Working Out Sucks & HRMs

So after entirely WAY too long, I finally got to visit with my good friend Kelly Olexa yesterday who is doing some UH-MAZING stuff in the social media and fitness space with her brain love child FitFluential.  Kelly is a fitness enthusiast and a total social media maven so bringing the two together has made her kind of a big deal in the social media world.  She is the definition of big fish in a big pond and I simply adore her.

Anyways...before I digress any further, Kelly was a HUGE inspiration for me to start blogging about my fitness journey.  She started blogging before blogging was cool and knows from experience that putting it all out there on the interwebs makes her more accountable to her friends and peers.  Because she works with brands, Kelly is able to help spread the word about some pretty fantastic fitness stuff - and she hooked me up with some yesterday.

First, the fitness tool I have known that I needed, but never had the extra money for (I'm a mom, we all put ourselves last) - a Heart Rate Monitor.  And not just any HRM, an Omron strapless heart rate monitor.  I am so excited to put this baby to use I almost wore it to work just to get used to it being in my wrist!

The other thing Kelly gave me was the book "Working Out Sucks! (And Why It Doesn't Have To)" by Chuck Runyon (the CEO and founder of Anytime Fitness).  I was hoping to be able to give a copy to one of my blog readers, but I posted the picture of the book with the offer of giving one away on Facebook and it was already snapped up - YAY!  I will keep you all posted on my thoughts from the book as I read my way through the "The Only 21 Day Kick Start Plan For Total Health and Fitness You'll Even Need."

On a different note...HAPPY FRIDAY everyone.  I hope you all have a safe, healthy and prosperous weekend.  Tall girl out.

Let's Get Real...

I know I'm not the first one to say this and I certainly won't be the last...I am sick and tired of being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women in all aspects of the media.  If you know me IRL, you know that I come from a BIG family - literally - we are big people and there are a LOT of us.  I have never ever been thin - I remember being a women's size 10 in 5th grade.  My aspiration is not to be thin, but to be healthy.

In a world where plus size models are size 6-14, what sort of inspirational images are there for the curvy girl?  Well, I asked Google Images that exact question and stumbled upon this little gem:

Meet Katya Zharkova, a plus size Russian model - I have a new girl crush, this woman is stunning!  I love that she has curves in all the right places and looks HEALTHY.  I don't look at this image and think. "Dang, that model needs to eat a cheeseburger!"  I think, "Hmmm, with some hard work and determination, I might be able to have a body like that someday."  The great part about Katya is that she is a size 12, which is a totally attainable size for most women.  Personally, I have ever been under a size 14 as an adult because I'm pretty sure my bones and guts are at least a size 10 - and even as a size 14, I kind of looked like a bobble head doll.

Moral of the story...don't let images of stick skinny hungry looking super models get you down.  Image search Katya Zharkova and see what beautiful REALLY looks like.  Oh, and have a GREAT DAY!

Excited, Nervous & Deliriously Happy

Ok, so I got back on the horse elliptical yesterday.  Did 20 minutes on the "Fat Burn" program at a nice, steady pace and made a conscious effort to keep my HR under 150.  Then I did some shoulder, chest, back, ab and tricep strength training and hopped back on a different elliptical for 20 more minutes at a faster pace on the "Personal Trainer" program.  I feel fabulous today.  No really, this tight, soreness makes me know that my hard work and sweat will pay off.  Yay!

So, yesterday I said we are buying a home.  While that is the end goal, in reality we are actually renting-to-own for a year and THEN buying the house.  Kind of like a "try it before you buy it" type of situation.  Same end result, different time frame - either way, we are CRAZY with excitement and can't wait to move (again) for the last time.  This will be the 3rd time in 3 years and I've had just about enough packing, schlepping, unpacking and organizing.  Not to mention the cleaning - I despise move-in/move-out cleaning.  Positive thoughts, positive thoughts.

As you can see, our new home has an amazing yard with some really nice mature landscaping that will definitely require lots of TLC this summer.  It's on almost a half acre corner lot (100x200) AND has a mini vineyard that yields 5 cases of white wine per year!  I'm new to the whole yard work thing and I DESPISE weeding.  I think I loathe weeding so much because it was used as a punishment as a child.  I grab a weed bucket and think, "Lord, what did I do to deserve this?  I'm sorry, I won't do it again.  Just please don't make me weed!"  *sigh*  At least push mowing the lawn will be a great 80 minute workout before hopping into the beautiful pool to cool off.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh....

Summer fun at the Rutkowski house this year.  You bring the food and drink, we will provide the pool.  Can't you just imagine yourself floating in the middle of that beauty?  Come on over!

Getting Back On The Horse

I could give you a list of excuses a mile long as to why I haven't been posting (or working out for that matter), but I will spare you that.  Today is the first day of the rest of my life and today I am getting back on the horse, or elliptical as the case may be.  I've got a date with that beastly machine after work and I am very excited.  Want to know why?  Because I've got my motivation back peeps...we are buying a home!  Not just any home...a home with a beautiful pool and a stunning yard.  My chunky buns are NOT going to be OK with being in a tankini all summer - so it's time to crack the whip and get myself back on track.  I will not let myself gain this weight back.

Wish me luck!  Cheers!