strength | Day With KT

Today’s 43 turned into a lot more than just 43!!! I did a 4-count squat:

squat and touch your knees
stand and reach hands overhead
squat and touch your shins
stand and reach hands overhead
squat and touch your toes
stand and reach hands overhead
squat and touch the floor
stand and reach hands overhead

Hmmm…after typing it out, maybe I should call it an 8-count squat!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU64vjCa_R8′]

I do lots of squats slow and controlled but today I decided to go with quick squats so that I could get my heart rate up a little and really maximize the burn from the squats – yep, that worked!!! This was a fun 43 that turned into 172 total squats!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Strength. I think this is the 3rd time that I’ve done the strength workout in this program and I really can see some improvements!!! One of the moves is a standing bent row/push-up pyramid – 1 row, 1 push-up, 2 rows, 2 push-ups……You see how many you can get in 2 minutes. I used 12 pound dumbbells for this today and made it through 9 rows and 9 push-ups!!!! (last time I almost finished the 8s – much better today!!!) Since it is a standing row, you also get the added fun of jumping back into push-up position and then jumping up for the next set of rows (almost like doing a burpee!!!).

I also did the Relief DVD today. This is 25 minutes of stretching!!! I enjoy the first 5 minutes or so and then I just get bored with stretching. (I did the whole thing because I know it is good for me and that my body needs it but…..YUCK!!!)

At one point we did a standing straddle stretch and were supposed to put our elbows on the ground –

Similar to the above but elbows instead of head – I thought my legs were stuck in the straddle position!! Of course, Jordan just laughs at me and critiques my form!!!

I know that stretching is good for me and an important component in any fitness program. And, I always include stretching in my boot camp classes. But it is usually only a few minutes!!! I have never really liked to stretch a lot but now I’m a bit older and need it more than ever!!

So, even though stretching isn’t my favorite thing to do and I prefer to stretch like this –I will keep making myself spend time stretching!!! Who knows, I might start enjoying it!! Or maybe one day I will be able to do this – Or not!!!! WHY????

Do you like to stretch or is it something that you have to force yourself to spend time doing?

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

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!

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.As 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.

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!

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

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?

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.