Workout 1
My 12-year-old wants to help me with the workout. She calls out what I should do next, and shows me what she thinks bob and weave means. As we go on, I hit the punching bag a little harder. It's easier to hit with my right than my left. I'm really going to have to think about my form.

Workout 2
This morning, I hit the heavy bag in our basement (acquired four years ago when kid went through brief phase of wanting one) as hard as I would an assailant, or perhaps my editor after a hundred pages of nit-picky revisions. This is the first time I've done the routine full out.

During the middle of the day, I didn't want to move my arms. Not even to swing them slightly while I was walking. Every muscle in them hurts, including some teeny muscles in my wrists I didn't even know I had.

But this evening, I find myself wanting to do it again, wishing I didn't have to wait a day in between for the muscles to repair themselves. It was fun to hit as hard as I wanted and to grunt as I did it.

Workout 3
The routine felt great today. A friend had showed me how to practice pivoting my hips by putting a broomstick on top of my shoulders and turning back and forth.

Workout 4
I did the cool down on my exercise bike that has a sensor for your heart rate. Mine was 140. It's hard for me to get my heart pumping that fast—even when I'm using my arms and legs on an elliptical.

I did some extra punches today, trying to work on my form. Plus it just feels really good to hit something.

Workout 5
I went for a long run and then came back and did the boxing routine. At the end, my pulse rate on the bike was 151. This is definitely a cardio workout. In fact, today I learned I should wear a shirt with sleeves or have a towel I can wipe my brow on.

My arms are still sore, but not as bad.

Workout 6
A little low energy today, but still made it through. Those squat thrusts are really working my abdominal muscles.

Workout 7
Home alone today. I discovered it helps to A) grunt when you hit the bag and B) have someone you're mad at. I hit it harder than I ever had before. When it was done, I felt cleansed.

I'm also down two pounds!

Workout 8
Spend the day wondering if I have the flu—my upper body ached! Then I remembered how hard I had hit the bag on my last workout.

Workout 9
I'm really impressing my male friends with questions about how to stand, how to hold my hands, etc. This and going out to the gun range to shoot with FBI agents (research for a book) has upped my coolness quotient!

Workout 10
Most of the soreness is gone. The one thing I'm having trouble with is squat thrusts. Even though I'm pretty fit, jumping my feet back really gets my heart working.

Workout 11
I hit the bag hard again this morning. I have spent the last two weeks with at least some degree of sore muscles. It shows me that I have been in a fitness rut, because nothing I do now leaves me sore.

Workout 12
Took a bit of a break because I had to travel across the country to meet with a publisher. One day, the only exercise I got was walking up and down a lot of concourses. Another day, I used an exercise bike at the hotel. Even with only five hours sleep because of a delayed flight home, I still got up today and hit the bag. I'm also down another pound.

Workout 13
I am still feeling sore from this routine. It's clear my body was not being challenged by what I was doing. Now I'm thinking about branching out to Pilates or yoga.

Workout 14
Missed another day of exercise, but we went to the coast and took long walks on the beach. Got up this morning and boxed first thing. I've noticed it always takes a few swings before I warm up to hitting it hard. I can still feel it in my biceps and lats.

Workout 15
A male friend showed me how to wrap my hands before putting on my boxing gloves. I've been doing it all wrong. This morning I realized I can make the routine harder if I want by speeding up my punches. The best part of today is that I'm finally able do every single squat thrust that's part of the routine. Who knew that after years of lifting weights, push-ups would kick my butt so hard?

Workout 16
My month is up! I end it down three pounds. Even better, when I look at my arms in the mirror, I clearly see more definition. I would never have guessed this a month ago, but boxing is now going to be part of my regular workout.