Monthly Archives: November 2013

Butt, Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Shoulders, Triceps

Is it a Compliment when you add a Qualifier?

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Today I did a basic move for my 44 but I added in a challenge by holding an 8 pound medicine ball straight above my head the whole time!  I did alternating forward lunges (a right lunge and left = 1 rep) with the ball overhead.

ready
ready
right lunge
right lunge
back to start position
back to start position
Left Lunge
Left Lunge

This move was great because I felt it in my legs, my arms were shaking and I got my heart rate up!!!

I also did one of my 10 Minute Solution DVDs – Sculpt, Tone and Reshape with the Figure 8.

figure 8 band
figure 8 band

I like the format of this workout – it is a total body workout with toning and some cardio.  Each of the segments goes by very quickly and there are some fun moves!

 Screen shot 2013-11-20 at 6.42.37 AM

Have you ever gotten a compliment that you’re not sure if it was really intended to be a compliment?

I’m sure that most everyone has at some point.

Screen shot 2013-11-20 at 6.43.42 AM

My least favorite – “You look good, for your age.”  Why does that last little bit (the qualifier) need to be added on?  That makes me feel like A. I’m old and B. I don’t really look good at all.

Last night while I was getting my hair done, Jennifer (my hair dresser for over 12 years!) told me about a “compliment” she had gotten over the weekend.  

She was at a store and had on some new boots and a cute top.  A girl (complete stranger) said, “You could be on a magazine as a plus size model.”

Really?!  She couldn’t have just left that last part off?

I’m sure that I’ve added a qualifier to compliments before but I’m going to start really paying attention to how I word compliments!!!

What compliments have you been given with qualifiers?  
Did you still feel like it was a compliment?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Thighs

Use It or Lose It

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I decided to use my bands for the 44 today  – I did a leg abduction with the resistance of the bands.  

I only did one side for this demo – but you can sort-of see that I stepped on the band with my stationary leg to get the resistance.  Besides working my thighs and hips, this is a great balance challenge (I wobbled a lot and had to tap my toe/foot a lot!).  And, of course, I did 44 with each leg!

Then I pulled out one of my favorite workouts – Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 Live – Ultimate Warrior’s Workout.  This workout is awesome because just when you think your legs can’t handle another rep, you switch over to punching again!!!  The hour flies by in a sweaty blur!!!

Screen shot 2013-11-19 at 6.53.17 AMI’m sure that everyone has heard the phrase “Use it or Lose it” many times before.  I think it’s true in lots areas of our lives – fitness, knowledge, some insurance plans, vacation days…

We all know how hard it is to achieve the level of conditioning/strength that we want to be at and many of us have seen how quickly those gains can deteriorate when we can’t work out because of injury, illness or whatever other reason.

Screen shot 2013-11-19 at 6.51.38 AMI think another area that we can quickly “lose it” is our brain power!!!  

Yesterday Jordan was talking about the Trojan War and the guy who suggested that they get in the horse (I can’t remember his name!).  He said, “Didn’t you learn all of this in school?” Ummm…Yes – like 30 years ago!!!  And, I’ve never used it since!

There was a time (in grad school and for a few years after) that I could do a thorough observation of the entire human body, palpating and naming each bone, tendon and ligament as I went.  Now, I can name and identify only a very few of those because it has been 20 years since I really studied and applied all of that knowledge.

Sometimes I look back at all the years I spent in school and wonder how hard it would be to re-learn all that I’ve forgotten.  

Screen shot 2013-11-19 at 7.06.19 AM

Maybe I should work on actually using some of the information that I’ve learned over the years so that by the time I’m 70 I have at least a little knowledge of something left!!!

What have you lost because you haven’t used it?  (please tell me I’m not the only one!!!)

Happy Tuesday!!!  I’m going to try to learn and apply at least one thing today!!!

Kim

 

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Resistance Bands or Weights?

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Today for my 44 I did a slight variation on the standard burpee – sumo burpees.  The main difference is your feet are in sumo position (out wide) at the beginning of the move and when you jump back up.

I was sucking air big-time at the end of this 44!!!

I pulled out an oldie today – TaeBo – Total Body Fat Blaster.  This workout uses the TaeBo bands – TaeBo BandsIt is about an hour of very fast-paced moving – lots of cardio plus some serious resistance training with the bands.  My shoulders were screaming about half-way through this workout!!!

Screen shot 2013-11-18 at 6.40.16 AMWhile I was struggling with some of the moves this morning I started thinking about the differences between working out with bands and weights.  

Bands:  lightweight, portable, great for travel, constant tension

Weights:  heavy, not portable, gravity will take over if you aren’t careful

Don’t get me wrong – I love lifting weights!!!  But in workouts like the TaeBo one that I did today where it is non-stop and fast paced, the bands are a great way to really push your muscles to the point of fatigue (especially your shoulders!!!).

I have no plans to get rid of any of our weights but if you are just starting to build a home-gym and want a way to do some resistance training bands are a great investment.  Plus, they don’t take up any space!!!

So – what are your thoughts – bands or weights?  Both? Neither?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

 

Core, Fitness, Quad, Shoulders, Triceps

Sweat – It Does My Body Good!!!

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Today’s 44 was another challenge – I loved it!!!  I did a crab hold with opposite toe touches.

start position
start position
left hand to right foot
left hand to right foot
back to crab
back to crab

 

right hand to left foot
right hand to left foot

The above sequence made up 1 rep.  44 of these had my arms shaking and my quads burning!!!

I also did a Turbo Fire workout – Fire 30.  I love all of the workouts with Chalean and even this short 30 minute workout is a good one!!!

Screen shot 2013-11-17 at 8.40.33 AMWhile I was working out today I could feel myself settle into to my happy place because I was finally working out again (first time since Monday!)!!!

I spend most of my life being cold so I don’t sweat EXCEPT when I workout!!  And then Screen shot 2013-11-17 at 8.51.04 AM

I SWEAT!!! 

And working up a good sweat is pretty much my favorite way to start any day.  It makes me feel strong and healthy and alive!!!  

The days that I don’t get a good sweat going are the days that I feel like I left out something important.

But, today, all is right in my world again!!!!!

Does working up a good sweat make you happy?  

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

500 Posts!!!

68 Comments

Today’s 44 was a super fun move!!!  I got it from the super cute Allie @ VitaTrain4Life.  Allie is tough and she made this move look easy but it was hard!!!  She actually included this move in an entire ab workout – Allie’s Abs – I should probably do the entire video for a 44 – maybe then my abs would look more like hers!!!

Anyway, the move – 4 mountain climbers and a push-up x 44!!!

Screen shot 2013-11-16 at 8.22.44 AM

 

I realized the other day that my published posts were getting close to 500 and TODAY is the day that I’m publishing my 500th post!!!

I have actually only blogged for 427 consecutive days (365 days of 43 and 62 days of 44) but along the way I’ve done posts with recipes, boot camps, some workout reviews and even a few random fun posts!!!

To celebrate my 500th post I thought I would  share a few of my favorite posts.

My very first post ever was on my birthday in 2012 when I turned 43 – I had absolutely no clue what I was doing but I’m so glad I decided to give blogging a try! 

Because we all know by now that I love a nice bottle glass bottle of wine, this post about German wine makes me smile!!!  (Except I’m down to only a couple of bottles left – not cool!!)

Some of the pictures we took in our attempt to get a good one for our Christmas card last year were super entertaining – mostly thanks to Jordan!!!  Actually, it’s about time for me to think about this year’s family picture – better get on that!!!

I have to share my all-time favorite drink – The Educated Cosmo – just saying the name makes me happy!!!

I love to try new recipes and only have a few stand-by dishes that I go back to over and over.  The sad thing when I try something new and we all like it, months down the road Chris or one of the boys will ask me to make such-and-such again – ummm……I have no idea how I made it on that day!!! Last  February I tried a new crock pot soup and we all loved it – Chicken and Rice Gumbo Soup.  I figured that by putting my recipe on here I would be able to go back to it!!!

I think that my favorite boot camp workout that I did this summer was Tabata Boot Camp – super fun way to get in a great workout!

And, I can’t do a list of my favorite posts without listing some of my favorite blogs and blog friends!!!  The only problem with that list is it’s a couple months old and I’ve added in a few more favorites since then!!!

I have other favorites but I figure that I’ve been self-indulgent enough for one day!!!

Feel free to link up one of your favorite posts from your site in the comments – such a great way to catch up on any that we might have missed out on!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim