The Exercise-Challenged Venus Bolton, 36
Part-time beauty and wellness consultant | Richmond | married; two children, ages 21 months and 13

The Expert: Angela Corcoran, personal trainer at Equinox Fitness in New York City

Fall 2005: “Before having Jalen, I played softball, tennis, and basketball and walked regularly. But recently I’ve done virtually nothing, and I’m not pleased. I’m tired, I have aches and pains that I never had before, and even walking taxes my legs. My husband has tried to get me to use our Bowflex fitness machine, but after a few weeks of doing it, I lose interest. With the baby, work, and the rest of the family, it’s been hard to fit in exercise.”

Bolton’s Goal: “To incorporate a fun and challenging fitness routine into my life so I can feel more toned and energetic.”

What the Journal Revealed: Bolton’s days are nonstop. She cares for Jalen, squeezes in two to three hours of work when the baby naps, keeps the house in order, walks the dog, cooks all the meals, and takes her daughter, Paris, to and from school. Even so, she’s walking an average of only 8,000 steps a day, and her activity level isn’t intense enough to count as cardiovascular exercise. “I absolutely cannot believe how much I do in a day,” Bolton exclaimed after tracking her activities in the journal. “It’s no wonder I don’t have time to exercise.”