fixation friday: fitness and arms

Today's fixation is all about the fitness. Well at least my current obsession with life changing and fitness and arms. I know you're shocked - Kelly? Fitness? Really? What about the cocktails, the oreos, and the fun stuff? Trust me I'm still fixated on those damn oreos (sorry Shana, promise me you won't buy anymore and I'll promise you the same girl!), but I haven't been craving them like I used to. So instead of my usual banter about yummies for yo tummies I'm going to talk about my current fixation that's been a long standing issue for me since I gained a lot of weight. My arms.

Looking back on older pictures of me, I've never truly had muscular arms. They've always been ok, not tight but not too flabby - I never worried about them. Wearing a tank top never hurt my feelings or my ego and when sporting a swimsuit, my arms were the least of my worries - helloooo, I had a belly.

Case 1: Not so bad but no muscle tone - Mid 20's

Me and 2 of my Besties K & A Ocean City, MD 

I think I may have cut my arm out of this picture on purpose but really they are not that big at all! I will also have you note that I have a huge head, I'm well aware of this!

Case #2: Not so bad, but no muscle tone, again Mid 20's

I think I was actually thinner here than the image above.

Oh how I miss that jaw line - it's slowly returning.

Yes everyone, that is me and Salt circa 2004-ish?

Aren't we adorbs?

Since I've started my P90X voyage (sounds so much more fun than a journey to me), my favorite workouts have been the arm workouts. Maybe it's because I know those are the muscles I want to work on the most. Sure my thighs need help, but I've always had strong legs. Being a dancer for most of younger years, I had great muscle tone in my legs, calves and thighs - sure some of that has fallen by the wayside but since I started Xing it that has come back quicker than I thought. My arms are still a work in progress. They are still ready for bingo, although the jiggling is starting to be less and less.

I've always been inspired by strong arms. Seeing them in magazines and movies or on television - I'm always drawn to them. Now when I say strong arms I don't mean I want to get all Chyna on you.

via google • "That's a huge bitch!"

I know you're saying, Kelly that's isn't Chyna aka Joanie Laurer, but I assure you... It is. This is Chyna before plastic surgery. She wanted to give herself a more feminine look and went under the knife. The image above is when she first got on the WWF (now WWE) circut. Trust me, I read her book. I know these things. Seriously, she's scares me and I want to know how many horse elephant steroids homegirl was given to get that huge!

via google

The picture above makes this one a bit more viewable, does it not? But seriously STILL way too much muscle for me. Sorry Chyna, I respect what you do but I do NOT want to look like you! P.S. I hope you went to rehab, after watching the hot mess that you were on VH1's Surreal Life I worried about you. Correct me if I'm wrong wasn't she on like 2 episodes of Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab?

That being said about Chyna the same can be said for Carrot Top. But he's a man you say... please, the jury is still out on that one! 'Dude' wears more eyeliner than I do. *officially skeeved*

via google • One Scurry Roided Ginger

All jokes aside these two probably work really hard to get where they are today, but still this is SO not what I mean when I say I want buff arms. What I want is lean, muscular, GIRLIE arms.

Seriously if I had to pick a person I wish was my body double it would hands down be Jessica Biel. When I first saw her in Blade Trinity, I was floored. She was pretty buff but it wasn't completely over the top.

via google • "You got tickets?!?!"

Maybe it's the angle, maybe she just did a ton of push-ups before this shot but she's cut! I have to wonder this because see the next image, still great arms not as cut. I don't think I'd want to be THIS buff, but continue below and we'll finish this discussion. 

via google

I'll be honest I just wanted a good reason to post a picture of Ryan Reynolds on here. *drool* Sure Jessica's arms look great but really Ryan is in the picture, so who's honestly looking at her arms, right?

So the first might still be a little too buff for me how about a happy medium?

Perfectly toned, not too manly sleek arms. AKA MY GOAL!

via google

Or THIS

via google

Those are much better and way more my speed!

Other seriously awesome armed women in Hollywood are...

Jennifer Aniston (love her, forever Team Aniston over here)

via google • perfect arms and great legs - jealous? yes I am!

via google

This is totally off topic but it's by far my favorite stretch of all time

Cobbler Pose done by Miss Aniston - thank you very much!

Kelly Ripa - Super adorable! And so damn fit!

via google • seriously she must workout non-stop!

via google • I want to feel comfortable wearing this going to market

(wow that was really Southern of me.. "Going to market, ya'll! Let me get my buggy!"

NO OFFENSE TO MY SOUTHERN GIRLS HERE - YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU!

It's just funny when I say such southern things!)

Last but NEVER least my super mega ultra girl crush

Olivia Munn

via google • she makes me laugh, a lot!

The one thing most of these women have in common is that they work hard to look this good. I'm not sure about Olivia's workout routine but I'm pretty sure that Jessica, Kelly and Jennifer all bust their butts to look as great as they do. And I'm pretty sure that routine requires butt busting every. single. day! 

I know I personally won't be able to slack if I want my arms or body to look like these women. In all honesty I KNOW I will never look like Kelly Ripa, I am just not built to look like her. Petite is not a word I use to describe myself, ever! That being said, if I could get my body close to say Kim Kardashian's (minus the ass) then I'd be excited! - so long as my arms resemble Jessica Biel's I'll be stoked.

via bing • I'll gladly take her curves w/ Jessica's Arms, thank you!

What is the one problem area you obsess about?

That being said -  I want no negativity here people. I will not tolerate you beating yourself up because you don't look like these women - I refuse to do this to myself or let you do it to yourself. Sure my arms are flabby, and I hated them for years, and still slightly do but I'm working to make that a thing of the past. And I'm working on a mind set that allows me to do that! Seriously, I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt today, I haven't worn stuff like this in years! (Minus my last vacation a few weeks ago) I owe it all to my workouts and the ability to know I'm making progress. I'm not where I want to be yet,  but I'm well on my way. 

I want you to take this fixation and turn it into something you want to realistically work on bettering, not crying about every day. Ladies, Gents - I've been there. Do you know how many nights I've seriously contemplated canceling plans because I hated my outfit and how it clung to my gut? I can't even remember, I've lost count. It doesn't happen over night but here I am 1 month and 3 weeks into my P90X program - and I'm sporting a shirt with no sleeves, I'm wearing a swim suit to go kayaking again - under clothing of course, but it's a start. I'm making progress and you can to.

Remember for every one thing you dislike about yourself there are always a million more things to love about you. And what we don't like in ourselves isn't always something that our friends, family or loved ones even notice about us, they focus on what makes them love us, and we really need to do the same.

Don't let your own hang ups effect how you live your life, the only effect they should have is one to make you want to grow and change those to be the best version of yourself always. This goes for physical beauty and inner beauty! 

That my friends is my fixation and public service announcement for the day! Be kind to each other and love youself!!! oxox