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.

Fixin’ to do Something Really Hard – Help!!!

Today I did a fairly simple 44 – a crunch with my elbows glued to the ground the entire time.  Try it – it really changes the way you work your abs!!!

start - elbows on the ground
start – elbows on the ground
crunch up - fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground)
crunch up – fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground)

You can see that it is a small crunch but you have to hold tight with your abs!!!

It might seem like I haven’t been working out much but that is because I have been getting activity through other methods.  Thursday I spent 7 hours cleaning (an apartment & our venue), setting up for a wedding (moving 140 chairs x2), and ironing (20+ large tablecloths) – that entire time was spent standing and moving and lifting and bending!!!

Yesterday I spent 9 hours painting one of the apartments we have that is now vacant.  Squatting, bending, climbing up and down a ladder – it was a workout for sure.  I figure these long days of solid activity and standing are good for my overall endurance when it comes to my 50.

Screen shot 2013-09-29 at 8.06.36 AMI wrote a post in April about asking for help – is it a strength or a weakness?  For me, it is one of the hardest things in the world to do. 

Paint 9 hours?  no problem
Drive across country by myself?  easy
Run 50 miles?  I think I got it
Ask for help?  ummm…….

Screen shot 2013-09-29 at 8.06.04 AM

 

I don’t like to ask anyone for help – ever!!!  Not the boys, not friends, not even Chris!  I’m not sure why it is so hard for me to ask – I’m pretty sure it goes back to when I was young!

However, I’m at a point where I have to bite the bullet and ask.

Screen shot 2013-09-29 at 8.08.26 AM

I don’t know how to make the logistics of the 50 mile weekend work without help!!!  The race is 100 miles from here (through the Flint Hills in Cassody, KS) and with the drive each way, check in, running…..Chris and I will be gone for pretty much a 24 hour period (with ZERO sleep for either of us).

I had originally planned to leave the boys home but the more I think about it the more stress that causes me (Jordan is only 14 – pretty sure there are some kind of laws about that!!!).  They have no desire (or need) to be up all night just because I’m crazy!!!

There aren’t any hotels in the town we will be in because I thought about that option, too.

And, we have a wedding changeover that night – at pretty much the same time I start running!  Because we are a small staff – pretty much of 1 – we don’t have anyone else trained to set-up.  And, you know I haven’t asked anyone to help!!

Screen shot 2013-09-29 at 8.07.26 AM

 

So today, I’m going to have to suck it up and ask for help!!!  (after I spend many more hours painting and cleaning!!)  Or, maybe I will put it off another day – I’m sure if I keep waiting it will get easier, right?!

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

If….Then

Today’s 44 was a fun way to turn a plank into a cardio move!!!  I did frog jumps in the plank position.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW4AZEACukM’]

I was breathing hard by the time I finished all 44 – always a good sign!!

Screen shot 2013-09-28 at 8.04.49 AMRemember the old writing prompt from your school days?  I remember having to do If…Then statements and I thought it would be a fun way to share some of the things I’ve learned recently!!!

If Jordan sends me a text that after-school sectionals has been cancelled, then it doesn’t automatically mean he needs a ride home.  (Learned that the hard!)

If you take 2 Excedrine right before bed-time, then you might spend most of the night awake!!  (The good news is, I got lots of reading done and might finally finish the book I’ve been reading for about a month – ever since beach time went away!!!)

If you don’t have any plans for meals during the week, then you might do lots of scrambling in the evenings! (DUH!!)

If you upgrade your iPhone the day the upgrade comes out, then  you might have to deal with some of the bugs and other issues that aren’t totally resolved.  (Hunter learned this the hard way – he hasn’t had WIFI since he upgraded and apparently lots of people had the same problem!!)

If your neighbors invite you to go with them to a friends home for an Italian night and “concert” under the stars, then  you should definitely go and enjoy fun times and Andre Bocelli’s concert!!!

If you buy a birthday card, then it is helpful if you actually put it in the mail!!  (Sorry, Dad, card is still on my kitchen island!!)

If you live with 3 boys, then life is going to be full of happy times!!!!

What If…Then statement fits you this week?

Happy Saturday!!!  

Kim

 

Rejuvenated

Today’s 44 went quickly but it was definitely effective.  I did fast feet (x8) straight into a tuck jump!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW13Rs1KPBw’]

I’m a sweaty mess in the video because the demo was after my workout today!!!  Tuck jumps are always hard for me and the fast feet between really amped up my heart rate.  44 of these were no joke!!!

I did a new (to me) DVD today and loved it!!  It was one of the 10 Minute Solution workouts which I’ve always liked anyway – High Intensity Interval Training  (can you tell why I loved it?!).

The workout had 5, 10 minute segments:  HIIT 101, Upper Body HIIT, HIIT Explosion, Rock Bottom HIIT, Ab HIIT.  Each segment consisted of 8 exercises done 2x each (20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest), plus a very short warm-up, cool down.  This workout took about 55 minutes but it flew by!!!  And, I discovered a few new moves to try!

Screen shot 2013-09-27 at 10.06.14 AM

It is 10:00 am and I’m just now working on my post for today and it feels amazing!!!  Most days I’m up at 5:00 am and have my workout and daily post done by 7:20 (when I take Hunter to school) so that I can get moving on the rest of the day.

Today, the boys have a day off school (teacher work day) and Chris is off so I decided to give myself a day off, too!!!  

After yesterday I needed a day off!!!  In a 30 minute period late yesterday afternoon, I yelled at both Jordan and Chris (2 separate scenes).  The only reason Hunter escaped my tantrum throwing – he was lucky enough not to be home yet!!!

Screen shot 2013-09-27 at 10.11.00 AMFor the most part, my reactions were a bit out of control because I was TIRED!!!  

Today, I didn’t even get up until after 7:30!!!  Then, I actually putzed around a bit before I finally went down to workout (normally I am working out within about 10 minutes of getting up)!!

Screen shot 2013-09-27 at 10.13.47 AMI feel so much more refreshed and ready to tackle the next few weeks which are going to be hectic – just 2 weeks until I complete my 50 miles race!!!!

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Unique Exercises

I should start every Thursday with a link to Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama!!!  It seems like most of Thursday’s 44s come from Nellie’s Weekly Wednesday Workout and today is no exception!

For my 44 today I did single leg circles.  These may sound easy but they are definitely a challenge!  Make sure that your toe is pointed to maximize the burn all through your thighs!

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

I don’t know what is up with the color lately – maybe it’s photographer error!!! (just kidding, Chris!)  Anyway, this move is one you will definitely feel in your hips!!!

Today was another round of Garage Boot Camp.  During the summer I created new workouts every time but this fall we have been repeating the ones from the summer.  I asked the ladies the other day if they minded that we were repeating some they had done before and no one seemed to!!  I still want to come up with some new workouts soon!!!  S

We did the Move It, Move It workout (all about the legs!) and my legs are definitely feeling it!!  I felt a little bad because all of the ladies said that they were sore and that getting around yesterday was painful – it might have been the 190 squats + everything else on Tuesday – not sure!!

So, I’m on a hunt for some more creative exercises and moves for my daily 44s!  I searched a bit on youtube and some of the stuff out there is amazing!!!

Not sure about all of the exercises in this video – I might end up hurting myself!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qQsMm1iTEk’]

Pretty sure that I got hurt just watching this next video!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WjzDW3-Eg’]

Some of these moves are totally insane (like the 360 push-ups!!).

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

Some of these moves are just crazy – I can’t even imagine!!  Out of the 50, I think I have done 10 or 11.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8vA488-C6I’]

Well, I was searching for some fun new moves for my 44 but I’m thinking that if I actually attempt even 4 reps of most of these moves I will end up in the hospital!

So – what are some of the most unique exercises/moves you’ve ever seen or attempted.  Feel free to share links in the comments!!   Who knows?!  Your suggestion could be the next daily 44!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Words

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.

ready to go
ready to go

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

rotate to the right
rotate to the right
rotate left
rotate left

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 –

TaeBo Bands
TaeBo 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:

Screen shot 2013-09-25 at 6.53.03 AM

 

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 – 

Screen shot 2013-09-25 at 6.59.52 AM

 

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!  Screen shot 2013-09-25 at 6.58.34 AM

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