30 minutes a day for 30 days. I hope you will join me if you are not already further along in your fitness journey. I will limit my writing on this topic to the occasional amazing discovery or tips, if I come about any. And of course you will hear about it at the end of the 30 days. However, if you do join me, or planning on beginning soon, please let us know. And if you have any motivational tips, I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to our good health!