Oxygen's 3-Month Best Body Plan: Month One

The January 2010 issue of "Oxygen" is now on magazine stands. And if you know "Oxygen," you know what that means: the beginning of a three-month plan to reach "Your Best Body Ever."

The current issue features the first month's work out and meal regimen. And as always, the first month workout is the easiest to get into because you can do it right at home. All you need is 5, 8, and 10 lb dumbbells, a weight bench (which I'm lacking, so my piano bench doubles as a weight bench), and a step or staircase.

Just to give you an idea of the workout, here's the month one schedule:

Weeks 1 & 2

• Monday: Upper body
• Tuesday: Cardio (20 min. for beginners, 30 min. for intermediate; add 5 min. every week after)
• Wednesday: Rest (Yes, rest days are just as important as work out days. As written by Myatt Murphy, CSC, the author of the article accompanying the workout, "Your muscles don't become leaner and stronger as you work out [...] They improve when given the right amount of rest (typically 48 to 72 hours.)" Rest days give your muscles time to "recuperate, rebuild, and recharge between each and every workout."
  
• Thursday: Lower body
• Friday: Cardio
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: Cardio

Weeks 3 & 4

• Monday: Upper body
• Tuesday: Cardio
• Wednesday: Lower body
• Thursday: Rest
• Friday: Upper body
• Saturday: Cardio
• Sunday: Lower body
  

Today I kicked off the first month plan, and if you're a college student like me, it's the perfect time to begin. With a month off from school, I'll be able to at least do the first month workout in full. (We'll have to see how months 2 and 3 go, once I'm back to the hectic school/work life.)

However, I've decided not to follow the meal plan that the magazine provides. As a college student who works on campus, and therefore, can't work during the winter break, I just can't afford it. But I will be trying a few of the recipes that are apart of the meal plan (such as grape and walnut chicken salad; red and gold farina; and tilapia with peppers, tomatoes, and capers.)

So if you're facing a month of free time, too, pick up the latest issue of "Oxygen" magazine and let the fitness begin. (Sorry, can't get this work out on the magazine's website.)