Category Archives: Cardio

Driving School

May 29, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I used my agility ladder for the 43.

who knew you could do so much with this?

I decided to get in a little cardio with the 43 so I did the Heisman using the ladder – it is a fast moving side to side with a knee in at each edge. (the video makes it all clear!!)

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

I counted an over and back as 1 rep so really I went through 86 times to complete all 43!! You can tell that I’m looking down – that’s because in the workouts with Shaun T, he says if you mess up the ladder you have to drop and do 8 push-ups (I made it through without any pushups during the 43!).

Today was another day of Insanity Asylum – Strength. This workout was 50 minutes and even though the primary focus was strength training, there was still plenty of cardio involved!! So far I’m enjoying this new Insanity series even though it is HARD!!!

Today my first-born is at driving school!!! I can hardly believe that he is old enough to start driving!!! Today is all classroom instruction – fun times!!By the time he gets home this afternoon, he will have his learner’s permit and life will never be the same!!! As parents, we encouraged him to seek out the easiest traffic school that we could find that was suitable for our area. We wanted him to receive the best education that he can get, as we need to make sure he is safe on the road, as well as the road users around him. I’m not sure where he decided to go, but I’m sure he’s made the right decision.I’m pretty sure that his first times driving will either be with Chris or the driving instructor (I’m not always the most patient person and one of us might freak out!!).I thought I was ready for this but part of me just wants Jordan (and Hunter, too) to be little again so that I can keep them with me!! I mean seriously – 14 year olds driving?!

I know it’s a good thing and I’m happy for him!! Just beware when you see Student Driver signs on the road – might be my 14 year old son!! (I better start trying to let go of some of my road rage!!)And, seeing how fast my boys are growing up makes me treasure the times we spend together – even if it means they are kicking my butt in Wii games!!! Yesterday we had a little tournament (put together by Jordan!) – I didn’t do so great:

Jodan - 9 Hunter - 5 Kim - 2 — Jodan – 9
Hunter – 5
Kim – 2

But it was fun!!

Anyone else occasionally feel small moments of panic when you realize how quickly your kids (or siblings, grandkids…..) are growing up?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Back, Cardio, Chest, Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Squats

Happy Anniversary to the Love of my Life!!!!

May 25, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

Today’s 43 was brutal in every way!! I did Man-Makers!! Heard of them? Get a set of dumbbells (I used 15 pounds) and get ready!!

Put the dumbbells on the ground about a foot apart. Jump down to plank placing hands on DBs and do a push-up (you know, like a burpee). Then do alternate arm rows (while still in plank!!). Jump up into a low squat and bring weight to your shoulder. Stand, using your legs for power and push arms straight overhead. That was 1 rep!!! Repeat (43x if you are doing my version!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmcosP5QWo0′]

After I finished that ~~torture~~ 43, I decided to go out for a run to shake out the last bit of soreness in my legs from Thursday’s long run. I finally used my new Garmin on a run!!! I just ran 3 miles in 26:00 + 0.5 miles walking to cool down!! It is already muggy and humid today!!!

Chris and I are celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss today!!! So, I think it’s a good time to share some of our story.

We met in August of 1995 at Whalers Bay in Lubbock, TX. (yep – we met at a bar!!!) Chris was with 3 other guys and I was with a group of people. My roommate that summer was a hostess there and had seen Chris in before. She purposely seated me next to him and his friends. Chris and his buddies all had large notebooks with them (the Dash 1) and were “studying”.

I started talking to Chris and asked him, “Are you a pilot?” His response, “No, but I want to be.” (he was in pilot training at the time)

I drank Rum & Coke that night (more than a few) all paid for by Chris and his pals, and because of that Chris’ buddies called me “rum & coke” for months after we met!!

At some point that night, Chris and I made plans to go out over the weekend. He called me the next day and asked if I had a chance to go out of town would I do it. I figured he was standing me up. Actually, he invited me to go to Austin to hook up with some friends of his and go to a Live concert.

We went to the concert, did 6th Street up rightgot a little sleep and drove back to Lubbock (Oh – it is 7 hours each way). Yep, we met in a bar, our first date was over 7 hours from were we lived – pretty sure we broke a lot of “dating rules” but it all worked out and look at us now!!! And we didn’t go as crazy as some people – the SLS Dating Site scene isn’t for us – but we did break a few conventions here and there!

Chris told me later that he knew on the way to Austin that I was the person he wanted to marry!!! The Monday after our first date he sent these to me at work!!

We dated the rest of the year (my first year as a teacher – 6th grade Science) while Chris was in pilot training. Most of our dates were like this:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8wFBUF1ZWY’]

Well, maybe not exactly, but we did spend lots of time with the other guys (and their wives or girlfriends) in pilot training at a great piano bar called Off Broadway and karaoke happened often – good thing Chris can sing!!!

We were engaged all of 8 weeks!!! Not because we “had” to get married! Chris graduated from pilot training on May 24 and we got married the day after – we figured it would save his family a trip to TX (from Kansas).

at 2 and on the day of Pilot Training Graduation

The frame says – From long ago and far away…Love brought us to our wedding day.

It was a busy but incredible weekend!!! Chris sang to me at our wedding (a complete surprise to everyone, especially me!!)

Beautiful in my Eyes by Joshua Kadison (now know as “our song”)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRKqxSZeq4s’]

Obviously that isn’t him singing but it could be!!! (If you’ve never heard the song, it is definitely worth listening to!!)

Our wedding was Saturday and on Monday, Chris had to go to Altus, OK for his next training phase. I still had a week to finish school. So, we started our married life the way it would frequently be – the life of a military pilot and spouse!!!

The night I got to Altus, we ate at the O Club (Officer’s Club) – right when we walked in we heard our song so of course we danced cause that’s what you do!!!

I can’t even count how many times we have gotten up in the middle of dinner or while cleaning the kitchen to dance to our song (because I had my ipod playing on random)!!! The boys ~~love it~~ just roll their eyes and ignore us!!!

Happy Anniversary, Chris – you will always be the love of my life!!!

Do you and your spouse/significant other have a song? Do you drop everything and dance when you hear it?

Happy Saturday!!! I’m off to spend the day with my true love!!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Power Moves, Push-Ups, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

Tornado Tragedy

May 21, 2013 Kim 29 Comments

Today’s 43 was a killer!!! Taylor at Lifting Revolution did a post a couple weeks ago featuring 30 variations of burpees!!! I decided to turn some of those burpee variations into my daily 43s since I like ~~pain~~ to challenge myself.

Today I did a burpee with a box jump (43 times – what was I thinking???).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA3x26yZPf8′]

Disregard the fact that I look like a total dork – and about killed myself jumping on the step!! Check out Taylor’s site – she makes the move look easy and she actually jumps into a squat on the box!! (I was lucky to jump up and not fall off!!)

Since yesterday I talked about my lack of motivation these past few days and the overwhelming consensus was to just “suck it up” and do it – that’s what I did today!!! After the intense 43 I ran!

I ran on the treadmill (still hesitant to hit the streets!!) – 1.5% incline, 6 miles in 40:43. I felt better after that run about working out than I have in awhile!!! I went for an easy 2 mile walk with a neighbor for my cool-down!!

Tragedies affect all of us differently. The devastating tornado in Moore, OK yesterday really hits home with me. I’ve never lived there but I think the fact that I’ve driven through Moore (on I-35) literally hundreds of times (one of those being less than 2 weeks after the huge tornado in 1999) and the fact that so many children were killed makes this one of those things that strikes a major chord with me!!!

The tornado was about 2 miles wide! I know last night they had 51 confirmed dead and 20 of those were children!! Plus all the people they are still searching for!! And the loss of virtually everything for those who survived is mind boggling.

some of the heros!! — some of the heroes!!

Many prayers for all of the people who have been affected by this and other tornados recently!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Quad

Motivation – What Motivation??

May 20, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

Today for my 43 I used my figure-8 band:

I put it around each ankle and started with my feet in close then jumped them out wide, wider, widest (squat) and back in – got it?!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfat-jyKVQ’]

This was a quick 43 that I felt in my quads and it got my heart pumping – success!!

Today’s workout was HARD!!! I did Turbo Barre with Cathe and YIKES!! I might have even moaned and whimpered during the workout because my hips and legs were on fire and overall I was dying!! I have done this workout before and I knew it was challenging but I don’t remember it being so brutal. I guess that’s what happens when you have 3 weeks of almost no activity/working out!!

So, confession time: The past few days, I’ve been lacking any motivation to workout. I’m not gonna lie, this is really rare for me because I usually love the feeling of a really hard workout or run!!Typically, I don’t even think about if I’m going to workout – I just have to decide what I’m going to do. Over the weekend I did my daily 43 but that was the extent of my working out which is pretty sad since I just started back last week!!! I tried to justify it in my mind by saying that I needed to ease back in – NOT TRUE!!! I just didn’t want to do it!!! Then this morning I still didn’t want to do anything – not cool!!! I read a few blogs thinking that would inspire me. Finally I just buckled down and did it!! I really needed some help – I’m not sure a carrot stick is going to cut it either!!! I think that part of the problem is the fact that I got out of the habit and feel like I’m starting from scratch! Plus, I told Chris last night that it isn’t as fun to workout when my legs hurt before I even start! I try to just suck it up and do it but it is sapping the joy out of my workouts for sure!I’m hoping that this is a temporary thing because fitness is really my passion so I don’t know how to deal with this lack of desire to get a good sweat on!!I guess I will just keep forcing myself to hit it hard and hope that the joy comes back!!Either that or find a new passion – JUST KIDDING!!!In the meantime I will make this my mantra –

Does anyone else ever struggle with a lack of motivation (even for things that you generally love)? What do you do about it?

And just for fun – here are some of the pictures I took yesterday on our 2 hour drive through a major storm. (I was keeping myself busy while Chris had the stressful job of driving – he said it doesn’t bother him – perk of being a pilot, I guess!!)

Check out the storm chaser! Look how dark it is between 4 & 6 in the afternoon!!

Happy Monday – I’m off to find some motivation!!!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Roller Coasters – Love them or Hate them?

May 18, 2013 Kim 20 Comments

Today’s 43 was a lot of jumping!! I haven’t done a single burpee in weeks now – and as much as I hate burpees, I love them even more!!! I didn’t do a true burpee today (no push-up) but close.

I did a squat thrust (burpee with no push-up) and then 2 floor jack before jumping back in and jumping up.

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

This was a fairly quick 43 but it definitely got my heart rate up!!

No other workout today – going to gear up for the “party” circuit!!!

Roller coasters are not my thing!!! They don’t make me sick – I just don’t like them!!!And, the wooden roller coasters – don’t get me started on how much I hate them!! I haven’t been on one in about 20 years!So, today, Jordan is with a band group at

I’m not really worried (maybe a little). I’m super happy that I’m not there!!I hope that he and all of the band (and orchestra) members have a great time!!!And, hopefully, Jordan has inherited his Dad’s love of roller coasters and not my ~~fear~~ aversion to them!!!