Day 3: In addition to splitting exercise up over the course of the day, I'm also trying to be on my feet more this week. Studies have found that when people sit, a fat-burning enzyme called lypase turns off. By standing, you can actually burn up to 60 extra calories an hour.

For those of us with office-type jobs (in my case, a home office job), sitting can take up a large part of the day. So in addition to trying to get three 10-minute mini-workouts this week, I'm also just trying to be more active in general. Here's a few things I've done:

• Moved my laptop to the kitchen bar, where I can stand while working. This really takes some getting used to; I keep wanting to sit.
  
• Removing the basket that collects odds and ends at the bottom or our stairs and taking things up as I find them, one at a time.
• Playing music all day, which encourages my three-year-old to keep the TV off and is the cause of some spontaneous dance sessions.
• Breaking up paid work and housework so that I never spend too long being sedentary.

Of course, it's five degrees here right now. If it were spring, my options for physical activity would be wide open -- walking, a bike ride, gardening. But with a small child, I'm housebound for a few more weeks until the weather starts to warm. Today has proved to me, though, that just because you're stuck in the house doesn't mean you're stuck being sedentary.

Got a fitness goal in 2009? We've got just the place for you to start. Join us each week for America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size, and let up help you create the body you want this year.

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Have a great week, everyone!

You don't have to (and you really shouldn't) wait until January 1st to start a brand new fitness routine. If you're new to exercise, getting fit may seem intimidating. But in reality, it's all about starting slow and gradually adding duration and intensity as you build your fitness level.

If you're thinking of getting started on the road to fitness at home, on your own, WebMD has compiled a list of what they think are the 12 best fitness videos for beginners. Take a look at what they have to say about these workouts, or get a sneak peek in the gallery below.

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If you have high blood pressure, you might want to keep a closer eye on it as the seasons change. A recent study found that patients with hypertension were better able to control their blood pressure during the summer months than over the winter. Researchers theorize that people are more physically active in the summertime, and that it's common to gain weight over the winter.

While it's a good idea to keep an eye on your blood pressure, it's also smart to keep those good summer habits going all winter long. Adjust your summer workout by adding layers of clothing and winter gear, or bring your workout inside by joining a gym or ordering a workout DVD. What are some indoor workouts that you like?

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Too often, though we've invested hundreds of dollars into it, our exercise equipment often gets turned into an expensive place to hang our laundry. Boredom is likely one of the reasons people drop their indoor exercise routines, as riding mile after mile on that stationary bike finally becomes too dull to continue.

Motivatrix's MX9 Workout Master promises to banish those workout boredom blues permanently. Though the machine is not yet ready for retail, it's future looks promising. Similar in concept to games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Sports, the MX9 Workout Master has sensors for the feet and even can register arm movements. Players can participate in a large number of games that build skill and fitness, dance to their own tunes, and even connect to the Internet to compete against other users.

Is the Workout Master the future of fitness? It's hard to say, but I can predict that anyone who puts one of these in their living room won't be hanging their underthings on it! Working out indoors has never looked like so much fun.

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