Tag Archives: balance

Things you Have to See to Believe

September 24, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

Today for my 44 I did a move that was for my biceps and shoulders but because I balanced on 1 leg, I also got in a great core challenge. I did a single arm bicep curl to a shoulder press with the opposite leg up.

I used a 10 pound dumbbell and it was challenging to complete all 44 reps. And, I can’t be uneven so I switched sides and did 44 more.

This was a good move to really get my blood flowing early.

And, today was one of my favorite workouts for Garage Boot Camp – Pyramid. I love this one because it is non-stop for the entire time. There are a total of 10 exercises and each round you add one (10 reps of everything each time) – round 1 is easy (10 squats), round 2 (10 squats, 10 jumping jacks), etc. until you have 10 reps of 10 exercises. After you get all 10, you start back down the pyramid dropping one off each time – fun stuff!!!

Do you ever glance at something or someone and then do a double take because you can’t believe what you just saw?

Well, Sunday morning, Chris and I were at Wal-Mart (ugh!!) and after Chris got in line I ran over to check on something. I happened to glance over and a lady was wearing a tiny little bikini with a tiny little skirt (she wasn’t so tiny)!!!

Not the lady I saw because I didn't get my phone out in time not to get busted! — Not the lady I saw because I didn’t get my phone out in time not to get busted!

I looked back thinking I hadn’t seen correctly but she was definitely wearing a little bikini!! I moved on a bit and next thing I know this man says, “What you don’t think it’s the right weather for a bikini?” Oops – Busted!!! I thought I had been a little less obvious in my double-take!

I do have another “fun” picture for you. Our event venue also has 3 apartments upstairs. They are separate from the event part and I don’t go up the stairs to them very often. However, one of the girls moved to Colorado and we have been showing the apartment some. I couldn’t believe how very disgusting the stairs were (they have cats & dogs). Yesterday I couldn’t take it anymore and swept for them –

You’re Welcome for that visual!!!

What have you seen recently that you couldn’t believe?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings

An Attempt at Being Crafty

August 16, 2013 Kim 48 Comments

Today for my 43 I combined a couple of moves and ended up with a pretty good overall move!! I started with a pair of dumbbells (10 pounds) and stepped my right foot out wide. From there I lifted my left leg and hinged forward trying to make a straight line with my body parallel to the floor (balance work!!). After I stood, I did a squat with my feet together before stepping wide to the left and repeating the series with the other leg to complete 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybm5CsTBwM’]

Clearly, I have some wobbles but I enjoyed this move – 86 balance challenges + 86 squats to complete all 43.

I had plans for the rest of my workout but I had to add an extra trip to the middle school (before 7am) to drop off some stuff and be home in time to drive the boys to school and by the time I finished the morning drive I decided that today would be a good day-off!!! It’s rare for me to randomly decide to skip a workout but today is one of those days!!

Too bad it is just a day off from working out and not a true day off – spent on the beach in the sun – I guess I will just pretend to be on the beach!!!

I know people who are super crafty and creative – they come up with some of the neatest ideas. I am not one of those people!!! Crafting is not a strong point for me and my creativity is almost nonexistent!

However, every once in awhile I make an attempt to be a bit crafty. This week I have been working on a welcome back to school gift for all of the middle school teachers (all 80!!).

After finally deciding to get them gift cards from Starbucks, I decided that it would be fun to jazz up the presentation of the gift card. After a trip to Hobby Lobby, Starbucks (for the gift cards and cup sleeves) – I printed out a little thank you and then did lots (and lots) of gluing!!!

For a noncrafty person like me – I think it came out OK (I hope so anyway!!!).

My stacks of 80 cards ready to be delivered (the reason for the 6:30 trip to the middle school!!!).

Are you crafty? Do you enjoy the whole act of being creative?

Happy Friday!!! I’m going to enjoy my pretend day off!!!

Kim

PS – this was a gift from the PTO for the teachers not just from me!!! I somehow ended up as co-president of the PTO for the middle school this year and we didn’t have anyone who signed up to help with teacher appreciation so it sort of fell to me to get something done.

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Squats

Life Isn’t Always Sunshine but I Love it Anyway

July 28, 2013 Kim 43 Comments

Today’s 43 was one that I’ve never tried but need to do more often. It was a front wall squat. I need lots more practice because I can’t go down very far without toppling over.

Start with your toes against the wall –

(you can barely see me – the bright light worked against the picture but too late now!!)

Slide down into a squat keeping your knees and hands against (or near) the wall –

You can tell from the picture (barely) that I couldn’t even get down to 90 degrees – so a good 43 but one that definitely needs work! I liked the fact that performing this type of squat added in a balance challenge!

And, because we actually slept in a little, I decided to keep my workout inside because the humidity is killing me when I run here. I did Turbo Fire – Sculpt 30. This was a great workout today since I haven’t gotten much strength work this week!! You use the Turbo Fire band

for a full body strength workout!!

For the past week, it has been easy to love life – because we’ve been at the beach (2 more days!!!)! And, I’m pretty sure that by now it is a well established fact that the beach is my true HAPPY PLACE!!!

However, in my “real life” back home in Kansas, life isn’t always sunny!! There are days that look a lot like this –

And, some days are just kind of drippy!However, I can finally say that no matter what the weather and other circumstances that come along – I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

That hasn’t always been the case! In high school, I think I just existed. I loved running track and I enjoyed school but the rest of it was just something to be survived.

College was 4 years of fun even though I worked hard to maintain a track and academic scholarship and then added in a job my senior year. But, I still wasn’t completely at peace with myself.

I spent a number of years trying to find happiness through other people instead of looking for it inside of myself.

I thought that the people I surrounded myself and hung out with controlled my happiness.

I even struggled when we had kids – I thought that being a Mom should make me happy all the time – that kids meant sunshine 100% of the time!!!

So, it has taken 43 years to finally get to the point where I am completely content during the sunny times and the not so sunny times.

And, as long as I know that there is always time at the beach to look forward to, my life is full of sunshine!!

Do you love your life in all types of weather or just during the sunny/happy times?

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Quad

Keeping Cool

July 17, 2013 Kim 35 Comments

Today’s 43 was a knee lift to a pivot lunge. I like moves like this that are good strengthening moves but also really challenge my balance!

To do the move: lift your right knee – pivot to the back corner – lunge – push off of the lunging foot – pivot back to front – tap toe and repeat (x 43). And, then because no one wants to be lopsided – switch and do the same on with the left leg.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOvH9owfaY’]

You can pretty much do whatever you want to with your arms – you can see that mine just sort of flail around trying to help me keep my balance!

6 am Boot Camp was the ABC workout again – even though we just did this last week, most of my group was on vacation and missed it so I brought it back today!!! Plus, I like this one!!! It was sort-of rough just because the humidity is out of control so breathing was hard for everyone.

I also did my 2nd round of Taylor’s challenge!! I didn’t collapse onto the floor during it or even after but I wanted to! The whole workout only takes about 30 minutes but it is intense and AWESOME!!!

I’m sure that my next line won’t make me popular but I’m cool with that – I LOVE THE HEAT OF SUMMER!!! I’m one of those people that ~~might~~ complains a ~~little~~ lot during the winter about the cold. And if it snows and ices – don’t get me started!!! But during the summer, I’m completely in my element and happy!!!

However, not everyone shares my point of view!! The boys and I spend lots of time at the swim beach and different pools. This summer they have also spent a lot of time outside playing basketball. During the afternoons they have to sort-of limit how long at a time they can be outside.

Unless…….

there is water involved!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCNHIak4aSs’]

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDmjgDSwLs8′]

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJ1RjY95q8′]

We are classy for sure!!! But the main thing is – 3 hours of basketball, running around and the dry grass got some water without anyone suffering heat stroke!!

I sat in the shade and read blogs, took pictures and enjoyed being outside even though I was sweating because there was zero breeze – a perfect afternoon in our world!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Biceps, Core, Fitness

Beltin’ It Out

June 7, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

Today’s 43 was s single arm bicep curl while lifting the opposite knee.

curl - keep knee up the entire time — curl – keep knee up the entire time

After 43 reps with my right arm I had to switch and get my left arm.

Not sure why I’m looking so cranky for the pictures this morning – must have been really focused!!! I like this type of move because even though the focus was my bicep, keeping my knee up was a great balance challenge/core work!!!

I taught 2 boot camp classes this morning: 6 am (backyard) & 7 am (beach). Today’s workout was quite a bit harder on the beach – lots of lateral and forward moving and the sand really upped the challenge!!

I’m enjoying the boot camp classes both for the workouts and the great company!!! I hope that all of the people who have come this week feel the same!!! :Happy:

I also did Insanity Asylum – Back to Core. This one really forces me to push myself outside of my normal comfort zone because some of those back moves are hard – hopefully this will help my pull-ups!!!

Yesterday morning I drove to Kansas City (about an hour from here) to go to a funeral for a good friend’s Dad. I was in the car by myself and might have looked a little bit like Chris Farley and David Spade (love Tommy Boy!!!).

I can’t carry a tune to save my life but that doesn’t stop me from singing full volume when I’m driving by myself!!! Sometimes there is even some head bopping to go along with the singing – I’m sure I look like a crazy lady driving down the road!!!

I had my iPhone hooked in so that I could listen to some of my favorite songs and artists.A little Toes, Highway 20 Ride and Chicken Fried!!!
One of my all time favorite singers!!! And when he teams up with Alan Jackson, what’s not to love? It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

And, Shania Twain better look out cause I can belt this song out with the best of them:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N2k-gv6xNE’]

There was a bit of old school music thanks to Run DMC:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cYQV62WhkM’]

Plenty of country thanks to the Dixie Chicks and Gretchen Wilson (Redneck Woman)!!

Little bit of Kid Rock cause singing about summertime always makes me happy!!!

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

Music makes me happy (even with my lack of any sort of musical ability) – singing in the car by myself or in the kitchen while I fix dinner (although I don’t tend to belt it out quite as loud in the kitchen because the boys sort-of make comments if I do) who cares if I am in tune or the right key or whatever – I just sing!!! Sometimes I get carried away when I’m running and sing along – never a good thing because I’m sure it is louder than I think since I have earphones in!!! Classy!!!

Yesterday at the funeral, my friend talked a little about her dad and then she played a song which was actually a recording of her singing (hard to sing at your parent’s funeral). The song – His Eye Is on the Sparrow.

While I was listening to the song, 2 lines grabbed me:

I sing because I’m happy,

I sing because I’m free.

And that’s why I belt out songs like I’m part of the Glee cast – because I’m HAPPY!!! And even if I’m not happy when I start singing, I usually am by the time I stop!!

Anyone else get a little carried away when you start singing in the car/shower/while you run or wherever else?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Day With KT