Tag Archives: Accountability

The Influence of Social Media on Fitness

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The influence of social media on fitness is currently huge.  I can’t log onto Facebook or Instagram without seeing sweaty gym selfies on my newsfeed.  There is a constant barrage of posts about fitness, workouts and training.  Sometimes the meaning of these fitness posts get lost on its audience and I want to take a minute to think about that.  Oh, and here is my sweaty selfie from my morning ride on the trainer.  Smile

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I see many who get annoyed and block or unfollow the posters of these sweaty selfies.  The poster may be a friend, blogger, or an acquaintance.  But some people like my husband have just had enough.

Unless You Fell off the Treadmill

Other people are inspired and want to see more.  It helps them get motivated in the mornings when they’d rather sleep in or just sit and drink coffee in their pajamas.  How about you; how do you feel?

For me, it’s about motivation, inspiration and accountability.  I don’t have a coach.  I don’t really have anyone who cares whether I work out or not.  I do it for me.  Each workout.  Each drop of sweat.  Each time I get up and get moving when I just want to sleep, it’s for me.  Those sweaty selfie posters, aren’t taking pics of themselves cuz they think they are awesome.  They are doing it to hold themselves accountable.  To document workouts over time.  To watch their own progress.  To motivate themselves to stick with it and keep pushing when nobody in their real world cares.  If it motivates others, bonus.  If not …..

Posting Workouts on FB

So please keep posting those sweaty selfies.  Keep giving me the details of your workouts.  Keep working hard cuz that’s what this is all about.  It’s not pretty.  It’s certainly not sexy.  It’s hard work and I’m proud to know so many people who are chasing their dreams and being a positive influence on social media.  It’s not bragging, it’s the way that we hold ourselves accountable.  It’s the way we connect with others who care about fitness.  It’s who we are, day in and day out.  If by chance, we possibly motivate even one person along the way, then it was worth it.  So let’s see those sweaty selfies!  Post yours to social media and tag @tootallfritz on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook!

** Cheers ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Accountability ROCKS!!

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Mother Nature has brought us another crazy weather week in the Midwest.  On Sunday we had sunshine, amazing temps and a little wind.  Monday, no wind & 80 degrees.  I  laced up after work, welcomed the good weather and hit the road even though I’m not at all acclimated to running in 80 degrees!  I thoroughly enjoyed it!  By Tuesday, it was going downhill as the storms moved in bringing back the cold, rain and severe weather. 

Last night was not warm.  Or dry.  Or fun.  However, it was still WED and that means a 5pm run with the running club.  The running club where people show up regardless of the  weather.  The running club that holds it’s members accountable during good weather and bad.  During short runs and long ones.  Accountability is a powerful thing and it brought 4 of us out last night even in the blowing rain.  Yes, a small number compared to normal but runners still showed up! 

I have to shout out my thanks to these people.  Susan (not pictured), Betsy & John.   Had it not been for them, I would have gone home.  I think we are all at our wits end with the cold.  Then add blowing rain and it would have been over for me.  In fact, I’m pretty sure we all sat in our car for a bit mumbling under our breath when others pulled into the parking area.  But hey, what are friends for if not to help us move it up and out when we would rather go home and be lazy. 

So if you’re having trouble getting motivated.  Or staying motivated.  Or training consistently …..  I strongly encourage you to find a group, partner, or running club with whom you can be accountable.  It helps.  It works.  It will be a game changer for you and enable you to take your runs/workouts to the next level.

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So get out and go, regardless of the weather.  Just try to dress appropriately and avoid lightening storms.   Other than lightening, you can probably survive AND enjoy running in just about any type of weather.  Try it.

Do you have a running partner, or members of a run club, that you can always count on showing up? 

** Be Accountable ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Wind, Rain, & Snow…..Oh, My!

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The big story today has to be that Susan D. and I actually drug our asses out the door last night the weather.  The conditions here in the Midwest this fall have been surprisingly mild and even though we are 1/3 of the way thru November we haven’t had much, if any, cold weather.  Yesterday started out in the low 50’s with wind and rain but the temperature dropped in the early afternoon to approximately 37 degrees, with moderate winds, light rain, and a few possibly imagined snow flurries. 

We had planned to meet up with the Frankfort TNT runners at 5pm but I was a few minutes early.  As I was waiting for “everyone” to show, I tried to figure out how to steady my shivering hand to grab a photo.  Didn’t work out so well.

Yes, that is correct, it is now PITCH BLACK at 5pm.  Lucky us.  Love the time change. 

A blurry photo of myself and Susan D. as we shiver and await the TNT runners……um, where are YOU guys cuz we are freezing our asses off?  We decided to just get moving around 5:15 because we realized that apparently everyone else whimped out was smart and stayed home.  Of course, we had to light up the trail in order to even attempt a run.  Susan D. brought a headlamp and I had my KnuckleLights.

Several people have contacted me to let me know that KnuckleLights are on backorder so I emailed them this week to see if I could get you guys a bigger discount what was up.  Dan H. from KnuckleLights said that the lights will be available again on Nov 18th.   If you place an order prior to that day, then use the coupon code:  KL050 and you will receive $5.00 off, plus receive 2 free gifts (a clip-on blinking light and a reflective arm band) with your order.  So try not to give up on them, this is a  great product; they have just really taken off in popularity as of late.  If you are interested, you might want to order now and be on the list for when they get their shipment.  It’s not like we will be seeing the light of day ever again anytime soon.

Susan D. once again drug me down the trail at a lightning fast pace.Thanks Susan, I’d hoped for a speedy run tonight and you didn’t disappoint!  I think the TNT runners were scared of our speed will regret not coming because it really wasn’t bad once we got moving.  I always say that the hardest part is showing up, or getting out the door, and I really believe that.  Susan and I had a great conversation about personal accountability and what justified wussing out skipping a workout.  For me, I have a tight schedule so if I don’t do it now, then it probably won’t happen.  I’m all about being flexible, just don’t have a lot of wiggle room in my life as of now. So if I say I’m in, then I’ll be there short of being unable to pry Mr. Michael’s fingers off me an emergency.

6.48 miles (slightly suspect about distance, I was thinking we would be right on 6) – 57:04, 1 stop to remove a rather large tree from the trail, 1 stop to remove a few layers.

“Run”way Fashion:  Old Navy Active top ($19.94 – cheap and nice, thumb holes and 1 zip pocket, but “in stores only” as of now), Old Navy Active Sports Bra ($10 – on sale now & has a reflective strip on the back if you like to run in your underwear “bra top”), CW-X compression 3/4 tights (I know you’re shocked, and no I never take them off), and the Athleta Drynamic Track Pant (currently on sale if you are a child XXS).  I also wore gloves (my favorites are Manzella Sprint Glove liners which have a reflective palm), the freebie windbreaker from the Hot Chocolate 15K, spi-belt and knucklelights.

I encourage you to get out the door, each and every time that you can.  It isn’t going to get any warmer, or less windy, and the sun isn’t coming back for a long time.  You can either sit in the house and pout til spring or come out and join us for some great conversation and fun running!  Hope to see YOU soon!

What do you do once the good weather heads south……..  Do you skip your workouts, hit the gym, or keep on trucking outside?  

Stay Warm & Be Safe,                                                                                                    Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                                 amanda@toottallfritz.com