Monday Morning Musings

September 30, 2013 Kim 62 Comments

Today’s 44 was one of those great combo moves that I love!! I did an alternating arm chest press on a bench with my legs at about 45 degrees (to work my core!).

start - need to lower my legs a bit! — start – need to lower my legs a bit!

I counted a right and a left chest press as 1 rep. This was a good move – my abs were dying by the time I reached 44 reps! (15 pound dumbbells)

I decided that today was a good day for some Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 3. Working out with Chalean and her crew is always a great way to start the day – good workout and some fun at the same time!!!

1. I have spent the past 2 days painting – ALL DAY!! One of the apartments above our new venue has been vacant for a week and I needed to get it ready to rent out again.

I know the pictures aren’t great – chalk it up to being tired!!! The walls were very dingy and mismatched before. Now they are all a nice tan color (very rich looking!!) except the bathroom which I painted white because it is so small. I don’t know if you can tell from the before shot but it was 2 shades of green (even the ceiling was painted!).

2. While painting, I showed the apartment 3 times!!! We have a new tenant and I love her!!! She is the sweetest lady (probably helped that she has raised 6 kids) and yesterday when she came back by to sign everything, she hugged me (nasty, sweaty, paint covered and all) when she left!!!

And – our sweet new tenant asked me who did the gardening (there is quite a bit around the entire house!!). I told her that would be me if you counted pulling weeds since that is all I’ve attempted so far and I have a black thumb!!! She asked if she could work in them!!! Ummm….YES!!! Work in them as much as you like! She said she loves gardening!!! (Look, someone offered to help and I didn’t even have to ask – bonus!!)

3. Last week I scrambled around for dinner pretty much every night and I had big plans to do better this week. Epic fail!!!! I didn’t plan a single thing – gonna have to go with a lot of stand-bys this week!!!

4. I wish I were here –

5. The Amazing Race started a new season last night – WooHoo!!!

6. My awesome sister-in-law, Stacy, ran her first half marathon yesterday – 2:02 on a very hilly course! She totally rocks!!!

Rockin' the Runner T!!! — Rockin’ the Runner T!!!

7. As much as I would love to share more of the thoughts pinging around in my head, it’s time for me to get on with my day!!!

What thoughts are bouncing around in your head this morning?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Fixin’ to do Something Really Hard – Help!!!

September 29, 2013 Kim 41 Comments

Today I did a fairly simple 44 – a crunch with my elbows glued to the ground the entire time. Try it – it really changes the way you work your abs!!!

start - elbows on the ground — start – elbows on the ground

crunch up - fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground) — crunch up – fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground)

You can see that it is a small crunch but you have to hold tight with your abs!!!

It might seem like I haven’t been working out much but that is because I have been getting activity through other methods. Thursday I spent 7 hours cleaning (an apartment & our venue), setting up for a wedding (moving 140 chairs x2), and ironing (20+ large tablecloths) – that entire time was spent standing and moving and lifting and bending!!!

Yesterday I spent 9 hours painting one of the apartments we have that is now vacant. Squatting, bending, climbing up and down a ladder – it was a workout for sure. I figure these long days of solid activity and standing are good for my overall endurance when it comes to my 50.

I wrote a post in April about asking for help – is it a strength or a weakness? For me, it is one of the hardest things in the world to do.

Paint 9 hours? no problem
Drive across country by myself? easy
Run 50 miles? I think I got it
Ask for help? ummm…….

I don’t like to ask anyone for help – ever!!! Not the boys, not friends, not even Chris! I’m not sure why it is so hard for me to ask – I’m pretty sure it goes back to when I was young!

However, I’m at a point where I have to bite the bullet and ask.

I don’t know how to make the logistics of the 50 mile weekend work without help!!! The race is 100 miles from here (through the Flint Hills in Cassody, KS) and with the drive each way, check in, running…..Chris and I will be gone for pretty much a 24 hour period (with ZERO sleep for either of us).

I had originally planned to leave the boys home but the more I think about it the more stress that causes me (Jordan is only 14 – pretty sure there are some kind of laws about that!!!). They have no desire (or need) to be up all night just because I’m crazy!!!

There aren’t any hotels in the town we will be in because I thought about that option, too.

And, we have a wedding changeover that night – at pretty much the same time I start running! Because we are a small staff – pretty much of 1 – we don’t have anyone else trained to set-up. And, you know I haven’t asked anyone to help!!

So today, I’m going to have to suck it up and ask for help!!! (after I spend many more hours painting and cleaning!!) Or, maybe I will put it off another day – I’m sure if I keep waiting it will get easier, right?!

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

If….Then

September 28, 2013 Kim 39 Comments

Today’s 44 was a fun way to turn a plank into a cardio move!!! I did frog jumps in the plank position.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW4AZEACukM’]

I was breathing hard by the time I finished all 44 – always a good sign!!

Remember the old writing prompt from your school days? I remember having to do If…Then statements and I thought it would be a fun way to share some of the things I’ve learned recently!!!

If Jordan sends me a text that after-school sectionals has been cancelled, then it doesn’t automatically mean he needs a ride home. (Learned that the hard!)

If you take 2 Excedrine right before bed-time, then you might spend most of the night awake!! (The good news is, I got lots of reading done and might finally finish the book I’ve been reading for about a month – ever since beach time went away!!!)

If you don’t have any plans for meals during the week, then you might do lots of scrambling in the evenings! (DUH!!)

If you upgrade your iPhone the day the upgrade comes out, then you might have to deal with some of the bugs and other issues that aren’t totally resolved. (Hunter learned this the hard way – he hasn’t had WIFI since he upgraded and apparently lots of people had the same problem!!)

If your neighbors invite you to go with them to a friends home for an Italian night and “concert” under the stars, then you should definitely go and enjoy fun times and Andre Bocelli’s concert!!!

If you buy a birthday card, then it is helpful if you actually put it in the mail!! (Sorry, Dad, card is still on my kitchen island!!)

If you live with 3 boys, then life is going to be full of happy times!!!!

What If…Then statement fits you this week?

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness

Rejuvenated

September 27, 2013 Kim 51 Comments

Today’s 44 went quickly but it was definitely effective. I did fast feet (x8) straight into a tuck jump!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW13Rs1KPBw’]

I’m a sweaty mess in the video because the demo was after my workout today!!! Tuck jumps are always hard for me and the fast feet between really amped up my heart rate. 44 of these were no joke!!!

I did a new (to me) DVD today and loved it!! It was one of the 10 Minute Solution workouts which I’ve always liked anyway – High Intensity Interval Training (can you tell why I loved it?!).

The workout had 5, 10 minute segments: HIIT 101, Upper Body HIIT, HIIT Explosion, Rock Bottom HIIT, Ab HIIT. Each segment consisted of 8 exercises done 2x each (20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest), plus a very short warm-up, cool down. This workout took about 55 minutes but it flew by!!! And, I discovered a few new moves to try!

It is 10:00 am and I’m just now working on my post for today and it feels amazing!!! Most days I’m up at 5:00 am and have my workout and daily post done by 7:20 (when I take Hunter to school) so that I can get moving on the rest of the day.

Today, the boys have a day off school (teacher work day) and Chris is off so I decided to give myself a day off, too!!!

After yesterday I needed a day off!!! In a 30 minute period late yesterday afternoon, I yelled at both Jordan and Chris (2 separate scenes). The only reason Hunter escaped my tantrum throwing – he was lucky enough not to be home yet!!!

For the most part, my reactions were ~~a bit~~ out of control because I was TIRED!!!

Today, I didn’t even get up until after 7:30!!! Then, I actually putzed around a bit before I finally went down to workout (normally I am working out within about 10 minutes of getting up)!!

I feel so much more refreshed and ready to tackle the next few weeks which are going to be hectic – just 2 weeks until I complete my 50 miles race!!!!

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Thighs

Unique Exercises

September 26, 2013 Kim 33 Comments

I should start every Thursday with a link to Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama!!! It seems like most of Thursday’s 44s come from Nellie’s Weekly Wednesday Workout and today is no exception!

For my 44 today I did single leg circles. These may sound easy but they are definitely a challenge! Make sure that your toe is pointed to maximize the burn all through your thighs!

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

I don’t know what is up with the color lately – maybe it’s photographer error!!! (just kidding, Chris!) Anyway, this move is one you will definitely feel in your hips!!!

Today was another round of Garage Boot Camp. During the summer I created new workouts every time but this fall we have been repeating the ones from the summer. I asked the ladies the other day if they minded that we were repeating some they had done before and no one seemed to!! I still want to come up with some new workouts soon!!! S

We did the Move It, Move It workout (all about the legs!) and my legs are definitely feeling it!! I felt a little bad because all of the ladies said that they were sore and that getting around yesterday was painful – it might have been the 190 squats + everything else on Tuesday – not sure!!

So, I’m on a hunt for some more creative exercises and moves for my daily 44s! I searched a bit on youtube and some of the stuff out there is amazing!!!

Not sure about all of the exercises in this video – I might end up hurting myself!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qQsMm1iTEk’]

Pretty sure that I got hurt just watching this next video!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WjzDW3-Eg’]

Some of these moves are totally insane (like the 360 push-ups!!).

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

Some of these moves are just crazy – I can’t even imagine!! Out of the 50, I think I have done 10 or 11.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8vA488-C6I’]

Well, I was searching for some fun new moves for my 44 but I’m thinking that if I actually attempt even 4 reps of most of these moves I will end up in the hospital!

So – what are some of the most unique exercises/moves you’ve ever seen or attempted. Feel free to share links in the comments!! Who knows?! Your suggestion could be the next daily 44!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Day With KT

Monthly Archives: September 2013

Monday Morning Musings

Fixin’ to do Something Really Hard – Help!!!

If….Then

Rejuvenated

Unique Exercises

Fitness – Food – Fun