All posts by Kim

I am a 44 year old wife, mom and athlete. I started running in high school and have loved it ever since. As I got older, I had to stop running every day so I added in weight training and all sorts of fun work-outs like Insanity, P90X and Turbo Fire. I'm a certified personal trainer and I love all aspects of fitness.

Butt, Chest, Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Perspective & Gratitude

April 18, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

Today’s 43 was a great combo move! I did a bench press with my hips raised. (22.5 pound dumbbells using my Select Tech weights)

I wanted a weight that would challenge me to complete all 43 and this weight did the trick!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQHMwn_cn-Y’]

For the rest of my workout I ran (first time in a couple of weeks because of a sore hamstring). It was a great time for me to really think about some things and gain some much needed perspective!!!

8 miles @1.5% incline – 54:24 + 2.5 miles at a slower pace with higher incline for a total of 95 minutes.

Yesterday was one of those days!!! I had a long list of things to do and everyone of them took longer and was more difficult than it should have been. After dropping Hunter at school, I had 45 minutes before my dentist appointment so I went by the medical supply store to pick up some of these lovely support hose

However, the store didn’t open till 9:00. No big deal – headed to the bank to make a deposit. Went around to the drive-thru area and thought they were all closed. Fine – back to the medical supply place to wait.

When I went in the medical store, the guy was super nice and said they were cash-and-carry (no insurance) and recommended another supply store (because I guess these support hose are pricey!). OK. Back to the bank – only to realize that I’m an idiot!!!

What I thought were closed drive-thru lines (which I thought was weird since it was way past 7 or even 8:00am) were open. The problem – they all said open in RED!!! Red means STOP – everyone knows that!!!

See – why I thought they were closed?! Oh well – marked it off the list. Next stop was the post office and thankfully that went smoothly!! By this time, it was almost 9:30 so I spent an hour at the dentist – he thinks I might need a root canal but wants to wait until my next visit to decide (6 months) – Joy!!

After the dentist I headed to the other medical supply place (across town) – found it, along with a sign on the door saying they have moved!! Awesome!! Another drive across town, a phone call (couldn’t find the place) and I finally made it. A super sweet lady helped me, measured my legs and said they might be able to get them here by next week (supposed to have them before Wednesday) and my insurance might cover them. (She called later in the afternoon to say they would be in and insurance would cover 80%!!)

I called Chris on my way to the grocery store to vent – he answered and immediately asked if he could call me back. Of course – par for the day (not his fault, he was in a meeting – just seemed to fit in with everything else). While grocery shopping, I got a text letting me know that my PE sub job was cancelled (track meet cancelled due to rain & storms) – not gonna lie – I was elated!!!

Oh – it was rainy and cold all day yesterday, too (and again today) – sort-of wish I was still enjoying the 90 degree weather that Texas had when I was down.

However I know that the events of my day yesterday are so trivial and insignificant when I look at the tragedy in Boston on Monday and the awful explosion in West, Texas last night. My family is all together and healthy and I really don’t have a single thing worth complaining about!!!

In fact, I have much to be thankful for!!!

I wanted to end with something that made me super happy yesterday – I received my newest shirt from the super talented Cait.

I'm out to chick you — I’m out to chick you

Check out Cait’s online store to see her other T-shirts as well as art work. She rocks!!!

Happy Thursday – I’m going to spend my day being grateful for all of the wonderful things in my life and not complaining about the things that don’t even really matter!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Squats, Stairs

Catching Up

April 17, 2013 Kim 21 Comments

Today my 43 ended up being my work-out, too. I decided to use our stairs to really work my legs. I went up the stairs sideways skipping every other step:

On the way down, I stayed sideways but didn’t skip steps.

Because I didn’t want one leg to get more work (or be stronger!!), I did 2 sets of 43 – one leading with my right leg (left leg pushing off) and the other leading with my left leg (right leg pushing off).

The move is like a sideways squat (just on an uneven surface) and it took 7 “squats” for each trip up the stairs so I did 301 “squats” with each leg!!! Not too shabby – plus I kept the pace pretty quick so I got my heart rate up!!

Then I decided to try a plank hold on my elbows instead of with my arms extended. For some reason, this one was harder – 3:30 today.

Since getting home yesterday around noon, I feel like I have been going non-stop and today is jam-packed!!

Last night Hunter played in the district string fest – 6th, 8th and high school orchestras.It was pretty cool to hear the difference a few years can make! Plus the 6th graders are from 6 different schools in the district and only had 1 practice all together – pretty impressive!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rh1DF4duNg’]

The finale was God Bless America (love that song!!) and all of the orchestras played together on it – I just recorded part of it since it was long.

I missed a lot over the weekend with the sleepover and all but thankfully Chris took some pictures of the cake making and birthday celebrating!!Looks like fun was had by Jordan during the afternoon and Hunter and his pals that evening!!

Now I’m off to tackle a mile-long to-do list which includes a dentist appointment, DR appointment, afternoon spent subbing PE…….

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Lesson Learned

April 16, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

My 43 today was hard (for me) because it was all shoulders. I used one of my bands

and combined 3 moves: Alternating front raise, alternating lateral raises and a curl with a shoulder press.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6D4mp5wdAo’]

43 sets of that move left my shoulders burning for sure!

After I finished that ~~torture~~ move, I did a Les Mills Combat DVD – Combat 60 Ultimate Cardio Fighter. Rachel & Dan (they lead the Combat series) say this is the hardest workout in the set – I don’t think it is but it’s a great one!!!

This morning I will finish my journey home. I can’t wait to get home and see the boys this afternoon. I was happy to see Chris last night but I will be happier when we are all back home together again! It was hard to watch all the coverage about Boston yesterday and know that some families will not be reunited because of such a senseless event! (I had to quit watching and watch some mindless reality TV – Dancing with the Stars.)

Sunday and Monday I really dragged through my workouts – to the point where I thought about not finishing. Then yesterday evening by the time I got to Wichita & saw Chris (about 5:00) I was dizzy and shaky and felt like crap. Lesson learned: Popcorn for dinner does not provide enough fuel for a good workout. I need protein!!

I already knew that for me, the most important meal I eat is usually dinner but I haven’t been eating dinner every night since I left home – STUPID!!! And yesterday, in addition to skipping dinner, I only had a snack while I was driving so I nearly paid a price for my stupidity. Fortunately, a little food (with carbs & protein) and some rest and I was pretty much back to normal.

Just 2 more hours in the car today and I will be home – I can’t wait!!!

Kim

Fitness, Lunges, Quad

On the Mend and On the Road

April 15, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

Today I made use of the furniture in my hotel room for my 43. I used this little footstool as a bench. I did a lunge, one foot on a bench (stool), with a twist.

not me (sadly I'm not on a beach right now) — not me (sadly I’m not on a beach right now)

This was one of those times when I did 43 with my left leg on the stool and another 43 with my right leg on the stool. (We all know that I wish I was on a beach but I’m just pretending!!)

The rest of my workout was Turbo Fire Fire 45. For some reason it was hard – I must be more tired than I thought I was! Oh, well – I needed to do something before I spend the day sitting!!

Yesterday afternoon, Tim (my twin) and I took my dad home. He really did not look like someone who had just had a major heart attack (and surgery) 3 days earlier! I hope that this is a wake-up call to make some changes but I can’t force anything and he is a “big boy.”

On the way back to Abilene, we stopped to see our Poppa (98 years old!).

Overall, my trip to Texas has been nice (other than the initial reason I came down) since I got to spend time with all of my siblings, my dad, my Poppa and my aunt!! I told my dad that next time he wanted to see us he could just call and invite us down – it would be easier all around!!!

I’m heading home today (WooHoo!!!)! However, Chris is leaving this morning to go to the sim (simulator training) in Wichita. Because I didn’t know until yesterday when I would be leaving, he made arrangements for the boys for the night – both are going home with good friends (of their’s and mine).

Yesterday evening it hit me – I’m driving through Wichita anyway – boys won’t be home….so I think I will stay the night with Chris in Wichita!!! It’s a win all the way around – 2 hours less driving today, spending the night with Chris (and not home alone), boys are happy to spend a Monday night with their friends – WIN!!!

Happy Monday – I’m hitting the road!

Kim

PS – Good luck to all Boston Marathon runners today!!

Core, Fitness, Treadmill

Winner Winner

April 14, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today’s 43 was supposed to be easier than yesterday’s!! I wanted to work my abs so I did a star crunch. It ended up being a pretty good challenge!

Lie on your back with your arms and legs making a big X. Lift your legs, arms and head slightly off the ground. Reach your right hand and left leg up (above you), trying to touch your toe – switch sides – 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pvMvdU_C5g’]

(special video today – Chris!!) The move should be slow and controlled – a big challenge to get 43 done!!

I typically take Sunday’s off but I have spent a LOT of time sitting the past few days. I take the stairs (4 flights at my hotel and 2 at the hospital) as much as possible but still… I need some activity – I just walked on the treadmill in the hotel fitness center (4 miles @ 2.5% incline – 58:00 minutes). I didn’t run because my left hamstring is still a little sore and the treadmills have really short belts – not my favorite for running!!!

Yesterday was another day full of hospital time, being with my 2 brothers and sister and seeing my grandpa!! My dad is looking really good – not at all like someone who suffered a major heart attack 2 days ago. Hopefully he will be able to go home soon!

FYI – Hunter had a great time at his birthday sleep-over. Pizza, cake, ice cream, donuts, some Xbox, a movie and lots of basketball!!!