Tag Archives: stability ball

Exercise Fun with My Boys!!!

January 9, 2013 Kim 4 Comments

Today’s 43 was a true breeze (compared to yesterday!!!) It was a great exercise to really work deep into the abs – the especially obliques!

The move: sit on a stability ball with hands clasped behind head. Alternate opposite knee to elbow (like an oblique crunch on the floor but you have to work harder to maintain your balance on the ball = bonus core work!!!). I counted 1 rep as a right knee lift and left knee lift – 43 each side!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4olEhbnJlRg’]

Here’s Jordan’s best attempt – you can hear Hunter cackling in the background – not sure why he was laughing so much at Jordan trying the move since he had even more trouble!!! Funny boys!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-rWAhx7MPg’]

The boys were silly for sure – the longer they tried the move the more they laughed. I just kept filming them because I love when they are having fun and laughing (especially the true, deep gut laughs)!!! Plus, they were getting extra reps with each demo!!! (sneaky Mom)

I did another day of Les Mills Combat – Combat 45. This one was fun – I will like it more when I learn it a little better and when I’m back to being able to do all the moves at the highest impact level!!!

This afternoon we will see a lot of Chris’ family – sadly it is for a funeral. (One of Chris’ aunts passed away Sunday evening.) It’s always good to see his extended family but I like it better when the occasion is a reunion or graduation party or some other fun event.

Off to a 1/2 day at the library – sad when they need a sub for the sub!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

The Librarian

December 17, 2012 Kim 2 Comments

Today my 43 really worked my obliques! I used my stability ball again. I put my back on the ball and my feet on the wall at a right angle. With my hands behind my head, I crunched to the left and reached my right hand outside my left knee and then crunched the opposite way to make 1 rep. So, in order to complete my 43, I actually did 86 oblique crunches!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db7XC_BLwVQ’]

(The boys helped me out over the weekend with several demos. I wanted to be ready for the busy week ahead so we made the videos and then each morning I can do the actual 43.)

After the 43 I did some Pilates but I actually mixed it up and did some new stuff. First I did the mat segment from Burn & Firm Pilates – 10 minutes. This DVD uses hand weights with the pilates work which is kind of nice. Then I did the mat segment from Fat Burning Pilates – 15 minutes. Finally I did the total body segment from Pick Your Spot Pilates – 10 minutes.

All of these were still non-weight bearing! It was a nice change of pace on the pilates front because all of these work-outs have ab, butt and thigh work all mixed together instead of in separate sections.

Can you guess what I’m going to be doing this week? I’m not technically the librarian but I will be working in the school library. I’m not going to be at Hunter’s school – I will be at one of the other elementary schools in our district. I’m filling in for the library aide – this week and then most of January. I’m super excited!!! I love everything about books and I think this will be a really fun job!

Between spending my days in the school library and my evenings tutoring algebra (finals week for high school) – this week is going to be BUSY!!!

I better get going – still need to get dinner in the crock pot before we all leave for the day!

Happy Monday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Hunter – You’re so Smart!

December 14, 2012 Kim 1 Comment

Today I was happy to take Hunter’s advice about my 43! I did a sit-up with a stability ball pass from arms to legs and back to arms to make a complete rep. I was going to use an 8 pound medicine ball and after a couple of ~~dangerous~~ attempts, Hunter said he wouldn’t take any pictures if I used the medicine ball! REALLY GOOD CHOICE!!!! Thank you, Hunter!!

The 43 was plenty challenging using a stability ball! I started with my arms and legs fully extended and the stability ball in my hands:

I did a full sit-up and passed the ball to my legs:

Legs & arms fully extended — legs & arms fully extended

Then I did another full sit-up and passed the ball back to my arms and into extension again.

2 passes (2 sit-ups) = 1 rep so really 86 total sit-ups – No wonder it was a hard 43! And, Hunter saved me from any ~~death~~ injury!!

Yesterday I got to spend quality time with Hunter at school. The 6th graders have study hall at the end of the day and yesterday, because they had taken tests in a couple of classes, no one had any homework. I let them have free time with their electronics and other equally “educational” items.

Hunter pulled out his Rubik cube and the entire class was very impressed!! (He can solve it fairly quickly!!) One of the other boys said, “Hunter is smart. I bet he is really in high school.” Another student said, “He’s probably already out of high school!!!” It was funny!!! (and made my mommy heart proud!!!!)

Today is a shopping day!!!! I can’t wait! Chris and I are going to finish up our Christmas shopping!!! I’m sure I am far more excited about this than Chris – but I do have a plan so it’s not like we are just doing random shopping ~~for me~~!!!

Yep – that’s pretty much how we look when we shop!

Have a great Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Going in Circles

December 12, 2012 Kim 3 Comments

Today’s 43 really tested one of my weakest areas – shoulders! Plus, I sat on my stability ball while doing the 43 so that gave me a little bit of core work!!!

The actual move was ~~sort-of~~ totally old school – arm circles!! I sat on the stability ball and held a dumbbell in each hand (I used 5 pound dumbbells today) with my arms fully extended to the sides. Then, I did 43 circles to the front and another 43 to the back. The circle part wasn’t really bad – the challenge came from holding my arms at shoulder height and keeping them fully extended the entire time.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIxWpjlfA0′]

(for the demo I just did 5 and 5 – those didn’t count as part of the true 43)

I decided to take a little Pilates break today and do a different non-weight bearing work-out. I did a Bender Ball work-out. You do traditional core moves using this little ball:

I know that tomorrow I will feel this in every part of my core!!!

I decided that I was on a roll (ha-ha – I entertain myself sometime!) with core and shoulders today so I thought it would be fun to see how long I could hold plank. (I know some of y’all can hold it a long time!!!) I got in position with my, iPhone right under my face, and hit start. I lasted for ……3 minutes!!! I know that is the longest I have ever held plank at one time – not sure if I want to try to go longer or not – maybe next time I will hold plank on my elbows instead of with my arms fully extended! (or maybe I won’t let my competitive nature take over and push me to try and go longer & longer & longer….hmmm)

Time to go get my nails done! (I know – completely frivolous and unnecessary but it makes me happy!!!)

This afternoon I get to help in the library at Hunter’s school – my favorite!!!

Happy 12-12-12!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness

Don’t Quit!!!

December 9, 2012 Kim 1 Comment

Today was the first time since I started my quest of completing a 43 every day this year that I almost didn’t do one. However, I decided that it didn’t have to be super hard – it just needed to be!!!

So, the 43 today (Yeah!!!! there was one!) was a lateral raise while laying face-down on a stability ball. I just used 5 pound dumbbells for this move.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfpBJikZC48′]

The main thing I focused on during the 43 was trying not to jerk my arms up and to use control when lowering them.

Yesterday after the fun family photo shoot, (more great pictures on the family page)

Jordan decided that he would make dinner. He had plans to concoct a unique creation (beef, ketchup, honey, barbecue sauce, Italian seasonings, lettuce, tomatoes,scrambled eggs and who knows what else were mentioned) cooked in some ~~crazy~~ manner. He and Chris worked together in the kitchen (I was banned) and I truly thought they were making Jordan’s stuff because of the conversations I could hear.

When they called me in, they actually had a baked spaghetti dish (very tasty!!). However, Jordan did make up a new dessert:

Not sure if it has a name but it was pretty good. He mixed blackberry pomegranate yogurt, some sugar, some graham cracker crumbs, some craisins, granola and honey to make the above treat! Maybe he will be the next Bobby Flay or Gordon Ramsey!!!

Happy Sunday! I’m excited because I’m going to see the Nutcracker with some friends later this afternoon – should be fun!

Kim

Day With KT