What’s Your Favorite Exercise or Move?

March 14, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today is my 180th consecutive day of the daily 43!!! I’m enjoying my daily adventures and have so many ideas but I’m always looking for new things – please share any moves or exercises that you think would make a fun 43. Thanks!!

For the 43 today I did a front-kick and back-kick combo. (I already did a similar move except last time it was the same leg that kicked front & back.) So, today I did a right front kick and a left back kick for the first set of 43 and then switched and did a left front kick and right back kick for another 43.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1s6Mp4fdD0′]

This was a good 43 after yesterday’s brutal one!!!

Today I tried another Cathe DVD – XTrain – Tabatacise!! I did all 5 of the Tabatas and Bonus Core #1. This workout is on my list of favorites (I know it’s a longish list but….)! Even though the Tabatas are intense, the time flies by (especially the 10 second recovery!!). If you like to jump – this workout is definitely for you!!!

(Tabata training is a form of HIIT – high intensity interval training. It is a 4 minute segment consisting of 20 seconds of super high intensity followed by 10 seconds of recovery.)

Yesterday afternoon I convinced Chris and Jordan to try the 3 ball push-up. Hunter was going to try but once he put his hands on the ball he realized that his wrist (he broke it the end of July) still wasn’t quite strong enough.

OK - I'm balanced - now what? — OK – I’m balanced – now what?

Chris did 10 (without falling off in between any of them!).

I think Jordan did 2 but he may have just done 1. Either way – Good job, guys!!!

I really am open to ideas/suggestions for exercises – I love to try new moves or a classic move in a different way. Feel free to send me links to some of your favorites!

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups

Balls + Records = Jelly

March 13, 2013 Kim 12 Comments

YIKES!!! Today’s 43 was rough and brutal and hard!!! I got this move from Jody at Truth2BeingFit. I don’t know how she made it look so easy cause it is anything but!

Start with 3 medicine balls.

Put 1 under each hand and then try (key word – try) and balance both feet on the 3rd ball. Seriously, just holding this position was hard.

The actual move is a push-up!! x 43

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNWRSJJUb0′]

I would rather do the 4-ball push-up any day!!! The narrow feet (on the same ball) makes this move so much harder! I lost count of how many times I fell off!

So, what are you doing sitting here reading – go try this move – I know you want to!!!

Today I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 3. This is another series that Chalean Johnson does and I love her workouts. Always high energy and fun music! Sometimes she gets a little dancey for me – I just add in extra jumps when that happens and it works out perfectly!

I decided to challenge myself today with a plank hold and wall-sit (cause sometimes I’m ~~stupid~~ crazy like that!!).

I like to do planks with my arms fully extended (like might not be exactly the right word – but it is how I usually do them).

not from today but only picture I could find

Since I did these after the boys were at school – there are no pictures from today!! I wanted to find one of me in plank and this was as close as I got.

Plank Time – 3:30

Then I decided to see how long I could last in a wall-sit (cause I figured why not at this point!!).

Wall-Sit Time – 3:00

And now – my arms and legs are jelly!!!

Do you do little self-challenges? Share if you do (I might like to join in on the fun!).

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

For Health or Vanity?

March 12, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 was for the core but I also felt it in my legs (a lot!). I did a move that I saw in Oxygen.

Start in a V-sit with a towel (I used some tubing) held firmly in both hands and legs wide. Keep your upper body still while bringing your legs in and stacking the right over the left. Return to the start position then bring legs in with left over right. I counted 1 rep as a right on top then a left on top (so I moved my legs in and out 86 times to complete the 43).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEHBJxd0kF0′]

This was HARD!! I’m happy that I’ve completed this particular 43!

I tried a new DVD today and it was awesome!! I’ve read lots of great things about Cathe Friedrich lately and I decided to try out some of her workouts.

Today I did Cathe – CrossFire. The workout was 55 minutes of pretty high intensity. It was mostly cardio but a lot of the moves are good for toning, too. I loved the variety of the moves! I also appreciate that she did the entire workout right along with us and it was obvious that she was working hard, too – made me feel much better! I did the 9 minute Bonus Core workout after I finished.

Can’t wait to try some more of Cathe’s workouts!!

Varicose veins – I have them and hate the way they make my legs look!

I have several of the great big puffy veins plus spider veins everywhere. About 7 years ago I saw a specialist and she told me about all of the options to have them removed but she said that insurance wouldn’t cover it because it was a cosmetic surgery. I decided that I could swallow my vanity and just live with them.

Well, yesterday I had another appointment with the same specialist. She said they have definitely gotten worse and may have started breaking off….Anyway, maybe this time insurance will decide that this is something that needs to be done for health reasons (not just because I don’t like them!!).

Opinions? Do you have varicose veins? Do they bug you? Would you have them removed even if insurance didn’t pay?

Happy Tuesday! (I’m going to go walk on the treadmill – less about the exercise at this point – I need to watch last night’s episode of The Bachelor and I figure moving is better than sitting!!! Don’t judge – I’m sure some of y’all like mindless reality TV, too!!!)

Kim

Workout Programs

Turbo Fire

March 11, 2013 Kim 1 Comment

Turbo Fire might be one of my all time favorite work-out programs!!! I have gone through the whole program as prescribed but now I just pick one of the DVDs to use on days that I want to “hang-out” with Chalean Johnson.

Chalean is the instructor on all of these workouts and she is FUN!! She is high-energy and constantly keeping everyone motivated. She will say things like, “You’re not tired. I saved you the best spot in the house. Every minute or so ask yourself if you can go harder.”

All of the workouts are done in a class setting. Chalean and 2 others are up on stage facing the class. One of the others on the stage is always Ally and she shows the modifications (if you want to keep the workout low impact but still high intensity). The other person on the stage varies – sometimes it is Chalean’s sister, her friend (Monica who has triplets), or just another of her Turbo Fire friends.

The set came with 11 DVDs (12 different workouts) and 2 different bands – one with handles and one loop band.

There are 4 additional DVDs that you can get with 5 more workouts.

DVD 1 – Get Fired Up (I’ve never watched this. I think it is just an overview of the program and a chance to meet some of the participants.)

DVD 2 – Fire 30/Stretch 10

DVD 3 – HIIT 15/Stretch 10

DVD 4 – Fire 55EZ/Stretch 10

DVD 5 – Core 20/Stretch 40/Stretch 10 The core class uses the band below for both standing and floor core work.

DVD 6 – Fire 45/Stretch 10

DVD 7 – HIIT 20/Stretch 10

DVD 8 – Fire 45EZ/ Stretch 10

DVD 9 – HIIT 25/Stretch 10

DVD 10 – Sculpt 30/Tone 30 Both of these workouts make use of the bands for toning and sculpting.DVD 11 – Stretch 40/Stretch 10

Add-on DVD 1 – Fire 60/Stretch 10

Add-on DVD 2 – HIIT 30/Stretch 10

Add-on DVD 3 – Upper 20/Lower 20/Stretch 10 The upper 20 makes use of

and the Lower 20 uses

Innocent - I think not! — Innocent – I think not!

Add-on DVD 4 – Abs 10/Stretch 10

The Fire classes are cardio classes that last the # of minutes they are. (Fire 30 = 30 minutes.) Don’t be fooled by the EZ – that does NOT stand for easy!! The HIIT classes are high intensity interval training classes. Even the HIIT 30 goes quickly. Most of the HIIT classes are a 1:1 as far as high intensity: recovery. The toning and sculpting classes (including the upper & lower classes) are all geared to toning with bands instead of weights. The resistance is pretty intense – especially during some of the lower 20 moves!!! Core 20 & Ab10 both focus on the entire core.

I’ve done the 10 minute stretching but (sadly) never the entire 40 minute stretch.

Any time we travel, I pack this set. I can pack the set and both bands without losing too much valuable luggage space! And, all of these programs can be done even in a hotel room!

I can’t say enough about how much I love this program. It is a little pricey – but if you break it down by individual workout, it really isn’t bad. It is a BeachBody program.

Calves, Fitness, Squats

Exercise – Do it for Yourself!!!

March 11, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

For my 43 today, I pulled out this little ball:

Instead of using it for an ab move, I amped up a squat by placing the ball between my knees while doing squats. I also stayed on my toes throughout all of the reps so that the squat targeted my both my quads and calves. To add a tiny bit of shoulder burn – I kept my arms extended straight in front of me (at shoulder level) the entire time I was performing this move.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0JuvJDAjTQ’]

Here is a fairly decent demo by Hunter (just overlook the sword slinging through the air!). I did hold the squat for 2-3 seconds at the bottom each time but otherwise, Hunter did a nice showing the move!

Jordan also did a little demo..

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ72cUDbnDc’]

He didn’t get on his toes and the boys were in rare form while we recorded this!!!

Try this move next time you want to add some punch to a standard squat – you don’t have to do 43 (or your age) – just try 5, 10, 15, whatever you can do!!!

As you know if you’ve been reading for awhile, I’ve been doing Les Mills Combat for a couple of months now. I really enjoyed this program but I’m done with it (there are supposed to be 4 days this week but…). There are so many things I want to do – I jsut can’t fit it all in!!!

Today I did one of my old favorites – Turbo Fire – Fire 55EZ. (Don’t let the EZ fool you – this is a fast-paced, high intensity cardio workout!!!). There really isn’t anything about Turbo Fire that I don’t love!!! On a day where I’m not super motivated, this is always the perfect choice for me!

Is accountability an important part of exercise? I think it is!! But I think, unlike many other areas of our lives, it is an accountability to ourselves!! Of all the people I know, I’m probably the only one who truly cares if I get up every day this year and do 43 of a particular exercise because I’m the only one who will benefit (or lose out) from completing that goal.

As much as I love fitness and working out, every once in awhile I have a day (or days) where I’m just not feeling it. On those days I have to decide – Do I need a break or am I just being lazy? I don’t think it’s possible (or even a good idea) to good hard-core all the time (at least for me!!) but I do think it’s OK to do something everyday!!!

So when I’m laying in bed awake at trying to decide if I really want to get up at 5:00 and workout, I have to listen to my inner self and know that either way the only person who it will really make a difference for is ME!!!