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, Shoulders

Yikes!!!

December 13, 2012 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 43 was one of the most difficult that I have done in awhile. I think it is because it has been 10 (long) days since I ran or did any cardio at all and it shows!!!

The move – plank jacks. In the plank position, (because clearly I didn’t get enough of that yesterday!) jack your feet (jump them open and closed like a regular jumping jack). I did 10 jacks = 1 rep. (If math is not your thing, that is 430 jacks!!!!!) This move requires cario endurance plus strength to hold yourself in plank for a LONG time.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbKgUv7X3Uo’]

It was good to get a little cardio and technically, this wasn’t a true weight bearing exercise (at least not on my hip!). But, YIKES!!! I was sucking air big time. Hunter said, “It’s only been about a week since you ran.” 10 days, brother!! That is a long, long time and when you are my age (43) the you lose it a lot quicker!

Usually, I write this after I have finished my entire work-out for the day. However, I have a couple of things I have to do this morning and then I’m subbing this afternoon (for Hunter’s homeroom teacher!!!) so I’m doing my post with the intention of still squeezing in some pilates later. Even if I can’t do all 3 sections, I will get some pilates in!

This seemed appropriate today. If you don’t try – you won’t succeed! (Plus, Michael Jordan is one of my all-time favorites!)

I can’t wait to be in Hunter’s class (and I’m sure he feels the same way!). Tonight is all about Algebra – several hours of tutoring tonight – almost time for semester finals!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

11:25 Pick your Spot Pilates: belly, butt & thighs – Done!!! Now I can enjoy my afternoon with 6th graders!!!

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Going in Circles

December 12, 2012 Kim 3 Comments

Today’s 43 really tested one of my weakest areas – shoulders! Plus, I sat on my stability ball while doing the 43 so that gave me a little bit of core work!!!

The actual move was ~~sort-of~~ totally old school – arm circles!! I sat on the stability ball and held a dumbbell in each hand (I used 5 pound dumbbells today) with my arms fully extended to the sides. Then, I did 43 circles to the front and another 43 to the back. The circle part wasn’t really bad – the challenge came from holding my arms at shoulder height and keeping them fully extended the entire time.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIxWpjlfA0′]

(for the demo I just did 5 and 5 – those didn’t count as part of the true 43)

I decided to take a little Pilates break today and do a different non-weight bearing work-out. I did a Bender Ball work-out. You do traditional core moves using this little ball:

I know that tomorrow I will feel this in every part of my core!!!

I decided that I was on a roll (ha-ha – I entertain myself sometime!) with core and shoulders today so I thought it would be fun to see how long I could hold plank. (I know some of y’all can hold it a long time!!!) I got in position with my, iPhone right under my face, and hit start. I lasted for ……3 minutes!!! I know that is the longest I have ever held plank at one time – not sure if I want to try to go longer or not – maybe next time I will hold plank on my elbows instead of with my arms fully extended! (or maybe I won’t let my competitive nature take over and push me to try and go longer & longer & longer….hmmm)

Time to go get my nails done! (I know – completely frivolous and unnecessary but it makes me happy!!!)

This afternoon I get to help in the library at Hunter’s school – my favorite!!!

Happy 12-12-12!!!

Kim

Workout Programs

Bender Ball

December 12, 2012 Kim 2 Comments

This is a short and quick work-out but it is one you will definitely feel. It is all core – upper abs, lower abs and obliques.

Leslie Bender developed this training method and she takes you through the work-out. It is easy to follow and she has someone who shows modifications if necessary. Adding the “Bender ball” really does change up how the exercises feel.

The work-out moves quickly and is all core. There really isn’t a true warm-up or cool down but I’m not sure there needs to be. Each section (upper abs, lower abs, obliques) is about 5 minutes and the whole thing only takes just over 16 minutes.

Leslie does keep it moving so there isn’t wasted time. I like that you spend almost the entire time truly working your core!

I enjoy mixing up my routines and this is a great one to throw in from time-to-time.

Butt, Fitness, Quad, Thighs

Breaking the Rules (barely!!)

December 11, 2012 Kim 4 Comments

I did a lower body 43 today and it was awesome (and hard!!). It involved this cute little band around my ankles.

I stayed in a semi-squat (just enough to feel the burn but not a true squat) and did the following:

2 steps to the right
2 steps left
2 steps right with a left leg abduction
2 steps left with a right leg abduction
abduction – left, right, left, right

The steps listed above = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4slDnqMyI’]

43 of those and I felt all of them – especially in my outer thighs/hips. I had to do a quick stretch 2 times before I finished all of the reps. I did this hip stretch:

Put all of your weight into one hip and push that hip back. Nice!!

So, I know that this little move goes against Drs orders (non-weight bearing and blah, blah, blah) but it was less than 15 minutes and it was sooooooo great to move and work my lower body!!!

Hair night – WooHoo!!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

BOSU, Fitness, Push-Ups

Favorite Things

December 10, 2012 Kim 5 Comments

The 43 today was another version of the good ‘ol push-up! I love trying all different types of push-ups and today’s was a good one!

I used my BOSU again!

Today, however, I flipped it over for the move.

After Jordan did a few awesome push-ups, I did 43 using the BOSU. I was able to do all of them on my toes – just had to stop and do a quick stretch 2 times before I finished!

I also did my standard (standard for these days – while I can’t do a real work-out) work-out: Pick your Spot Pilates. I did all 3 sections again – belly, butt, thighs.

This morning when I was driving home, after dropping Hunter off at school, I heard the song My Favorite Things by Lorrie Morgan.

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

The song made me think of some of my favorite things (it is an ever-changing list except for the top). Here are some of my favorites on this bitterly cold Monday:

Chris, Jordan, Hunter
seat heaters in my car (even though Jordan always puts on the seat cooler for his seat – even today when it is only 10 degrees – crazy!!!)
hot Chai
crockpot (with tonight’s dinner cooking away!)
Christmas lights in every room!
text from a friend
running (just not today or for awhile)
sappy, predictable Christmas movies on Lifetime
fleece (doesn’t matter what really – shirt, pants, blankets…)
music
pictures

I could go on but I have to get busy addressing Christmas cards!!! Normally I used the kind of envelopes that you just peel off the back and stick – not this year for some reason (oh yeah, the size of the picture). I’m not sure about licking 150+ envelopes.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt8E_27iyOk’]

Maybe I will find a damp sponge!!!

Happy Monday!

Kim

Day With KT