I’ve decided to adopt a mantra throughout this Daily Fitness Challenge.

It came to me courtesy of the “Legally Blonde” soundtrack, and it invokes visions of hours of running and ab workouts along with a diet of salad and grilled chicken. I’m hoping that by repeating this phrase over and over again everyday as I frequent the gym and eat like a rabbit, I will transform into a skinny, enthusiastic, Elle Woods wannabe. Get ready for it.

“What does not kill us makes us hotter!”

If those wise words don’t motivate me to get skinny then I don’t know what will.

In this first week of the challenge, I’ve done a good job of spending time with my new boyfriend, Lied Rec. I’m using a program I downloaded for my iPod called Couch to 5k to motivate me to run three days a week, and it’s worked so far. If you’re like me and you’re not a fan of running, splurge and spend the $1.99 on this app. The interval training provides a sweat-inducing yet manageable workout, and I’ll let you know at the end of the challenge if I survive that 5k.

My biggest challenge is going to be the whole healthy eating thing. I can’t help but eat Jeff’s Pizza on a Friday night, and a burrito from Panchero’s beats a salad with low-fat dressing any day. This week, though, I’m going to direct my focus toward a well-balanced diet full of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.

All the while, I’ll keep in mind one thing. What doesn’t kill me will only make me hotter.