Fitness is something that's a common topic around this time of year as everyone is trying their best to become "bikini body ready" as summer rolls around. There's a myriad of Instagram accounts and companies promoting their "secret to a sexy physique in just days!" As soon as I was done scrolling through their accounts and admiring #transformationtuesdays with before and after pictures that show remarkable weight loss, I became inspired for about ten minutes and then saw a donut. All progress was lost.

It wasn't until I was driving around and saw a kickboxing gym that I found my fitness niche, 9 Round. The first workout was free, so I decided why not take a crazy chance like Hilary Duff had told me to in 2003? I walked in really not knowing what to expect, but the trainer explained that the gym worked on a bell time basis. Every "round" was three minutes long, signaled by the bell warning you that you only had 30 seconds left, and then, another bell rang announcing the end of the round you were working on. Everyone in the gym would do a collective workout led by the trainer for 30 seconds, and then, beep, the bell rang again signaling the start of a new round. I was ready, bring it on.

Round One:

"You can jump rope the whole time, or you can jump rope for forty steps and then do two burpees, get back up and jump rope again and continue until the bell rings." Pffttt. I could totally do this. I started to jump rope, and I was feeling motivated and pretty great. Until... These three minutes felt like forever. My calves were burning, and then, oh, here comes another burpee. There's nothing worse than burpees. I got back up, the first bell finally rang, and the whole gym burst simultaneously "30 seconds" and I got a random burst of energy because 30 seconds is nothing right? Ring! The bell finally rang, and we were all on the floor doing mountain climbers for 30 seconds. My core burned so much, but you know, push through, Kelly, you got nine more rounds.

Round Two:

"Alright, Kelly, you're going to take these weights, curl them eight times, shoulder press them 10 times standing up, and then use one weight with both hands to put behind your head and lift it up 10 more times, and you know, just keep doing that!" Alright, I can totally handle this. There's no cardio involved, just your girl lifting some weights. How hard can it - Yeah, no, this is really starting to hurt my arms. I looked in my mirror and told myself to pull myself together. You can do this. You will do this. My arms started to feel like noodles. I looked around as I was curling, is this normal? Does everybody look like they're in severe pain? I kept on going, though. I couldn't just quit after round two. Push through, Kelly, push through. The 30-second bell rang, thank you so much to the Kickboxing Gods. It really did help get through the last 30 seconds. Then, the trainer instructed everyone to get down on the mat and to start doing push ups. This seems like a really great time for a water break. Here we go.

Round Three:

The trainer told me to stick my hands out in fists, and he puts on some sleek black and red boxing gloves on my hands. It's about to get real "Southpaw" up in here. He told me to keep my fists up by my face and just start punching the bag with quick punches and then alternate it with round kicks. Punch, cross punch, kick and repeat. I overestimated myself and believed that I was already a kickboxing champ. I started going at it, and then I started to get dizzy, but kickboxing champs don't quit, so I just kept on punching, cross punching, kicking and repeating until I started to get dizzy. Oh, no. I am not okay. The trainer saw me and led me to the chairs to sit down. I sipped some water in my shame. Damn, well I tried it at least. It's just not for me. I was trying to gain the energy to get back up and leave. This woman came up to me, drenched in sweat and a big smile?

"Is this your first time?"

I laughed. Was it that obvious?

"Don't worry. I only made it to halfway my second round when I first started. It sucks. Everyone goes through it. The most important part about this is that it's at your own pace, though. Don't kill yourself. Don't overwork yourself. Just get out there and finish, and then decide if this is for you or not."

I got a burst of energy. Oh yeah, she's right. It's all about finishing this. I can finish this. I got back up and got ready. I had six more rounds to do.

Round Four:

I tried a new combination of kicking and using my boxing gloves. The trainer showed me a combination, and it was like I had some intense Eminem music playing in the background, and I was releasing all of my inner anger. 30 seconds. Done. Running around the gym. Done.

Round Five:

Outer punches. The trainer looked at me and told me how to position my feet, my fists and to start punching the bag. Let's go. I can do this. I felt so powerful. I was on top of the world. My face was dripping sweat, and there wasn't a dry spot on my shirt. I felt so powerful.

Round Six:

The next round included some cardio with kicking. My glutes were burning along with every other muscle in my lower body. I've biked 20 miles before, but that had nothing on these three minutes of using my legs to kill this punching bag with power.

Round Seven:

I was so close to finishing. This was a total body round. It was a combination of punching, kicking and cardio. My arms felt like noodles again. I couldn't feel my legs. My core was rock hard. Take that, weakness. I was dominating this workout. The 30-second bell rang. I scrunched my face, putting my all into these last 30 seconds. Then, the trainer had us doing planks for our abs on the mats, and this sweet lady next to me patted my back and said, "You can do it, girl!" There was so much encouragement and motivation around me. Wow, I felt like I was on top of the world with my kickboxing squad kicking and punching bags all over the world.

Round Eight:

No gloves. I felt so sad when I took them off. I already identified myself with those gloves. This round is a time to catch your breath. I took this time to reflect as I was practicing my punching form.

Round Nine:

I was on my last round. This was happening. It was time to really work my core. For the next three minutes, I got a random surge of energy to finish strong through sit-ups and different forms of core exercises. The 30-second bell rang. Let's do this. 30 seconds left in my workout. Ring.

I finished. I did it. I looked at the trainer, covered in sweat but no regret. Sign me up. I'm doing this every day. If you're looking for a way to get fit. Do this. Don't be scared. Just finish, and you'll feel so good about yourself. You won't regret it.

Thank you, 9 Round.