Words

September 25, 2013 Kim 77 Comments

The 44 today was one of those moves that seems like it’s going to be fairly easy until you start and then you realize that it is a challenge!!! I did a torso rotation with a dumbbell (12 pounds) on the stability ball.

On the rotation, the goal is to keep your head and shoulder on the ball.

I counted a right and left rotation as 1 rep. This move is great for your core and also your shoulders and upper back!!! 44 reps were more than enough for me to feel this (for the rest of the day!!).

Today I pulled out a DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – one of my TaeBo workouts – Billy’s Bootcamp, Ultimate BootCamp. This workout is 55 minutes long and it works every inch of your body!!! There is plenty of cardio and plenty of toning using these bands –

The nice (if you want to call it that) thing about these bands is you can add a weight in the handles (1 pound in each). Today I used them without weights and that was plenty of resistance for this workout!!! In fact, I struggled with some of the moves to complete all of the reps!!

Colloquialism – what an odd word. But when you think about the definition of the word it is appropriate because a lot of our sayings come across as odd to other people.

Yesterday I was talking to Jordan about his day and he started making fun of a couple of the things that I say all the time so I thought it would be interesting to see if y’all say the same things or what you say that is different.

My top 2 colloquial sayings:

I have said this for as long as I can remember. It is a natural phrase for me and I always forget that most people here in Kansas (and elsewhere) don’t use it.

When I was in grad school I was sitting outside on a bench one day waiting for a friend so we could go running. Another friend walked past – here is how the conversation went:

Him: Hi, Kim. What are you doing?
Me: I’m fixin’ to go for a run.
Him: You mean you’re getting ready to run?
Me: No – I’m already ready (running clothes on, shoes on, stretched). I’m fixin’ to go.

He just sort of looked at me and walked off – weird!!!

My other common saying –

This phrase makes perfect sense to me but apparently not to most people. I get lots of comments when people here me say this.

I spent 5 years working in the office at the boys elementary school after both boys were in school. When we did monthly fire drills, I was the one who stayed in the office and kept the timer, shut the drill down and then called everyone (over the intercom) back to their classes.

The very first fire drill we had I got on the intercom and said – “All y’all can return to your class rooms now.” When the principal (we are actually good friends) came into the office he looked at me, shook his head and said, “Really?!”

It took me a few minutes to figure out what he was talking about. Then he said – “All Y’all?!”

Ummm…..yes!

So, those are 2 of my common sayings that very few people around me (since I’m not in TX anymore!) say or get.

Do you say fixin’ or all y’all?
What are some things you say that earn you weird looks or comments?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Biceps, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

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

Back, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

WooHoo!! It’s My SITS Day!!!

September 23, 2013 Kim 104 Comments

Today for my 44 I did a hyperextension rock. This move is designed to strengthen the lower back which is sometimes a problem area for me!

Lay on your stomach and extend your arms and legs off the ground. Rock back, lifting your arms up as high as you can and then rock forward lifting your legs. (a front-back rock = 1 rep) To complete all 44, I had to stretch back into child’s pose a couple of times!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS8cijb1DVk’]

And, for the first time in a week (since my 44 miles!) I ran. Yesterday afternoon Jordan, Hunter and Chris all went running. Jordan told me that I should run, too since it had been a week – nothing like having a kid to keep me in check!!!

I ran with a 1.5% incline – 6 miles in 37:28 and then did a nice easy 1.5 miles to cool down. It felt good to run again and after the first mile I found my running grove!!!

Today is my SITS day!!! That means I’m featured the featured blogger @ The SITS Girls (where women get social).

This site is a great site that 2 women (Tiffany & Fancesca) started to help women bloggers really share their blogs. This community is over 40,000 and still growing.

Over the past few months I’ve met some incredible women thanks to this site!

I will always be grateful to the first SITS girls I followed for introducing me to this incredible site and one in particular who didn’t let me just make comments about needing to check it out – she said “Just do it!!” Thanks, Joi!!!

So, if you have never checked out the site, feel free to head over and visit today!!! Good day for it, since I’m over there!!!

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Hamstrings

The Great Debate

September 22, 2013 Kim 40 Comments

Today I went with some kicking for my 44. I did a right front kick – left round house for 44 reps and then switched legs for another set of 44.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN1KjRKcaq8′]

(Hunter had American Ninja Warrior paused in the back-ground – Nice!!)

I like moves like this because they go quickly but also get my heart rate up a bit!

Yesterday morning was truly a new experience for Chris and I – we judged a couple rounds of the high school debate tournament.

This is a ZERO experience required gig!!!

It was really like being thrown into a hot fire – I got to the assigned room for my first round and there were 4 boys waiting outside. I just joined them and then realized that I was the one who needed to go in and “set-up” first. Oops!!

2 teams of 2 students + 1 judge = a full house for a debate round – WHO KNEW?!

The topic for this year (every single round, every single tournament): Should the embargo with Cuba be lifted.

Because I’m not really political at all (I prefer avoiding all of it and living in my happy world!) this was a good topic for me to really just focus on which side (affirmative or negative) did the better job of convincing me that they were the way to go!

Of course, the first round, since all 4 of the boys were the same age as Jordan and they were all very nervous because it was their first round of debate ever (Jordan will experience the same thing in a week or so!), it was hard to not just have my “mom” hat on and choose both sides.

My career as a debate judge was fun but 2 rounds was enough – not sure how many rounds of such similar info I could sit through – especially since each round was about 1.5 hours!!

I still don’t really have a firm opinion on the Cuba embargo and whether or not it should be lifted but it was very cool to hear young teen-agers so passionate about the subject!

Did you ever debate in high school or college?
Have you ever judged debate?
Do you think the US should lift the embargo with Cuba?

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

It’s the Weekend!! Time to Kickback and Relax! HaHaHa

September 21, 2013 Kim 34 Comments

Today’s 44 was a different way to try a standard move. I took some advice from Tamara @ Fitknitchick and tried a unilateral move. I did a single arm shoulder press – non-working arm stays extended the entire time (so it is really working!!).

Hold two equal weight dumbbells at shoulder height. Extend both arms up and over your head, keeping weights slightly in front of your head. Keep non-working arm fully extended while you lower the working (weighted) arm towards your shoulder. Press back up to the starting position. Complete all repetitions on one side then switch to the other. (thanks to Tamara for this explanation of the move!)

I thought that 8 pounds wouldn’t be challenging enough so I did 10 pounds – yikes!!!

This move was hard – keeping the “non-working” arm up the entire time makes this move 10x harder. And the 2nd set of 44 was brutal but I kept the same weights so that I could try to be balanced!!!

I remember when the weekend used to mean a little bit of down time!!! Now, the weekend means that I have to do some major planning to make sure we all get to the events and activities we are supposed to!!

Lately, every Saturday has started butt crack early (especially since Friday night football means we are up till at least 11:00 – late for us!!!).

This morning, Chris and I are each judging 2 rounds of debate (part of Jordan’s debate grade – funny how it involves us!!). Hunter has to get to the middle school to ride the bus to the cross country meet before we get home – good thing for friends to come get him!!!

After our judging career ends, we will run home to get Jordan and take him to the high school so he can spend the rest of the day being a timer at the debate tournament. Then Chris and I will book it to Kansas City for Hunter’s cross country meet.

Then…..