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.

Cardio, Fitness, Push-Ups, Squats

Love the Feeling AFTER you Complete a Brutal Work-Out!!!

January 8, 2013 Kim 12 Comments

Today’s 43 is one that I have put off for almost a week!! Hunter helped me make the demo last Wednesday before we all went back to school. Last night I decided that today would be the day!!! (I know that intro makes all y’all want to read more so that you can hurry up and do the exercise!!!)

The move:

burpee with push-up
jump up to squat
in squat jump and turn 180 degrees
burpee with push-up
jump up to squat
in squat jump and turn 180 degrees (to start)

The above is 1 rep!!! To complete my 43, I actually had to do 86 burpees, 86 push-ups, and 86 squat-jump-turns!!! Painful!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtBPSB1xiDo’]

I actually broke this 43 into groups of 5 – after each set I took about a 30 second break – cheating? Maybe – but necessary to complete all of these with good form! (all push-ups on toes!)

For the rest of my work-out I decided to go with another day of Les Mills Combat. I like to follow the guide the first time through a program so the next work-out was Power HIIT 1. (a disclaimer – I’m not a lawyer – obviously!!!) That saying was running through my head as I did this new (to me) work-out. The first part was strength – not too bad. The second half – at least 30 more burpees with push-ups and squat jumps – REALLY???? Then….the Les Mills crew challenged us to add a tuck jump after each burpee!!! (I stuck to the squat jumps today!)

BRUTAL in every way – but I did it!!!!!

I might have looked a little like this dude when I finished – a wet, limp noodle!!! However, I showered and got ready for another day at the library – rockin’ another pair of boots today so it’s all good!!

Today is my niece, Bailey’s, birthday!! A huge birthday shout-out!!!

Bailey, I hope today is awesome!!! Maybe Tim (her dad – my twin brother) will get you a car!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Tuesday (or Happy Birthday if today happens to be your birthday!)!!

Kim

Calves, Fitness, Thighs

It’s Monday – Let’s Do This!!!

January 7, 2013 Kim 9 Comments

Today the daily 43 was bright and early!!! This one was actually fairly easy – yea!!! (gotta have that every once in awhile in order to really appreciate the big challenges!!!)

The move today was a plie squat – on your toes the entire time!!! My calves and inner thighs will thank me later!

Thanks, Jordan! (you don’t look like a dork at all!!!) I tried to make sure that I kept all of my weight in my butt and centered (not leaning forward). Fun 43!

Back before Christmas, I got my newest work-out program in the mail – Les Mills Combat. I didn’t start right away because I really have been trying to let my stress fracture heal even if I ~~occasionally~~ most of the time, bend the rules! However, yesterday, I read a review over at Melinda’s Fitness Blog and decided that I couldn’t wait any longer!!!

This morning I went through the Basic DVD – mostly just an intro and learning proper technique for all of the punches, kicks, etc. Then I did Combat 30: Kick Start. I did enjoy it but I think I will like it even more after I do it a couple of times so that I don’t miss anything! Should be a really great program – looking forward to getting some of my cardio groove back!!!

I’m so excited about the new season of Biggest Loser!!! One of my favorite shows ever! Especially with my favorite trainer!

Well – I’m off to start a busy week!!! Hopefully it is a great week for y’all!

Happy Monday!!

Kim

PS – in case any one wondered (or cared – or even thought about it!!) – through all of the plastic bin schlepping, tree untrimming, shelves crashing and shelf building – I didn’t break a single nail!!!! Success and happiness!!!

Butt, Circuit, Fitness

Epic Shelving Disaster!!!

January 6, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

The 43 today had to be lower body because my upper body is sore!!! I did an exercise to work my butt and quads plus a bonus core work-out!!

The move started with a front kick

right into a back kick

This was one of those great exercises where I did 43 with my left leg and then immediately did a second set of 43 with my right leg. I tried to barely tap my toe in between kicks so that I could get the extra core work trying to keep my balance.

The rest of my work-out today was the 12 Days of Fitness. Today was the final day so I decided to take it a step further – I did the entire thing 5x through! It was a great work-out!!! I did it like a circuit and just kept moving from one exercise to the next. My heart rate was way up there!!!

If you haven’t clicked over to check the plan out, here it is. (Gina at the Fitnessista always has great work-outs like this on her site!!!)

Day 12 12 Sumo Burpees
Day 11 11 Weighted Squats (25 pound DBs for me)
Day 10 10 Overhead Press (15 pound DBs for me)
Day 9 9 Lateral Lunges – each side (25 pound DBs for me)
Day 8 8 Bicep Curls (15 pound DBs for me)
Day 7 7 Triceps Dips
Day 6 6 Pull-Ups (assisted ones for me – used a step stool)
Day 5 5 Frog Crunches
Day 4 4 Toe Touches – each side
Day 3 3 Mountain Climbers – each side
Day 2 2 Push-Ups
Day 1 1 Minute Plank (arms extended)

It really didn’t take long to go through the whole set (less than 5 minutes) – the weights really got my heart rate going. Bonus – 5 total minutes in plank today!!!

Yesterday while putting up all of the Christmas stuff, I had a ~~minor~~ ~~large~~ DISASTER of EPIC proportion!!! I have a few cookbooks and all of them were on the jankity shelves in our storage room so that I could have Christmas decorations (Santas) everywhere!!!

I was stacking a plastic tub full of Christmas stuff in the corner by the shelves and this happened:

It was scary because I could see the shelves going down but I couldn’t do anything to stop it except jump back out of the way so that I didn’t get buried alive!!! Because the shelves contained a lot of other ~~crap~~ stuff and some of it was breakable and I heard that awful shattering noise over my loud screams! I had to keep the boys back because I didn’t want any cut feet in addition to the mess. They were troopers though – I pulled books out and they carried them upstairs – lots and lots of trips upstairs!!

Many hours later, after a trip to the store and more teamwork on the part of the boys and myself, our storage room looked like this:

Check out the new – STURDY – shelves put together by yours truly!

New Shelves - built by me! — New Shelves

We might have a bit of Christmas decorations – can’t help it – I love Christmas!!!

6 trees boxed & stacked1 $5 garage sale bargain tree left out! — 6 trees, boxed & stacked
1 $5 garage sale bargain tree left out!

Today I just need to get a few more of the green bins (I decided that if I had to reorganize I might as well color coordinate!!!) and then I think the room will be done!

Last night we had the privilege of watching a friend’s 6 month old little boy while they went to a winter party. Fun times!!! Always a joy to get in a little baby time!

Happy Sunday – hopefully no disasters ahead!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Packing Up

January 5, 2013 Kim 1 Comment

My shoulders are burning from today’s 43 – get a pair of dumbbells and try it yourself!!! The move was fairly simple – hold both arms up at 90 degrees (with a dumbbell if you want to really up the challenge!). Keep the left arm stationary, press the right arm up and twist your body to the left – hold for a 2 count. Return to start.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4teQ6eZJioA&feature=youtu.be’]

In the demo I only did 3 reps per side. You know I really did 43 with my right side and then another 43 with my left. I used 10 pound dumbbells and even just holding my arm at 90 was brutal – the press was a total killer! Now I know y’all want to bust out a few!!!

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Fitness today. The new move – weighted squats. I used 25 pounds and held each squat for a 3-count. Only 1 more exercise to add to complete the series!

Today I also did an amazing ab/core that I got from Tamara at Fitknitchick. It is just 6 abdominal exercises and you do each one for a minute – as many reps as possible. I set my Gymboss timer for 2 intervals – a 1 minute one and a 10 second one.

I love this handy timer!!! After 1 minute, it immediately starts on the 10 second rest count-down and then BOOM – you start on the next 1 minute exercise.

The AB plan:

standing oblique crunches
walking plank
feet elevated crunches
V-sit with alternating side rotations
side plank with hip drop
reverse curls

Tamara suggested 30 seconds per side for the side plank. I changed it a little – I did the entire series 2x and did a left side plank the first time and a right side plank the second set. This was a great work-out!!!

Today is going to be a work day here – time to pack up all of the Christmas decorations and trees for another year!!! It will be a chore – good thing the boys are ~~volunteering~~ ~~willing~~ ~~gladly~~ going to help!!!! There will be 100s of trips up & down the stairs hauling ~~crap~~ all of our decorations and my cookbooks!!! Chris gets to miss the fun – drill weekend for him. I guess I will let it slide since technically he is working, too!! (plus he had to get up at 5:00 again this morning and I slept till 7:00!!!)

Good-bye trees!!! I’m ready to put the stuff up but I really like having the tree lights in all of the rooms. Maybe I should string lights up all around the inside of the house…hmmm.

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Friday, Friday, Friday – 3 Favorites

January 4, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

The 43 today was one more kettlebell move!!! I feel like I turned this week into – Theme Week! Today I thought it was going to be a super easy move – WRONG!!! (I guess it could have been easier if I took a couple of the plates out of my KB but I left it at the full 20 pounds!)

I started with the KB in my right hand – passed it behind my body to my left hand – passed it in front of my body back to my right hand – did an upright row with my right hand/arm for 1 rep. The row was the killer part!!!

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

In the demo (made the other day), I switched directions after just a few reps. This morning, however, I did 43 with my right hand then switched and did 43 more with my left. Good stuff!!

Today for day 10 of the 12 Days of Fitness we added in 10 overhead presses (I used 15 pound dumbbells). Just 2 more days and I will have successfully completed this fun challenge!!!

For my work-out I picked something that would be more like a recovery day! I did a FIRM DVD – Cardio Sculpt Fusion. This was a fun mix of cardio, body sculpting and dynamic yoga/pilates stretches. I enjoyed it a lot and still got in a good work-out!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_-v_51d5No’]

This is one of my favorite songs (and bands!)!!! Just hearing this song makes me happy, happy, happy!!! (even when I have my toes in the snow instead of sand!!) Jordan gets on to me every time I sing it – “Mom, you’re cussing!!” Not cussing (this time!) – just singing!!!

Chris is my favorite person in the whole world!!!

Yesterday, even though he also worked all day, when I came home from the library (checked in and out books to over 300 kiddos yesterday!) he said he would make dinner! (He probably cooks as often as I do!) Last night he made chili which was awesome because it is cold here!!!

Cowboy Boots – Love them!!! At least while my toes are in the snow I can wear my fun boots. I wear them with everything – jeans, dresses, leggings….In fact here are the ones I’m wearing today – happiness!!