Fit with Ruthie

hey girls well they say its a 60% chance of rain today so we are still in limbo as to when we will leave. The good news is .. I got my workout done: squats, lunges, leg extensions, leg curls, bi curls, lat pull downs, bent over flies.. all good. I am so sore from my Monday workout.. and I am steadily seeing progress! Today when I was lifting I saw mus def in places I have never seen it before! THATs always exciting! My plan for our camping trip? to stay on program eats. I am taking the blender and shake stuff. The only two "bad" foods we will have is hotdogs (yes I bought real and veggie dogs) and smores. Its funny cause I really dont like either of those .. so I think eats will be great while camping! as far as workout.. I will do cardio there either running or biking (if we can figure how to get our bikes there??) and for upper body on friday I will do a "drill sargent" program.. with pushups, dips on the picnic bench and maybe try and find a place to do pull u...

shake (after workout) 2 low fat motz sticks, apple, 3 pretzel rods hamburger from sonic, meat bread only, and too many chips (waited too long to eat) shake tea and water today. not a good day for eats.. didnt fit it in.. but the good news is.. when i started to get stressed about packing and getting things ready to go camping.. and not being able to find the keys tothe camper.. instead of grabbing food.. I did 10 pushups! .. now thats progress! k.. bad news is we wont leave tomorrow to go camping .. spose to rain allll day.. good news is ... I have no reason to not lift weights tomorrow!

I thought it would be neat to take a weekly progress photo this time around. I have seen other bflers do this and then morph them so its a "transformation before your eyes" kinda thing.. It is encouraging to see some progress :) Remembering that its the habit of eating for health and physical activity for FUN that I am looking for in my lifestyle. Check the weekly photo updates on the side bar.. good news.. bike store called.. and she's ready! Just in time for a ride tonight I hope :) signed. your friendly health nut

a little inspiration for you:)

I was going to jump rope, ride my rec bike and do a few "lines" on the driveway while the kids played this morning.. but my ipod needed charging.. so.. while I charge it for a few minutes I found this site which talks of roadwork where you "burn fat like a blow torch":) ok.. all for now.. more after cardio.. by they way.. did you know cardio comes from the Greek word :Kardia.. meaning heart... Cardio actually means "of the heart". (yes .. we had a little greek lesson a few minutes ago.. after the kids asked.. "what do you mean you are going to do cardio?") UPDATE: just finished cardio... I road my recum bike in the garage while the kids played in the driveway with the next door neighbors kids.. I rode for about 5 min then I tried to jump rope.. sad to say.. my feet cannot take the jumping of the rope.. so... back to the bike for another 5. Then I alternated about two min. of riding and then doing 25 incline situps, then back to the bike.. etc.. ...

I have been doing a bit of thinking over the last few days. I have been really happy with my workouts and eating . for the most part. There are always areas on which I can improve on. But lately I have been really really frustrated with my body and the lack of progress I am seeing in my abdominal region. Most of you already know that I had two c-sections which resulted in two very large baby boys :) .. I dont know if this happened to you when you had babies or not.. but after I had Cat (natural birth) I was horrified when i looked down and saw my belly was so huge AND I had a belly button the size of a donut! I was in no way prepared for this site and wondered if my body would ever be the same. Then .. two children later... add a scar going horizontal and a scar going vertical and you have.. my friends.. a most magnificent child birth map. Please don't misunderstand me here.. I am so very thankful for both c-sections because I know very well that I would have died if I did not have...

workout: chest press with the smith machine12.10.8.6 hipoint: 80lbs 6 times burnouts mens pushups 12.10.8.6 (with about 30 sec rest in between) shoulder straight arm side raises12.10.8.6 hi-point: 10lbs each hand 6 times twice burnouts-seated double arm should press with 10lbs 24 total tris: tri pulldowns concentrating on slloow movements 12.10.8.6 hi point 35lbs burnouts - tri dips on the bumper of joels car :) 1 set of twelve with knees bent.. the last set with legs straight :) and.. finished it all off .. another set of mens pushups could only do 9 this time.. my arms and chest were just mush.. with a capital MU. Eats (completed are in pea green) shake low fat cheese stick and one tortilla 12 peanuts and 1.5 pretzel rods yogurt cup with granola (right before workout) hamburger patty, 1 slice bread, two slices tomato, small amount of ketchup, 4 chips shake OK.. now that the business is out of the way.. here are the highlights of the day have had TONS of great energy with my smaller m...

ok.. so tammy called and asked if I wanted to go bike riding .. so.. I just got home approx45 min bike ride something around 7 milesish :) I feel lots better too :) ok.. so.. heres some blog therapy again: will I every break the plateau I ask? The hardest part is getting myself out of the negative self talk that I start to hear in my head like: "the smaller my bottom is getting the MORE celulite I see: and "I will NEVER have a flat stomach.. and remembering the trauma of carrying at 10 pound baby.. its no wonder" and while cleaning out the wardrobe this afternoon "yeah.. too big, to little, to many holes, out of style, rides up in the wrong places, cant find the match, nothing to wear with it.. (i could go on and on) and "I stopped drinking cokes like a month ago.. literally except for 5 sips a week.. why am I loosing fat off my KNEES instead of my tummy? so.. although I HAVE made progress and have gotten some incredible workouts in.. I am going to focus really...

hum.. so.. is it a sign that I woke up first thing this morning wishing it was about an hour earlier and that my bike short were clean? .. I think so. I have been feeling a bit guilty lately cause I have been biking instead of running with Su. so this afternoon I decided to take her for a stroll.. but with it being 83 degrees and 53% humidity.. it was a tad hot. so hot in fact that Su decided to quit about 10 yards shy of the house:).. I was worried that she got a bit too hot but after some water and a few ice cubes she is sleeping like a baby:) do you ever make a wish list when it comes to fitness? I do but mostly when I am out running or biking.. heres a few: this for biking a new running outfit.. a new jogging "support system" that is not black a tank top to run in thats breathable a personal chef bob.. from the biggest looser as a coach :) for shin splits to never again be a word in my vocabulary. a clean gym (i mean garage) upper body tomorrow and then to the bike shop ...

What beautiful day for a bike ride! I joined 3 other ladies for a morning ride around a local state park/lake. It was fun and inspiring! One of the ladies that road with us was in hr 60's! Now. ladies how many people YOUR age do you know that can go for a mile bike ride much less one that takes a few hours? way cool! so... cardio for today was a 11 something mile bike ride... some off "road" accompanied by a nice walk to the local buffalo wallow. A great day! .. I think I am getting addicted to biking.. dont know how much running will be in my future:) ok.. all for today.. I am off to make lunch :) .. feeling a little quote happy today:) Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all. ~Joey Adams Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human bein...

Happy to say I am not very saddle sore from the bike ride last night.. think this ole tush is getting use to riding again:) it was nice to get up this morning and get to workout.. I did three b's .. squats, leg extensions, dead lift, leg curls, bi curls and then I decided to throw in some abs cause I didnt do them last night.. :) I am feeling stronger and stronger and that feels nice. I am also getting leaner.. today I notice above my knee caps was CUT!.. I am not going to complain here.. because getting rid of fat is getting rid of fat.. but why.. I ask you .. does it come off my knee caps, and my shoulders instead of my baby belly or my bottom? .. its just not really that funny but I cant help but laugh.. what do to.. but to keep going.. and some day I will have the nice lean increadably cut knee knees I have always dreamed of. :) hehe.. Happy friday! taking the kids swimming today.. first time this summer. have to run and get suits for them.. they keep growing out of theirs! ho...

Had a great bike ride tonight with four other folks.. it was fun! 6 miles... could have gone farther but it got too dark... plan to go a farther distance on Saturday.. but I HAVE to get my bike in the shop for a tune up.. kept slipping gears.. will call them tomorrow :) eats were great today.. and I have been feeling soooo great when I eat correctly... Way to go JOSHA on the two piece photo! You look GREAT! Ok.. so the picture above is a dream outfit I have... would this be right for th reunion? click on the picture and it will take you to he link...

just finished my workout.. did it even though I have a headache.. DH made some Earl Campbell sausage for lunch today and just the smell of it gave me a headache.. I just threw the leftovers out so hopefully my head will be better :) anyone watch oprah on Monday? I have it dvr'd..... bob green on there talking about his new book.. and some women who lost over 100lbs! .. fixin to go finish watching it... ok.. sorry for the short post but I have got to go get an apple and just veg for a bit. more later.. UPDATE ok.. finished the oprah show.. bob green was good.. so similar to BFL its interesting.. happy for those ladies who lost all the weight.. one was even a nutritionist! with her PHD in nutrition. interesting.. I have done ok on eats today.. i didnt eat enough so i had time where I Felt a bit bad.. It was too busy of a day.. :) tomorrow is the last day of the camp so hopefully i will be back to normal on friday :) hows you day?

20 something on the treadmill.. and .. abs..on the AB SWING. Yessssss.. ladies.. yet another peice of exercise equipment in the house! Its amazing what equipment friends will give you.... esp if 1. they have no room for it or 2. it becomes a better clothes hanger than ab machine.... guess we will see what it will be come at our house :) .. ... I have been a firm believer that ab work is better done on the floor or a bench.... will see if thing thing changes my mind. ... this is spose to work your lower abs.... thats the area I need work on.... will see if I am sore tomorrow .... did 10min on it today :) recognize the girl? ...taylor from bold and beautiful.. use to watch it a LLLOOONG time ago.. before I new better :)

before I get to my post.. would you just LOOOK at this girl!!!!!! AWESOME JOSHA .. YOU ROCK! four is a good number! After seeing Josha's amazing pictures I decided to pull out the size 4 jeans I have avoided for the last 6 weeks and see if they fit.. and LOOKIE here! YIPEE! I took after photos and will post them on my "transformation-0-rama " scroll down the page to see ch4 before and afters.. I am really happy with the progress I have made over the last two weeks and hope to see some pretty drastic changes over the next month or so! I could have done better.. but atleast I am back to where I use to be in November! size 4 feels good again! great news on the homeschooling front.. I will be teaching art for the coop this year and the kids will be attending coop as well! every Thursday! Should be a great thing for us to do! I have not yet lifted but will after I post these.. UPDATE workout complete! 3bs.. tired out all the B parts and then some! I love it when its almost 90...

I just cant really believe that tomorrow will be ONE YEAR to the day when I "started over"(again).. I have thought many times that this blog things was a "silly" idea and that creating a blog about my personal fitness and workout goals was a bit "obsesive" and sometimes worried that people who knew about it would think I have "a PROBLEM with food" .. sometimes I still think those things.. But I decided a few months ago that if this blog thing was what it would take for me to start something AND finish it.. then who cares what other people think! So.. here I am a year later.. to celebrate my success and to evaluate what I need to do to stay motivated and healthy for another year! Realizing that it will be next year again before I know it .. I have decided to write a few "reminders and goals" to myself Its doesn't matter what everyone else does or doesn't think about my blog.. it matters what I get out of this process that matte...

short post this moring. .. just finished cardio for today.. 7 miles on the bike around campus plus extra on the roads around campus (I had to check out the garage sale you know! :) I found out yesterday that my reunion date has been changed to the 28th of sept.. ok by me.. that gives me two extra weeks to get bodacious! ok.. so one of my funniest memories of school was doing aerobics to Olivia Newton Johns record (yes a record) in PE class.. "Lets get Physical" of course in 6th grade I really thought she was talking about exercising! And what teenage girl in the 80s didnt LOVE Cyndi! Ahh.. she was just the best! OK.. so.. have a great workout today and I will post tomorrow.. maybe after pictures :?

I just checked back on my calender to see how many days I actually missed as far as my workouts. In a year..I missed 29 days without working out. Now I must say that 7 of those days were planned free days around Christmas time. 5 days in April had to do with sick children. and the rest were just misses for different reasons. So.. looking on the bright side of things it means out of 52 weeks in the year I missed 1 week 5 days either on purpose or with good reason. That leaves 51 weeks and 2 days. of THOSE I missed 17 days worth of workouts. soooooo In short.. Of the 52 weeks in the year.. I worked out all but approx. 4 weeks! That is 48 weeks of workouts! This means that of 365 days in the year I worked out 288 of those days (this is considering my "free day" which leaves me working out 6 days out of the week!)... I think 288 is a great number.. not bad considering that Life does get in the way some times :) I will focus on this next year to improve that by at least ten. :) ...

For some reason today I really really liked the way my arms looked in the mirror when I was lifting .. I asked DD to come take a quick shot and in about three months I will have a relaxed pose and a bi pose to compaire with. I really feel like I am totally back in the game ! I am LOVING lifting weights again.. and cardio is a joy as well.. all told I guess the slump is over! yipee! Heres my workout for today: chest: press on smith machine 12. then hit the living room and did 12.10.8.6 of push ups (boys push ups) then did flies as burnouts. shoulders.. over head press 12.10.8.6. and flies as burnouts tris.. laying press 12.10.8.6. over head press as burnouts. Check back here in the next few days as I look back on this last year of workouts.. a year in review of sorts :) Happy Friday!

Well.. it was a cool 76 degrees tonight when I took my jog around campus. Only 2 miles since I had to drive up to campus cause it was already dark :) But I had a few highlights along the way. 5 Hiits with the last one being a "totally tubular experience" .. I did a bit of ab work after getting home but did only about half as much as usual since I am still really sore from yesterday AND two days ago. :) Another highlight of my run I forgot to mention was when a college guy blew past me .. well.. I ended up keeping pace with him for over half a mile! he glanced back once as if to check to see if I was still there.. (i was only about 6 feet behind him).. but .. alas.. I had to walk abit .. But now I have a new goal.. someday. before September I want to be able to keep up with a jogger that blows past me.. and not quit until they do! :) One the eats side of things.. I am doing much much better than last week.. :) I am staying consistently away from sodas.. and for example today w...

It seems my workouts are getting closer and closer to the way I use to workout. Tough and exhausting! Heres todays List: Squats: 12.10.8.6. on smith burnouts leg extensions Leg curls on leg machine for hammies 12.10.8.6. with frog jumps as burnouts back: Lat pulldown 12 bent over flies 10.8.6. with rows as burnouts bicep curls (arnold style) 12.10.8.6 extended curls and hammers as burnouts! On Arnold Curls I was thrilled that I went up to 25lbs on each hand and got all six .. the last two were screaming and yelling hard but I got them in !!!! I also did some ab dancing afterwards to Shakira, and Superchick's Anthem! .. Heres a tip.. dont feel like working out.. or you just want to go through the motions and not give it your all.. CRANK up that music! ITs seems when I do my workout cranks up a notch too! Off to make a shake!

AHH.. sometimes a run in the hot weather is all a girl needs to feel LOTS better! 3 miles tonight.. and boy was it HOT! I ran 4 sprints and fast walked the rest doing an extra half mile to cool down. Here is a quick shot of Su and I after the run.. in our almost finished bathroom :) I was going through an old scrapbook and found a picture of me in the 8th grade- volleyball team picture that was in the paper. Dont you just love the hair cut? funny. .. when I was cooling down I heard this song on the IPOD.. dont know what the rest of it means but I liked this part: "Get up, get back on your feet You're the one they can't beat and you know it Come on, let's see what you've got Just take your best shot and don't blow it You're fooling yourself if you don't believe it You're killing yourself if you don't believe it Get up, get back on your feet You're the one they can't beat and you know it Come on, let's see what you've got Just take...

Do you ever get tired of grocery shopping? Sometimes I think I have read tooo many books and am too well educated about our food supply to go grocery shopping. Heres what I mean: I left last night to run to the store for a few things.. I mainly wanted to pick up some fresh fruit and things to make a salad. I get to the store and there are ZERO as far as organic salads available and the fruit they have that is organic is all over ripe. So.. do I buy regular apple anyway and peal them? Do I buy regular lettuce? Well.. the apples was a yes and the salad was a no. I have found that I just cannot eat regular "non-organic" lettuce. If I do I have a horrible stomach ache.. like the stomach flu or something! So.. I leave the "good for you" section with three apples and a cantaloupe and LOT Of frustration! I guess when it comes down to it I just need to realize that the stores closest to me will never consistently stock organic foods. Even the Super store close to me is hit...

Yes.. its true. Pretty Bogus day around here ... I had art camp.. that was all totally fine.. but afterward.. late afternoon I started feeling Like really Bogus (bad). Sleepy, lathargic, just .. drained in a major way. TOM showed up this am.. so that probably has a LOT to do with it.. but lack of sleep probably has more to do with it.. NOTE TO SELF: Never eat lots of watermelon before going to bed. Getting up multiple times during the night to go potty isnt worth how wonderful that melon tastes! Save it for breakfast! Yeah.. well.. anyway.. I really did not feel like working out at all today.. I mean a girl deserves one night off a month doesnt she? WRONG! Nothing like a weight liftin session at 9pm in your jeans and open toed sandles to make you feel better! Heres what I did: Chest: Flies (YIPEE went up to 25s again EIGHT of them instead of 6).. with burnouts of press Shoulders: Flies, press as burnouts Triceps: seated press, laying extensions as burnouts Now for todays film quiz.. ...

click on after picture to get inspired! This afternoon will be filled with getting things ready for art camp that starts tomorrow at 9am. I plan to go biking later tonight after I get a few things done around here :) .. I plan to stay on program eats even during art camp and will workout either in the early morning or after class is over (around 1230). A week from tomorrow will be the end of my challenge #4. and also the one year anniversary of starting the BFL program again. better run... lots to do..

2.5 miles this morning before breakfast. My shins were hurting so I stretched a lot and just walked. Got aggravated at Su cause she kept pulling on me wanting to run.. I think most of my shin issue is because I need new shoes. .. Good news! DH ordered some for me yesterday..EBAY new with tags!.. should be here beginning of next week :) The are exactly like my old ones so hopefully I wont have any adjustment problems :) On a completely different note.. Today is our 17th anniversary! Nothing planned really except to go out to eat (The Beehive..steak house). I cant believe its been that long already! Time flies! Better get going.. lots to do.. plus get ready for art camp! blessings! ruthie

In my quest to have an 1980's themed fitness blog I have have begun looking up information with an added "1980" date added to it. It has been surprising what I have found so far. The last few days I have been thinking about portion control and serving size. When I was a child I would sit and eat 4 or 5 servings of Cheerios for breakfast! Remember back to then I now realize that I was eating enough Cheerios for 4 or 5 people! This morning I ran to the grocery store for a few things and noticed on the bread label that a serving size it ONE SLICE! I could go on and on about the few things I have learned or been reminded of over the last few days. But one thing I have decided.. if I CANT do anything else over the next 100 days or so I can atleast try to eat a portion size amount of food at every meal. Heres and example of what I mean: "Portion sizes began to increase in the 1980s and have been ballooning ever since. Take bagels, for example: 20 years ago, the average b...

Had a great cardio sesson this morning. 2.5 miles around campus with Su. It was windy so I walked a lot of it but that last stretch I had a great sprint! Had a shake afterwards and I feel GREAT so far this morning. I will go and volunteer at the Library Book Sale this afternoon but before I go I will run to the store and get some snack(s) to take with me. Arms are sore from yesterdays workout.. thats good. Can I go 100 days without missing a workout? two day and 98 to go! :) And now for some 80's fun. Top Shows: 1986-1987 Season 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 15. 15. ...

As you can tell... I have a new motivation for reaching my fitness goals. My 20 year reunion is on Sept 14th! That might sound like a long time away but it really isnt. Only 14 weeks to get this body in great shape. Heres what I want to accomplish: Loose my baby belly Loose at least two sizes in my waist! Refocus my thoughts to stay true to my eats no matter what. Get back in the zone of eating and working out correctly so I will feel GREAT! I plan to make my blog fun and crazy with the 1980's theme taking me back in time. I will post pictures from when I was in Highschool and other silly things like that. So.. Heres to looking HOT at the reunion! It all starts today! ::::::UPDATE:::::: Just finished my lifting .. Heres what I did. legs-lunges and leg extensions chest flies and press shoulder flies and press tri extensions pushups

Well.. no workout yesterday exept for the lawn mowing. Friends came over.. it was fun.. This morning I got up to go for a run and it took 20 mins for me to find all my running "equipment" .. so I had to cut my run.. which I turned into a walk (because I couldnt find proper support..if you know what I mean).. short ... but hey atleast I got out there.... about a thirty min brisk walk. .. puppy liked it too. .. I will just count yesterday as a miss but will probably do a bit of extra in the morning when I lift. .. Eats? you ask.. uhhh.. well.. no sodas! so thats a good thing.. I have eaten fruit so thats a good thing.. .. no candy either. so thats a good thing.. too many chips. too much dip.. but oh well

I tell you where my energy went.. out the window .. but the red lobster should have gone out the window instead. Went there for lunch today (a friend treated DH and I) and I ate way toooo much "bad" food. I just cant believe how bad I feel when I eat "like other people" I came home and just wanted to go straight to bed! but.. no. The plumbers came today! We have a fully functioning bathroom now!!!! (TWO bathrooms! yipee!) .. I will post pictures later when we get the vanity mirror hung and shower curtain purchased etc!.. :) I just cant believe its our bathroom! I just finished mowing the yard and can I tell you I feel so bloated and fat from all this fatty food I have been eating! I am ready to go to the store and get back with it.. tired of "hating" my baby belly pooch and ready to do something about it again! I have been thinking of Cfive that is coming up .. it will end for me a few days before my 20 year reunion.. I am so motivated to look HOT for that...

does painting count as a workout? 3/4ths a gallon of white outside painting (front door, screen door, jam, mail box, and tree swing) and 1 gallon of interior.. ceilings (2) and walls.. .. My neck and shoulders will be screaming at me tomorrow! .. so today was "free day" .. had my icecream and 1 fountain drink and I am ready to get back on track.. eating every 2.5 hours or so and NO sodas! :) have been having thoughts of my plans for the next challenge.. stay tuned for whats changing! :) t-i-r-e-d-.

If you have issues with lifting weights and think it just not any fun at all.. try some great music blasting out of four HUGE speakers and three kids playing basketball in the driveway.. in between sets you go one on one with Joseph and sometimes one on two with joseph and cat.. its great fun! cardio in the middle of lifting is quit nice! I have been thinking of my next challenge (ch FIVE).. I will start it right after I finish this one but my challenge end date with be Sept 13th.. the day before my 20 year highschool reunion. I have a feeling challenge 5 will be the one that I break through my plateau and reach the seemingly unreachable goal of being LEAN AND STRONG! It will also be the challenge, I have decided, that I will run from my house, to Sarahs house, to Joanns house, and all the way to Joshas house.. virtually of course!.. Logging in all my miles and seeing how long it takes to reach each persons home :) .. ok.. all for now.. house to clean.. bathroom to paint.. phone to an...