Core, Fitness, Plank, Shoulders, Triceps

Real Life vs. Online Life

May 31, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today’s 43 was a challenge – my favorite kind of 43!!! I got this move from Insanity Asylum (I’m a little obsessed with my new program!). The move is a hip raise – roll – plank.

I’m going to try and describe it but I’m afraid it might be a little confusing (good thing there is a demo!!). Start on the ground with your right leg extended and your right hand on the ground. Your left knee should be bent, foot on the ground. Push your hips up (using your right arm) and rotate to the right until you are in plank. While in plank, curl your right leg up. Rotate to the left until you are back to the starting position. Repeat (x43).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhElDtXY6ZM’]

You can see that I did a little mini push-up while in the plank – just an extra bonus!!! And, Jordan helped me with the demo when he finally got up which was after I had already completed my 43 and sweaty workout so I was TIRED by the time we filmed this!!

Also, this was one of those super 43s where I did 2 sets because after I did all of them on my right side I had to switch and do 43 on my left. My triceps and shoulders were shaking and burning by the time I finished!!!

Today’s Insanity Asylum workout was by far the hardest one yet – Vertical Plyo! Like the name implies, there was a LOT of jumping!!! The 10 minute warm-up was brutal and then the workout – YIKES!!! Did I mention that there was a LOT of jumping?! This is the kind of workout that pretty much sucks while you’re doing it but after you are done you feel awesome!!!!

So lately I’ve read lots of the great recap posts about the Blend Retreat from a couple weeks ago. I know there are a lot of other neat events where bloggers meet each other, too.

Reading about some of these has caused me to start thinking about the differences between meeting people online (through blogs and other social media) and in person. Over the past few months, I have gotten to “know” some really amazing people through their blogs.

So far, I haven’t met any of my blogger friends in real life. Last night I was talking to Chris and I told him that I hope to eventually met some of them in person. What I really hope, though, is that when I meet my online friends for the first time – I’m the person they expected to meet!

Meaning that I hope no one thinks it is like the little Facebook cartoon above!!! I try to keep my blog real and be exactly the same in it that I am in real life!! Just like all of my wonderful pictures and videos – I don’t primp for them – cause I don’t fix myself up to workout!!!

I try to make most of my posts positive but some days (ummm…yesterday!) it just doesn’t happen cause life isn’t all roses for any of us!!! Over-all though, I love my life and am usually happy both on my blog, when I comment on other blogs and in real life!!!

So, I hope that at some point I get to meet a lot of y’all!! I even know some of the things I want to do with some of my blog friends: (see if you know who some of these might be)

ride scooters to the playground
get the best weight room experience of my life
run (so this one is almost everyone!!!)
go to the Mall of America

I could list more but I already sound like a creepy stalker!!!

What are your experiences meeting your blog friends for the first time? Were they exactly what you expected, better?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Quad, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Vein Stripping: Five Weeks Later

May 30, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

For my 43 today, I did more leg work (and a bit of core since there was a high level of balance involved!). I used my stability ball: (not the BOSU – it was just in the picture!!)I started with one foot on the ball – knee bent:

Then I did a single leg squat and slid the ball out in front of me:

And, like so many of the 43s in the past, this was a double because I want both of my legs to get equal treatment!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Back to Core. Since this is my first time through the program I didn’t know what to expect from this workout – now I know that it is a LOT of controlled moves and holds!!! My upper back will be sore tomorrow for sure!!! The only equipment needed for this workout is a little band – Good times!!!

I decided to get in a little run today since this workout didn’t have much cardio (and I’ve been in a bit of a running slump) – I ran on the treadmill since it is STILL raining here! 1.5% incline – 4 miles in 30:54 + 0.25 mile cooldown

Not sure what the deal is with running lately – not super motivated. I’m trying to cut myself a little slack and push harder with other things because I don’t want running to ever become something that I dread!!Thankfully, I don’t hate running but I’m not loving it at the moment either – I have a small idea of what the problem might be. (coming up…..)

So, it has been 5 weeks since this lovely picture (the day after I had my veins stripped):

I thought I would just do a short follow up (no gross pictures today!!!) with my thoughts on the surgery. I’ve already talked about the fact that my DR completely misinformed me by not telling me all the possible results and how long the recovery could take.

Now, it has been 5 weeks and I can do all of my normal activities so that is definitely a good thing. The downside – my legs have hurt every second of the past 5 weeks!!! They don’t hurt as bad now as they did the first couple of weeks but I have a few areas on both legs that HURT all the time.

My left ankle has a huge knot right under the bone on the inside that causes my ankle to stay swollen and ache all the time.

My right calf, while better than it was the first couple of weeks, still has a knot in it.

right calk — right calf – hard to tell much

And, my right upper thigh is just a mess – little knots all over.

I have regretted having this surgery almost since the minute I got home from the hospital and I’m still not at the point where I’m glad I had it done!!! I’m hoping that maybe in a few more weeks I will at least be happy with the results but for now all it’s done is cause me a lot of pain.

And, that pain (while definitely manageable) is what I think has caused my little running slump!!! Every time I run now my legs feel like this:I keep telling myself that the DR said I can’t hurt anything so I try to ignore it but it is a joy sapper for sure!!!

Well, what I meant to be an update, came out sounding like a lot of whining! I’m done with that now because I know that I’m lucky to be able to work out and do all the things I want to do!!!

Oh, and I’m very happy that I know longer need any wraps or nasty compression stockings!! The DR said to wear them at least for a month – DONE!!!

But I’m still going on record as saying – I, personally, don’t recommend this particular surgery and if I had it to do again, I would not do it!!

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness

Driving School

May 29, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I used my agility ladder for the 43.

who knew you could do so much with this?

I decided to get in a little cardio with the 43 so I did the Heisman using the ladder – it is a fast moving side to side with a knee in at each edge. (the video makes it all clear!!)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFYXjLVuuGQ’]

I counted an over and back as 1 rep so really I went through 86 times to complete all 43!! You can tell that I’m looking down – that’s because in the workouts with Shaun T, he says if you mess up the ladder you have to drop and do 8 push-ups (I made it through without any pushups during the 43!).

Today was another day of Insanity Asylum – Strength. This workout was 50 minutes and even though the primary focus was strength training, there was still plenty of cardio involved!! So far I’m enjoying this new Insanity series even though it is HARD!!!

Today my first-born is at driving school!!! I can hardly believe that he is old enough to start driving!!! Today is all classroom instruction – fun times!!By the time he gets home this afternoon, he will have his learner’s permit and life will never be the same!!! As parents, we encouraged him to seek out the easiest traffic school that we could find that was suitable for our area. We wanted him to receive the best education that he can get, as we need to make sure he is safe on the road, as well as the road users around him. I’m not sure where he decided to go, but I’m sure he’s made the right decision.I’m pretty sure that his first times driving will either be with Chris or the driving instructor (I’m not always the most patient person and one of us might freak out!!).I thought I was ready for this but part of me just wants Jordan (and Hunter, too) to be little again so that I can keep them with me!! I mean seriously – 14 year olds driving?!

I know it’s a good thing and I’m happy for him!! Just beware when you see Student Driver signs on the road – might be my 14 year old son!! (I better start trying to let go of some of my road rage!!)And, seeing how fast my boys are growing up makes me treasure the times we spend together – even if it means they are kicking my butt in Wii games!!! Yesterday we had a little tournament (put together by Jordan!) – I didn’t do so great:

Jodan - 9 Hunter - 5 Kim - 2 — Jodan – 9
Hunter – 5
Kim – 2

But it was fun!!

Anyone else occasionally feel small moments of panic when you realize how quickly your kids (or siblings, grandkids…..) are growing up?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Thighs

Grey Skies Mean Indoor Fun (or is it Gray???)

May 28, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

Today’s 43 was about control and holding a contraction (for a long time!!). I focused on my thighs (plie) and biceps with this move!

Start in plie with arms in front of you and bent at 90 (like you are doing a bicep curl but stopped at waist level) – rotate arms out to sides, really squeezing all the way back into your shoulder blades – while holding arms at sides, slowly stand (squeeze your thighs and butt) then lower back to plie – rotate arms back to front = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJF9843yg0I’]

I used 8 pound dumbbells today and they were almost too heavy by the time I reached 43 so I think it was a great choice – muscle fatigue for sure!!!

Today was day 2 of Insanity Asylum – it is going to totally kick my butt this month!!! When you get the program, it comes with a few “toys” that you use for the workouts. This little agility ladder is useful for so many forms of ~~torture~~ work!

Today I did Speed and Agility – hopefully I get more of both as I go through the program!! This was 45 intense minutes!! By the end I was sweating so much that when we did the final stretches (at one point we did downward dog) I had sweat running into my nose – aren’t you glad to know that?!

So far (2 days in), some of the moves that we have done in this program are brutal!!! Lots of new ideas for some daily 43s!!!!

Yesterday morning when I got up, it was “night-time” dark!!! Not because I got up super early but because of the storms!!About 11:00, it slowed down and I took some pictures of the flooding in our yard and the rushing water in the lake!! The rest of the week looks like we could have more of the same weather – storms, storms and more storms!!!

Guess the boys and I will have to set up an indoor game tournament – I know they will be so excited!!! (or not – 12 & 14 year old boys – hard to say!)

And, something that always confuses me – How do you spell the color that is made from mixing black and white? Is it grey? Or is it gray?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Appetizer, Recipes, Vegetables

Humus – Who Knew it Was so Delicious?!!

May 27, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

I think we have a new favorite snack around here!! And, it is actually healthy!!!

Humus!!!

The other night, Chris and I had some humus as one of the courses in our anniversary dinner. We talked to the owner of the restaurant while we ate our dessert and he gave me some of the info for the recipe so I made my version for our Memorial Day BBQ.

This stuff is good!!!

Easy & Delicious Humus (that’s my name for it!)