Today I used my TransFirmer for the 43 but I set it up a little differently:
I did a little mini-step workout! Fun times! I started behind the angled step and did an L-step off the left side, a 3 count repeater knee, an L-step off the back and then did the same thing off the other side for 1 rep.
I tried to step high onto the incline during the repeater to make it a little more challenging. This was a fun 43 to really get my heart pumping.
Today was Les Mills Combat HIIT Plyo. 30 minutes of jumping lunges, jump squats, burpees and so many more “fun” moves! I love how intense it is but I’m glad this is only a 30 minute program – don’t think I could last for much longer!
Wait for it…….
I finally started a Day with KT Facebook page! It only took me 5 1/2 months!! Feel free to “like” my page – hopefully I will be able to improve the layout soon. (OK – so it really isn’t super big news but…)
Also, Hunter completed his first full M100 yesterday!! Usually he does 1 set of each of the 3 exercises (30 total moves). Soon he will want to challenge me to another M500 – UGH!!! Way to work, Hunter!!
Gotta get 6 more wall-sits to hit 23 (1 minute each) today and then head off to History Day for Jordan.
7:30 am (snow started around 6:30 or 6:45 I think)
Snow day here is Kansas!! (Actually, the city basically cancelled everything last night before the snow even started just based on the forecast – surprisingly the weather predictions were all true.) Boys are out of school and the base even shut down so Chris is home!!!
For my 43 I went old school!! I used my transfirmer step and did a “tall-box climb”
14″ double step (the Transfirmer)
while holding 12 pound dumbbells. (This is a move that I got from the Firm DVDs – it is one of their signature moves.) Standing behind the step, you step up with your right foot then your left foot and then step down with you right foot then left = 1 rep.
I did 43 with my right leg leading and 43 with my left leg leading. Great quad/butt work and my heart rate went up quit a bit (the weights really add to the move).
Then, while my legs were already a bit fatigued (21 x 1 minute wall-sits today + the tall-box climb!!!) I decided to start experimenting with a run-walk (more like jog-walk) pattern for my 50 mile race (in October).
For those who know me at all, walking is usually not part of my training. Actually, I don’t like to jog that much either – I just want to run!! However, I know that if I don’t train correctly and just go into the race like an idiot it won’t be pretty. I know that running and walking use the leg muscles differently and I want to have lots of experience going back and forth between the 2 before October.
Today I started with a 10 minute jog followed by a 5 minute walk. After 2 sets of that I decided that I don’t want to walk half the time. I switched to a 7.5 minute jog with a 2.5 minute walk for the next half hour. I think I might like that pattern. Over the next few months I will start training for several hours at a time like that and see.
I also need to play around with my hydration and eating. I’m pretty much a water only drinker (except my evening happy hour!) so I need to try some of the electrolyte drinks.
So many choices!!! And I have never really been one to fuel while running – I know it’s not good to go hours without anything but I do! I’m going to have to play around with all the options for snacks, too!
My preference would beHigh school track meets I lived on Hershey bars and oranges!! It was great!! (or maybe not that great but…)
Anyway, I figure I better get some of this figured out between now and mid-October!
Here is a fun little snow video if you like snow (me – not so much!!).
I counted 3 forward walks on each side (I think that is what Jordan did in the demo, too) as 1 rep then I stood, turned and went the other direction for the next one until I reached the magic # of 43!!! I felt this in my arms, shoulders, core, hip flexors and quads!!!! How’s that for a 5-1 combo move?!
Today I was back to Les Mills Combat with a new work-out: Combat 60 Live – Ultimate Warrior! This has to be my favorite one yet!!! First off, besides the Combat crew, there were about 400 people doing the work-out with them! Second, this work-out was HARD and very intense!!! The 60 minutes went by very quickly because, like all of their work-outs, it is broken into segments and you can see the segment (and total) time at the bottom of the screen.
What I really liked was the fact that there were some new moves and combos in this one!! Plus, the cool-down was different from the others but very effective!!!
Love trying new work-outs!!!
new running skirt!!
It’s hard to see but this skirt would have been great for yesterday. Running love!! Maybe next year I will do a Valentine’s day run!!
Hooray for a LONG weekend!!! The boys have 5 days out of school (they were out yesterday, too) because of parent/teacher conferences and an inservice on Monday. Chris is off today (SDO – scheduled day off. They work 9 hour days and then have an SDO every other week – pretty cool.) and Monday for President’s Day!WooHoo!! Love it when every one is off!!!
And, finally – 15th day of February and I’m still doing the number of wall-sits to sync up with the day – today I’ve completed 15 1-minute wall-sits. Not gonna lie – it is getting hard!!! I have to spread them out a little more. (I make tally marks as I do them so I don’t lose count and cheat or do any extra!!!) Hunter & Chris are participating, too!!! Hunter does burpees every day and Chris is doing push-ups daily!!! (Jordan opted out – party pooper!!)
(This might be my most uncoordinated looking demo yet!!!!) And, quite frankly, I don’t think it matters which arm does which punch – just pick a way and go with it!!! Then, switch sides and do 43 (or whatever # you choose :Happy:) more.
Check out my cool Combat gloves:
combat gloves – make you feel powerful!!!
Wearing them makes me feel like a true combat fighter!!!
The rest of my work-out today was – wait for it… Les Mills Combat. Combat 30 was up for today – this one is short (30 minutes) but pretty intense!! Good news – 8 more jump kicks on each leg!!!
I have been blogging for almost 5 months and for some reason the past 2 nights I have laid in bed wide-awake(for way too many hours!!!) thinking about my blog. Here’s what my sleep-deprived mind came up with:
I started my blog because I thought that this year in addition to running my age on my birthday (as I have for a few years now), I would carry the age thing a step further. I thought (still think, actually) it would be fun to pick a different exercise/move and do the # of reps = to my age (43 as we all know by now!!!).
I thought sharing them on a blog would do a couple of things. First, it helps keep me accountable! Second, I thought it would be a great way to share the idea of doing something active every day. I realize that 43 is sort-of extreme for some (and not enough for others) but 5-10 is doable for everyone!!!
When I first started the blog, I thought I would only post about the daily 43. However, I realized after a short time that I actually really enjoy writing other stuff, too. I like looking for silly pictures or funny quotes. I love having a place to record little parts of my day (hence the name – daywithkt)!
I think that there is a true blogging community (as evidence by the fact that I see the same names over and over on lots of the blogs I enjoy reading). At some point I hope to be a bigger part of the growing community of fitness bloggers!
I have been told that blogging is “self-indulgent” and I think that to a large extent it is. But it is also nice to have a place to share thoughts and ideas on a particular topic. For me, it is almost like a public form of my work-out log (and I’m OK with that!).
Writing out this little list has helped remind me why I started blogging – it had nothing to do with having lots of readers (although I wouldn’t mind that), lots of comments (also something I wouldn’t be opposed to) – I needed to remind myself to enjoy blogging and not become consumed by it.
I also need to remind myself not to compare my blog to any other blogs – defeats the point of my goal with blogging!!!So, I hope that taking the time to write all of this down will help me sleep better tonight help me stay focused on why I wanted to do a blog in the first place!!!
Happy Saturday – look I made a special treat for the boys breakfast!
Saturday morning treat for the boys!
(French toast – not my thing but they really like it!!!)
Thanks, Hunter, for doing this demo (even without shoes!) – wish the lighting had been better. (I’m pretty sure that is due to user error!!!)
It was fun to do a simple, cardio based 43 for a change.
After the 43, I tried the Plank Ab-Burner that the Fitnessista posted yesterday. If you haven’t been over to her site and checked it out you should – your core will thank you (later!!!). It is only a 4-minute routine (good thing, too!) but it will challenge you the entire time!!!
For the rest of my workout on this rainy day in Kansas,
finally some rain!!!
I hopped on my treadmill and did some incline work. I kept the speed down (6.5 miles in 60:30) but the incline at 10% for mile 1, 12% mile 2, 15% mile 3, then 12% for miles 4-6. YIKES!!! I think I need to get in more hills!!!
Enough work-out talk!!! Onto food – namely Kale. Last night, for the first time ever, I made some kale. This is the final product (after we had all taken a serving because I forget to get a picture before):
I’m not sure if it will make a return appearance at our table or not. I think I need more ideas for making it (or just to perfect the one I tried).
I keep reading about kale and all the benefits from it so I bought some and thought I would try to make kale chips. First off, I have no idea what it means to massage the kale!!! I washed it really well and tore it into bite size pieces. I tried to dry it but I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that very well.
Then I spread (more like piled) it on a large stone baking sheet, sprinkled (more like poured) some olive oil on it and sprinkled with season salt. I think this is where I really messed up – it looked like such a huge amount that I probably put way too much oil and salt.
Who knew that it would cook down to almost nothing? (not me for sure!!!) It didn’t get as crispy as I thought it would (I’m guessing the oil & not drying it enough had something to do with that).
The verdict: Hunter said it was a bit strong (I think he meant too salty!!!), Jordan said it was OK, and Chris didn’t really comment (which means not his favorite but he doesn’t like to say negative things about my cooking – he’s super smart!!!). I liked it fine but I think I need help if I’m going to try it again!
I googled some of the benefits of kale and found out the number 1 benefit is it can keep you looking attractive!!!! Another benefit is anti-aging!
So I think I better practice up on my kale techniques!!!
I did a little mini-step workout! Fun times! I started behind the angled step and did an L-step off the left side, a 3 count repeater knee, an L-step off the back and then did the same thing off the other side for 1 rep.
