Old School Blogging Fun

June 9, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today’s 43 utilized my figure-8 band:

I put it around my ankles and did a side-lying leg lift with the added challenge of keeping my bottom leg off the ground – a double leg pull against the band.

The first 25 weren’t too bad – it was kind of nice to do a move where I could “relax” – then by the last 20ish my outer thigh and hips were burning!!! And, I still had to do 43 on the other side!!

I felt the 2nd side much sooner – because my hips were already on fire!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Speed and Agility. This was hard in every way today!!! My legs were tired from the beginning! I think the double (and a couple days of triple) workouts last week are catching up. But I’m a little anal and want to finish this Insanity program the way it is set up!!! (just 2 more weeks!)

This is a totally different kind of post for me!! It’s a fun little A-Z quiz. I was tagged by the lovely Nellie at Brooklyn Active Mama to complete this Old School Blogging Quiz being hosted by Elaine and Jennifer.

A. Attached or Single?

Married -we just celebrated our 17th anniversary!!!

B. Best Friend?

Yep – the guy in the picture above! Cheesy, but true!!!

C. Cake or pie?

Ummm – frosting (buttercream!) – usually I skip the actual cake part!

D. Day of choice?

Fun Friday!!!

E. Essential Item?

giant insulated mug (full of water!)

with me all the time - always full of ice water — with me all the time – always full of ice water

F. Favorite color?

burnt orange & pink

G. Gummy bears or worms?

red gummy bears but I would rather have Hot Tamales

H. Hometown?

Hard one – I moved around a lot growing up – I’ve never felt like I had a true hometown. I consider Texas my home state – so let’s just go with that!!

I. Favorite Indulgence?

Wine!!!!

J. January or July?

No contest – July!!

K. Kids?

2 phenomenal boys!!

L. Life isn’t complete without?

my 3 boys – Chris, Jordan, Hunter

M. Marriage date?

May 25, 1996

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

2 brothers – Tim (my twin) & Sam (6 years younger than me)
1 sister – Mandi (7 years younger than me)

O. Oranges or Apples

Oranges

P. Phobias?

Puke (maybe not a true phobia but close enough!!)

Q. Quotes?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

R. Reasons to smile?

I could go on and on with things that make me smile – sun, a good run, a sweaty workout, friends, reading, a glass of wine, cowboy boots, pedicures…..

S. Season of choice?

Summer!!! Fall is a close 2nd.

T. Tag 5 People.

OK – tagging people is why I typically stay away from these kind of quizzes. I don’t mind doing the quiz but it is hard for me to pick just 5 (I would love to learn more about all my blogging friends) – and I never want anyone to feel obligated to participate!!!

Barbara @ The Bold Blend
Rachelle @ Livin the Sweat Life
Kathy @ Transforming our Thoughts and Actions as a Team
Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice
Mandi @ Live…Laugh…Love…Lewis

U. Unknown fact about me?

I was born in the Philippine Islands.

V. Vegetable?

does avocado count?
squash & zucchini

W. Worst habit?

I might have a ~~bit of a~~ problem with road rage (but only because people do stupid things on the road!!).

X. Xray or Ultrasound?

Several of both plus 2 MRIs (scary!!!) and a CT with dye – the best were the ultrasounds when I was pregnant!!

Y. Your favorite food?

This is a hard one – avocado, cheese and all types of Mexican food!!

Z. Zodiac sign?

Virgo

Want to play? Copy and paste the questions here, write a post and link up with Elaine at the Miss Elaine-ous Life or Jennifer at Jennifer P. Williams.

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Drinks, Recipes

PeaPickers – My Favorite Summer Time Drink

June 8, 2013 Kim 15 Comments

Summer is my favorite time of year!! I love the sun, the heat, being outside, extra family time and SUMMER DRINKS on the deck!!!

One of my favorite summer drinks is The PeaPicker.

Super easy – just 2 ingredients:

Limeade and Vodka

Make the limeade according to the directions on the can. Then mix 3 parts limeade with 1 part vodka.

We like to make ours in a big pitcher!!!

Pour a glass and enjoy the beautiful evening on the deck (or your porch, driveway, parking lot – whatever!!!).

Fitness, Squats

Stretching Is not my Favorite!!

June 8, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

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

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

Core, Fitness

Game Day

June 6, 2013 Kim 30 Comments

Today’s 43 was for my obliques. I did a straight leg sit-up and touched the outside of my toes – right then left counted as 1 rep so it was a total of 86 sit-ups.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHmdt2aOII4′]

This was a nice move to start my workout with!!

Next up – Insanity Asylum – Game Day. I’m not gonna lie – this was HARD!!!! 60 minutes of all sorts of sport themed moves including track & field, tennis, wrestling, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, speed skating, swimming, mountain/rock climbing and ????? I think I left out one or two but I can’t remember. I did what Shaun T said and gave 100% because Team Asylum is a winning team!!! WOW!!!

Then I taught boot camp at the beach – this was fun and the weather was perfect. This is such a great way to start the day – fresh air, friends, sweat, the “beach” – AWESOME!!!

Don’t let the pretty graphic fool you – game day is intense. Funny how it seems easier to go hard core during an actual game, competition or race than just an everyday practice or workout – must be adrenaline!!!

Today, during the Insanity workout, Shaun T talked about the fact that we were a team and we all had to work together and fight to win. It made me start thinking about other workouts and the effort that I put in.

While I don’t think it is possible (or good for your body) to go all out for every single workout, I also think that sometimes we can push ourselves harder than we actually do. I think that the only way we will reach our maximum potential is to push ourselves a little more each time out.

Some days have to be recovery days (obviously) but lots of days we can really stretch our limits so that we can see just how much we are truly capable of.So, whether you are actually competing in a sports event, running a race or just working out in your basement, make at least some of your days GAME DAY!!! You might surprise yourself!!!