Fitness: in a Garage, in a Yard, in a Basement

Today I challenged myself with my 43.  (challenge for my current state anyway!!)

I used this little rubber tubing:Tubing

I stood on the tube with my feet a little wider than hip distance apart and the ends in each hand.  From that position, I did a Frankenstein walk – stiff leg walk forward for 3 steps and back for 3 steps along with alternating front raises = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H34MjDIKrj4′]

This 43 was hard for me after the past week – plus, I did a total of 129 front raises with each arm by the time I finished.  I can’t believe how weak I feel after just missing a week of working out!  Yikes – hopefully soon I will be back at it!!!

Check out my cool T-shirt:Kim - Griffin Fitness

Can you read it?  It saysKim - Griffin Fitness

My younger brother Sam (Griffin!!) and his wife Stacy started a gym in their garage (in west TX) and this is their logo on a T-shirt!

Sam built a cross-fit type gym and is quite the cross-fit stud!!

preparing to dead-lift massive weight!!
preparing to dead-lift massive weight!!

Last fall, Stacy started up a Backyard Bootcamp program.  It has grown a lot since then – I think she has about 4 -6 different classes now!!

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

Look how super cute she is!!!

I love that they have turned their passion for fitness into a way to help others in their community get fit – all in their garage and backyard!!!

Just goes to show that fitness can be done anywhere!   (for me it is usually in my basement) It  just takes the desire to get it done!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

How do you Define Yourself?

For my 43 today I did a bent over lateral raise/row combo.  Even though it is still fairly basic, I’m happy that I incorporated multiple muscle groups today!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skjovy9l43I’]

I just used 5 pound dumbbells for the 43 – I usually try to go heavier on rows but lateral raises are challenging for me so I picked a weight that I could complete them all without just swinging my arms like a crazy woman!!!

I’m still not working out – hopefully later this week I will be able to ease back in!!!

Since I’ve had a some hours of free time the past few days I’ve done a lot of thinking about things.  One of the subjects I’ve thought about is how I define myself.  There are lots of words I could use:

  • wife
  • mom
  • runner
  • athlete
  • sister
  • twin
  • teacher
  • coach
  • reader
  • wine drinker
  • friend

At every stage of my life, I have had different words that seem applicable.  The summer I wasScreen shot 2013-04-28 at 5.55.32 PM

my parents got a divorce and my mom and the 4 of us kids moved to Abilene, TX.  8th grade had been a rough year for me (3 different middle schools) and moving to a new place for 9th grade was no easier.  I was very quiet and shy (hard to believe now!!).  I went through most of high school being referred to as Tim’s sister:

twins
twins

Thankfully, I also started running in HS and actually turned out to be pretty good at it so I was also a cross country and long distance runner in high school!

I went to college separate from Tim so all of a sudden I had a new identity.  However, I quickly formed a very close friendship with Lara.  Other then the fact that I ran cross country and track and she didn’t, we were together all of the time.  People didn’t call me Kim or her Lara we were:

Kim and Lara

Lara and Kim

Also, I had long hair that I kept curly with a spiral perm – classy!!.  I always pulled it back in a ponytail using these clips:Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.22.05 PM

So I also earned the name – Bowhead.

I went to grad school in southern Alabama and spent a year being called Kim from Texas!!

After grad school, I spent 2 years coaching cross country and track at the same University where I had run.  During that time I’m not sure I had a true definition of myself – because I was single and a coach lots of people assumed things about me that weren’t true.  Those are the years that I realized that even workout wear could be cute and accessorized!  Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.29.24 PM

I spent a year teaching and also met Chris (he was in pilot training in TX at the time) – I was either Miss Griffin (umm – that is my mom) or Chris’s girlfriend.

After we got married, we moved to Kansas and because I wasn’t from here and Chris was – I spent the year as Chris’ wife.

We moved back to TX for a couple of years and I taught and coached again.  This time I was Mrs. Turner  or Coach Turner – loved my new name/identity!!!

Then we had Jordan and my definition of myself changed again  – I became Jordan’s mom and later Hunter’s mom.  Since I spent about 9 years as a SAHM I struggled a lot with my identity.

I became involved in numerous activities and tried to figure out exactly how I fit into all of the different areas of life.  It was difficult at times because I didn’t have a “real” job to help define me.

After both boys were in school full-time, I took a job at their school working in the office – my new identity became secretary.  I think the 5 years I spent in that job helped me realize that a job isn’t what defines you – you have to figure that out on your on!!

 I did the job of a secretary but there is so much more that makes up who I am including all of the experiences and jobs that I had up to that point.

Now, I am once again a SAHM but there are so many other parts of me!

I’m a blogger – http://day-with-kt.com/

I’m still a runner!!  I’m also a weight-lifting, daily activity getting fitness buff!

I’m a personal trainer – Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.42.59 PM

I’m a wife:

welcome home!
welcome home!

I’m a mom:

Jordan meeting his little brother
Jordan meeting his little brother

I’m a sister:

siblings
siblings

I’m a huge reader:Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.50.56 PM

I’m a wine and martini drinker:

one more reason to RUN!!!
one more reason to RUN!!!
Texas Martini Glass
Texas Martini Glass

I’m a beach lover:Beach I’m a Texan!Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.54.19 PMI’m a friend:Screen shot 2013-04-28 at 7.55.54 PM

Above all of the titles and roles in my life, I can truly say that I’m a happy, strong, independent woman!  And, tomorrow or next week, parts of my definition of myself might change once again – it is ever evolving as I continue on my journey through life!!!

How do you define yourself?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Is Asking for Help a Strength or Weakness?

Today I wanted to work my abs.  The trickiest part was getting on the floor (and back up!!) – temporary hazard but good for a laugh!!  For the 43, I did a straight leg crunch with a side reach.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuoaJrRFKSk&feature=youtu.be’]

I counted a right crunch and a left crunch as 1 rep.  This was a pretty good 43 for today and I was happy to get in some ab work!!

Asking for help is not something I’m good at – ever!

Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.34.42 PM

At some point when I was growing up I learned or decided (not really sure which) that weakness should be kept hidden.  My motto became –  Just do what you need to do and don’t complain or whine about it.Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.36.35 PMAs an adult there have been numerous times that things were rough and I would have liked some help but I have been “strong” for so long that I don’t really know how to do anything else.  What I do know is how to keep on going no matter what the circumstance.
Screen shot 2013-04-26 at 7.44.14 PM

Now I’m at a point in my life where even when I wish I had  help, I don’t know how to ask for it. All I know to do is – Suck it up!Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.38.02 PM

So is it really strength or is it just a weakness on my part?

Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.37.38 PM

What do you do when you have spent your entire life being strong but then realize that having someone help you would be nice and not a sign of weakness?

Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.36.57 PM

Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.31.56 PM

I think you just keep on!  I think that we are all stronger than we give ourselves credit for and often it is just a matter of pushing ourselves to reveal that strength.

Screen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.32.55 PMScreen shot 2013-04-27 at 7.31.30 PM

What about you?  Is it easy for you to ask for help?

I don’t even like to ask Chris for help (usually he just does it because he knows that I am too stubborn to admit that I need help).

And I don’t view it as a weakness when other people need help – in fact, I’m always impressed with people who are willing to ask for help.

Happy Sunday!

Kim

Progress and Pictures

I did another arm move for today’s 43.  I held 5 pound dumbbells and did a karate style punch.

start
start
start -side view
start -side view

I usually like to get in plie position to do these punches but right now that is not really an option so I just tucked my hips and put a slight bend in my knees.

right punch
right punch

 

side view
side view

For the move – I just alternated punches in a nice steady manner.  A right punch and left punch made 1 rep.

left punch
left punch

 

side view (left)
side view (left)

Another fairly simple 43 but I’m trying to let myself off the hook – I still want to meet my goal for the year by completing a 43 every day and if it means a few easier moves then I guess that is how it has to be.

Yesterday afternoon I had a follow up appointment with my DR.  She unwrapped the many layers on my legs and said everything looked good.  My legs look worse now than before surgery – bruised, swollen, bulgey and overall, a mess.Surgery LegI took a couple of pictures while my legs were unwrapped but decided not to post them (just the one above) because I don’t want to gross anyone out with the dried blood and stuff.  You can see some of the marks that the DR made the morning of surgery though.

This morning I finally got to take a shower!!!  Such a small thing but it goes a long way to helping me feel human again!!!  Before Chris rewrapped my legs, I took a couple of pictures:

left lower leg
left lower leg

You can see some of the little cuts (all over my legs) and the swelling around my ankle and calf.  All of the purple spider veins will be treated in a couple of months (after this stuff heals).

left leg - knee area
left leg – knee area

You can see a little of the bruising behind my knee here (and again you can see the swelling in my legs).

freshly wrapped and propped up
freshly wrapped and propped

I’m still spending more time sitting around (with my legs elevated) then anything else.  I thought I would at least be able to do more walking by today.  Yesterday the DR said probably another week – WHAT?!!  I’m thinking maybe Monday or Tuesday at the latest!!!

What do you do when you have to spend time just sitting around?  Do you get totally stir crazy?

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

I Need to Move-it, Move-it!!

For today’s 43 I took inspiration from Evil Cyber.  The other day he talked about the military press which is a great move to work your shoulders.  My shoulders can always use more work and I needed a move that wouldn’t hurt my legs so it was perfect for today!

I used my Body Pump bar and plates (just 10 pounds on each side).Body Pump Bar

I actually did the move standing (which is why I went with fairly light weight!).

start
start

Don’t mind the lovely legs – still 500 layers of wraps!!

side view
side view

From the start, it is just a simple press up (in front of face).

up!
up!
side view
side view

I made it through 43 but it was rough!  It’s amazing how weak I feel after a couple days of inactivity.  Hopefully I can start doing more soon – otherwise I’m going to turn into a big gooey blob!!

Earlier this week, Jordan played in Band Fest.  (last week it was Hunter in String Fest!) Band Fest is similar – all of the 6th grade band students in the district, 8th grade (3rd hour) band and the HS Jazz band.

weird lighting here
weird lighting here

I love when Jordan is all dressed up (so rare!!) – he looks so grown-up!!

watching 6th graders play
watching 6th graders play
getting ready to play with the 6th grade band
getting ready to play with the 6th grade band

The bands all did a great job.  For the finale, they played America the Beautiful – it was awesome!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E5-w6te2tc’]

It is fun Friday – mine will be full of more reality TV and a DR appointment – good times!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a91pJDut50E’]

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim