Omron Heart Rate Monitor Rocks

Week 4 of the #Mamavation #iHeartOmron Omron Fitness Challenge:

Over the last several weeks a group of bloggers (people who write on their own weblog or "internet diary" *) have all been sweating up a storm and writing about it thanks to Mamavation and Omron.

It started out easy enough with a diet/food recommendation, an exercise outline, a pedometer and a space aged scale.

For me, just adding the pedometer to my daily regimen and being aware of a challenge to get out there and get 10,000 steps in EVERY DAY was a huge change.  In a typical day, I sit at my computer and work my way around the world virtually.

This weekend we added the Omron Heart Rate Monitor to our routine.  I am totally digging this one.

In the past I used the heart rate monitor that you had to strap to your body. Once you get set up it would talk to a wrist band. It was uncomfortable and the two pieces seemed to go missing from one another on a regular basis.  With the Omron heart rate monitor you just strap it on your wrist and off you go.

It's almost like a Transformer.  It is disguised as a watch and has a regular watch feature.  So, it can be used just as a watch. First thing in the morning you can just strap it on even if you aren't exercising and away you go.  Whenever you are ready to exercise you just hit start and it begins to track your heart rate and exercise.

As far as the challenge goes, I am not sure where I stand in relation to the other challengers but I do know where I stand with my own numbers.  It was a little bit disappointing to step on the scale this week and see that I did not lose any weight from last week.  

Going into this challenge my motivation was to kick it and take on my challengers but as the first few days passed I realized I really needed this challenge to kick myself into gear.  From that point my perspective was more of a life change challenge than a kick the other bloggers butts challenge.

BEFORE 1/13

This week I am thrilled to report that my waist measurement is down by 4 inches from the start of the challenge.  My thigh measurements are down 2 inches and I have even lost some of the flab under my upper arms.  

Here are the before and after pictures:

And now for the After (drumroll please)

AFTER 2/3

You may be saying to yourself you don't see much of a difference.  Is this one of those "Find the differences in this picture game" that you find in the magazines at your dentist office?  No these are truly the before and after picture.  This is a sponsored post but they are not paying me enough to take off my turtleneck for you.

I am 5'3" and have always been a bit of a Garfield body type - not overweight just undertall.  I live in my turtlenecks.  I own 3 black turtlenecks 2 white turtlenecks and a variety of solid colors - I no longer wear print turtlenecks - those wreckless days of my youth have passed.  The other component of my wardrobe is the 2 pairs of jeans and 3 yoga pants.  Turtlenecks, jeans, and a good sweater and what more do I need?  So, whether you saw me at my peak weight, or after this challenge is over, this is what you'll see.

There is no doubt that I am going to continue with the Omron plan once the challenge is over.  The pedometer, heart rate monitor, and scale make it too easy to keep track of my progress.  I am looking forward to a new decade of renewed energy and good health thanks to Mamavation and Omron Fitness.

This post is sponsored Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families.  I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions. 

* Yes - This past week I had to explain to someone what a blog was and ergo what  a Blogger was... Reminding myself that, just because someone is reading my blog, that doesn't necessarily mean they know what a Blogger is (and if they don't know then being in a group of bloggers could sound kind of gross).