Fitness Programs

I have two fitness programs I have recently joined. On http://www.self.com/ they have a program to help you lose eight pounds that I will be participating in. It starts August 18, 2011. That is three days from now. I am also using to book 'Run Your But Off,' which is released through Runner's World. I am up to two minutes of running with four minutes of walking. That is two minutes of running every six minutes. I do those intervals for thirty to thirty six minutes because I have just increased my intensity. The duration of my run is naturally a little slower and a little less longer.
Basiclly, I am training my body to run and I am picking up a new sport. I am not just doing this to lose the weight. That is a nice side benefit. I am running because I enjoy it. I want to go every day, I like it that much.
That is why I have stuck with it.
Performance wise, I am running faster then what I was. Body wise, I am starting to see the benefits. My sides and belly are slimming down. My legs are stronger and more muscular. I am ready to start weight training and to start crosstraining.
For crosstraining I have added dance to my workouts. I just started toning my body today. I am using a kettlebell and my own body weight. I used a fitness workout from http://www.shape.com/ to tone today. It was the moves Natalie Portman used to get her ballerina's body in the Black Swan. You can look it up, if you want. I do not have the link off hand. I will post it later.
Anyway, that is where I am starting on this journey. I am also adding a daily yoga practice starting with just twenty minutes twice a day. I will be starting that tomarrow.