Tara O’Brien

Why I’m Sweating with Pride

I’m taking on Sweat with Pride this June to raise money for our rainbow communities! 💦🌈

Our schools, workplaces, and doctors’ offices are still not safe places for many rainbow folk and it’s putting lives at risk.

Almost 3 million Australians identify as LGBTQIA+. However, despite significant progress, our communities are far from equal. Our communities have the highest rates of suicidality compared with any other populations in Australia, and less than 50% of rainbow youth feel safe at school. Things need to change.

So, this June I’m fighting discrimination with perspiration, and I've committed to exercising for at least 21 minutes EVERY DAY to raise money to support Australia's LGBTQIA+ communities.

This cause means a lot to me. I’d be SO GRATEFUL if you could chip in to help me reach my goal. Every dollar I raise will fund life-changing support services for Australia's rainbow communities.

Thank you sooooo much ❤️

My Impact

So far in this year’s challenge I have…

Supported the delivery of an LGBTQIA+ youth empowerment workshop by Minus18 for up to 30 queer youth.

Sponsor Me

Track my Progress

I’m sweating for 30 minutes
per day this June!

965 minutes completed

900 minutes goal

My Ranking

I’m #30 out of 1,746 Sweaty Bettys

Tara O’Brien

Raised

$1,005

View Full Leaderboards

My Updates

This is the End

Tuesday 1st Jul

Well, Sweat for Pride has come to an end.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any activewear that would have worked for my planned Jane Fonda romp but my husband was nice enough to employ AI to give me a look at what could have been haha

I am really proud of myself for sticking with it every single day. What I am also really proud of is the generous nature of the people in my life who believed in me and gave to the incredibly important charities benefiting from Sweat for Pride. Thank you for being in my circle and thank you for giving.

It’s been a minute!

Tuesday 24th Jun

I have had issues uploading blog posts for some reason. And I would always find out when I tried to upload them, then did this cute little trick where I got the shits and put the iPad on the table

Ssssssoooooo…WE REACHED $1000!!! And you know what that means ~ the Inner Jane Fonda that I promised will be released. I’ve got to order some neon goodness for myself so that I can make the experience as realistic as possible.

Day Nineteen ~ The Power Returns!

Thursday 19th Jun

I tried the Power workout that kicked my arse last week.

It kicked my arse again this week. But in a fun way :)

Day Eighteen

Wednesday 18th Jun

I did some cardio today which was nice and stress relieving. I also heard my knee creak which was stress inducing so a nice little balance there.

Day Seventeen

Wednesday 18th Jun

I got so caught up with making dinner that I forgot to post!

Did a class that I thought from the description was cardio but turned out to be more weights focused.

And I just walked up two flights of stairs at work due to the lift being out and I am pretty sure I can see through time

Day Sixteen

Monday 16th Jun

I tried a new YouTube channel that does workouts for big girls by a big girl, The Katrina Nichole. I enjoyed it, and it was really affirming to see someone with my body type being a bad-arse.

Day Fifteen ~ Sunday yoga

Sunday 15th Jun

I am finding yoga much more challenging then the other types of exercise I am doing this month. I am finding it very challenging; it seems to be a reminder of just how different my body is from “the norm” as big bodies need special considerations made in their yoga practice. I am embracing this a lot better with the cardio/weights stuff then I do with yoga. Perhaps because yoga calls for more mindfulness and stillness, and a lot of stuff comes up for through those moments.

Halfway through the month already! I am determined to hit my $1000 fundraising goal. I will be donating 50% of my Tarot/Ogham reading monies from my reading day next Saturday to the cause as well.

Day Fourteen ~ so many squats…

Saturday 14th Jun

I did a couple of classes from the BigFir Girl app because I couldn’t find one thing that was just 30 minutes so I thought you know what, it’s Saturday, let’s get wild before I dive into housework and just go for longer!

What I didn’t realise is that Louise Green loves squats. A lot of trainers do and I see why, they’re a brilliant move. Because I did two classes ~ an Amrap and a circuit ~ I got double dose of squats. I guess that is just my life now…

Day Thirteen

Friday 13th Jun

I went for something new on the BigFit Girl app called Dynamic Flow. I didn’t know what to expect, turned out to be a stretching class.

Day Twelve

Thursday 12th Jun

I did something called a “power” workout today and I think I have lost sensation in my legs. They’re working, I just can’t feel them!

Days Ten and Eleven

Wednesday 11th Jun

I tried three times to upload something last night and it was not happening so I happily clambered into bed cursing modern technology.

I sent an all users email to my work colleagues yesterday encouraging them to sponsor my sweat, and even included the clause that should I reach my goal, I will unleash my Inner Fonda and do an 80’s style workout, fluoro colours and all, and put pictures on my fundraising page. So just wait for that to be unleashed!

Day Nine

Monday 9th Jun

And another Monday rolls around. I had a craptacular day so made sure that the class I chose on the BigFir Girl app had some boxing in it. Instant betterness!

I am finding it easier to just get in and do the workout as a part of my day now. It’s a lot easier to do it with the extrinsic motivation of this challenge.

Day Eight ~ Sunday Bloody Sunday

Sunday 8th Jun

I thought I would step things up a notch seeing as it is Sunday and I didn’t have a list of housework a mile long with 45 minutes rather then half an hour. Not too bad ~ low impact cardio done in circuits, which I honestly quite enjoy because my neuro-sparkly brain loves doing different things rather then as couple of moves over and over again.

There was one point where I screamed “Ohhhhhh FFS!” And my poor husband was not prepared for it. It was when Louise Green was encouraging me by telling me “Only ten more to go, you can do it” but regretfully, I was not as confident as Ms Green in the moment.

Day Seven ~ Saturdayyyyyy

Saturday 7th Jun

Instead of having to wrangle my workout around work, I get to wrangle it around housework and trash tv. How beautiful is a weekend? And being the multi-tasking wench I am, I managed all three beautifully.

Did a interval workout on the Louise Green BigFit Girl app and it was alright. As usual, I don’t always do the exact moves being shown but I am still moving so it all counts.

Day Six ~ FRIYAY!

Friday 6th Jun

I managed to do something really clever and twinge my back over the last couple of days, so I did what any modern woman would do and found myself a yoga class on YouTube that targets lower back pain.

As always, I am going for classes that are for the big folk. Because I’m big. No giant leap in logic there.

Today’s class was found on a channel that I quite like, Nourished Natasha. She is a woman in a bigger body who teaches yoga for all bodies while also incorporating astrology and Tarot in her videos. I am a huge hippy so of course this is right up my ally.

What I appreciate the most about Nourished Natasha’s approach to yoga is her mantra that yoga is not for the flexible, it is for the willing, and that all bodies are worthy. She actively encourages you to move your tummy and boobs and anything else that traditionally just gets in the way in other classes ~ she wants you to actively engage with your body and just live in it and move it the way you need to move it without judgement. It’s amazing.

I enjoyed this video very much, so much so I’m going to link it

https://youtu.be/EGxG30Tz9lc?si=lmusygRzbeb0-yaU

I don’t even think I did a lot of the poses “properly” but I definitely did something twisty and bendy…

Day Five wasn’t kidding around

Thursday 5th Jun

I did a 30 minute class on my trusty YouTube and it was rough.

I did it, but at what cost??!?!? **shakes hands in the air dramatically**

It was called Cardio Shred, and I should have known I was in trouble ~ the only thing I’ve ever shredded is chicken!

Day Four Pwoaaarrr

Wednesday 4th Jun

I decided it was time to throw some weights and core into the mix, because I’m a saucy minx who likes to mix things up.

Used the Louise Green BigFit Girl app again. Screamed a little whenever she said “And we’re going to 12, let’s go!” Are we Louise? ARE WE??

Also had the pleasure of doing my first plank in yearsssss. It was successful in the sense that I got back up.

Day Three Kazam!

Tuesday 3rd Jun

I know I said I was doing this challenge like the frugal (read: cheap) gal I am, so there’s a disclaimer here ~ I did not use a free app today, but one that I have had for ages and picked up a 20% discount on. So there’s some cheapness there :P

It’s been so long since I used this app that opening it again was like opening a new app because so much has been added to it! I do love the dopamine hit of something new!

I did a Sweat and Connect video. I did indeed sweat, and connected with lots of muscles I’d forgotten were there.

Bella, my live in trainer (aka my almost 17 year old pussy cat) is not impressed with my form so far but we will get there….

Day Two in the bag!

Monday 2nd Jun

I have found that YouTube has a pretty decent library of exercise classes for us bigger folk. There’s a lot of BS but if you persist you’ll find some good stuff.

One of my favourite free channels is one I will be using a lot, Kamoya Farray. The exercises are really good, and there’s just music, no annoying chatter or wooooo noises.

Something I did learn today ~ you know it’s been way too long when a spider comes out of your jogging shoe….

Day One Done!

Sunday 1st Jun

It has been an amazinggggggg 48 hours. I hit my fundraising goal for June yesterday so in true Tara style, have doubled it to $1000

Today was Day One and I got done and funky with my Inner Yogi. She’s obviously been asleep for a long time but she stirred from her slumber to hit the mat for the first time in a good while this morning. Actually, I hit the mat several times, losing my balance and dignity simultaneously.

My big aim for this challenge is to utilise free apps, YouTube videos, and equipment I already own ( we ALL have a covid exercise equipment purchase gathering dust somewhere) I will also be using an app that I already have a subscription to. Being a person in a much bigger body, I am not comfortable hitting a fancy gym or going outside in my spandex. Not yet.

Folk in bigger bodies move different to straight sized folks, so I am concentrating on using exercise resources made exclusively for people like me. The yoga video I worked out with today was free and designed for beginners. I love Jessamine Stanley’s work and highly recommend it for folk like me ~ bigger bodies, new to yoga, that kind of thing., Here’s a link to the video I used today: https://youtu.be/DkgJ82UVQ7c?si=dpJOZ_Cr0z3h9rO-

And here’s a pic of me getting ready to go. See if you can guess my favourite colour. And yes, those are unicorns on my pants.

One day to go!

Saturday 31st May

One day to go until Sweat with Pride is upon us!

I used to be quite the gym bunny; however, the advent of Covid, the world closing down, I stopped going, and haven’t been back. My body has definitely changed. I don’t hate myself or my body for this, but I do want to rediscover joyful and healthy movement, more so for mental and regulation then for aesthetics. Because there is so much more to me then my looks. I’ve also got a fantastic brain, deep love for divination and a Star Wars obsession that makes my heart happy.

I am a bit nervous about embarking on a 30 day straight movement challenge. Those nerves are nothing compared to the pride I have in myself as a Queer woman, and the deep desire to do something good for my rainbow community any way I can.

On top of my fundraising endeavours, I will be donating 50% of any money made from my Tarot and Ogham readings in the month of June.

I have dug out the spandex, lined up some YouTube workout videos and will be getting down and funky with my sweaty self from tomorrow, every day for at least 30 minutes.

Let’s go!

Thank you to my Sponsors

$114

Anthea

Go Tara!!! You're awesome 😎

$54

Bec Mayhead

Go Tazbo!!!! It’s like our jump rope for heart when we first became friends xxxxxx

$54

Katherine Cooper

You're a freaking star. Love ya guts xx

$54

Meg Bock

$54

Mellisa Smith

You go girl!

$54

Alana Sinatra

Smash it tarsbo!

$50

Kim Fairminer

Thanks for getting sweaty, so I don't have to. x

$50

Lauren West

Whoop! We love Minus 18, and are about to book a ticket for their formal down here in July! We have been to 1 of their events, earlier this year and I think it is safe to say it was life-changing <3 Good luck! I believe in you!

$36

Nicola Hincks

$35

Sally

Amazing :)

$30

Leanne F

Great work Tara!

$30

Megan Bell

You've got this!

$30

Nic Corkill

You go girl! In honour of my daughter in her constant struggle to be accepted for just being herself.

$30

Lucy Couling

$30

Rach

Go Tara!!

$30

$25

Jo Janhsen

Great work Tara - all the best with your fundraising and the 'sweating'.

$25

ELLEN SPENCER

$25

Brook Dwyer

Sounds like fun challenge. Enjoy the month while you are doing a good thing for lots of people at the same time.

$24

TOMLINSON Tanya

Yeahhhhh. You've got this Tara!

$24

Erin and Heath

Amazing work from an amazing human!!!

$24

David Carnes

Good luck 🤞, hydrate and have fun 😊

$24

Hilary

$24

Anonymous

$20

Sarah-Jane Pace

Fantastic work Tara!!

$20

Kaz Moeser

Love your work Tara

$20

Michele King

$10

Rosie WALKER

You go girl....xoxo

Tara O’Brien

She/Her

Why I’m Sweating with Pride

Select amount to donate

My Impact

Track my Progress

My Ranking

My Updates

This is the End

It’s been a minute!

Day Nineteen ~ The Power Returns!

Day Eighteen

Day Seventeen

Day Sixteen

Day Fifteen ~ Sunday yoga

Day Fourteen ~ so many squats…

Day Thirteen

Day Twelve

Days Ten and Eleven

Day Nine

Day Eight ~ Sunday Bloody Sunday

Day Seven ~ Saturdayyyyyy

Day Six ~ FRIYAY!

Day Five wasn’t kidding around

Day Four Pwoaaarrr

Day Three Kazam!

Day Two in the bag!

Day One Done!

One day to go!

Thank you to my Sponsors

Anthea

Bec Mayhead

Katherine Cooper

Meg Bock

Mellisa Smith

Alana Sinatra

Kim Fairminer

Lauren West

Nicola Hincks

Sally

Leanne F

Megan Bell

Nic Corkill

Lucy Couling

Rach

Tara O’Brien

Jo Janhsen

ELLEN SPENCER

Brook Dwyer

TOMLINSON Tanya

Erin and Heath

David Carnes

Hilary

Anonymous

Sarah-Jane Pace

Kaz Moeser

Michele King

Rosie WALKER

Bec Broad

Most people donate $50