Category Archives: Cardio

Smile – It’s Worth It!!!

January 29, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

:Happy-Grin: :Happy: :Overjoy: :Happy-Grin: :Happy: :Overjoy:

My 43 today was great for getting my heart rate up in a very short amount of time!!! I did a squat- jump to a side kick – jump to squat. It went quickly but it was still effective. In fact, since this was one of those 43s that I had to do 2x (43 on each leg) – I actually stopped for about 20-30 seconds in between legs to catch my breath!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDDrFS1nu5U’]

I don’t know why it is so dark but you get the point!!! Hunter said we should try it again but in the second demo he cut off my head and parts of my feet so we just used the dark copy. Since I did 5 on each side for 2 demos I guess I did 53 reps/side today!!!

I did another Les Mills Combat work-out: Power HIIT – 30 minutes of hard-core intensity!!! Then I forced myself to do the Core Attack work-out. 20 minutes of ~~torture~~ core work. I hope it helps!!!

The rest of this week is going to be BUSY – 3 days of subbing, library volunteering, school newsletter to start, finish, copy and distribute, tutoring……..I should have gotten up earlier today! Oh well – 5 am will be showing it’s ugly head the next 3 days!!!

This is something I try to remember – especially when I start to feel overwhelmed! Find the little things to smile about. Things like:

New Yellow Box flip flops on clearance for only $12 and a warm day in January to enjoy them (yesterday!).Or, an 8th grade band concert where the kids let loose and acted like kids during the Dinosaur song:

You can barely see Jordan but you can see his smile – FUN!!!! I tried to get other pictures at the concert last night but we always seem to sit in the spot where we can’t see Jordan at all.

(walking out – so tall!)

Remember: And when all else fails, I picture myself right back here where I can’t help but smile!

What all are you smiling about today??

Happy Wednesday!

Kim :Happy-Grin:

Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Warm or Cold?

January 24, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

Today I decided to come up with another circuit-type 43. This one was great because it had some toning combined with cardio moves to target the same areas – BONUS!!!

I did the following circuit:

I liked it a lot – got my heart rate way up and took about 15 minutes to do all 43 reps. (I didn’t set my timer.)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-K_ByqVuJg’]

Today is a true example of what a total dork I am – I could tell that my arms were off during the ski run. Who cares??? Just make big movements with your arms to get your heart pumping – the goofier the better!!!

After my 43 I ran. I truly planned to run outside this morning but the temp on my car said 11 when I took Hunter to school. Ummmm….no way – please don’t make me go out there!! Treadmill – here I come!!!

I did 10 miles at a fairly steady pace with a 1.5 % incline. Time – 72:49 (only let the last 2 miles drop under 7:00)

I actually felt really good running today. I tried out some new shoes that I got last week on my Dick’s shopping adventure – the Brooks PureFlow 2.

I like them OK – not sure I like them as much as my Mizunos! I do love the color though!!!

Warm or Cold – so many choices!

Left-over pizza – I like it either way
Apple crisp – Warm!!!
Wine – Cold!!
Baths – HOT
Weather – the warmer the better!!!

I know that there are many people who like weather like this:But my happy spot looks more like this:

What about you – Warm or Cold??

Happy Thursday!

Kim

By the way, the answers to yesterday’s trivia challenge:

the Beattles
in the bones
a mile

BOSU, Cardio, Fitness, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Unlimited Potential

January 22, 2013 Kim 3 Comments

Today for the 43 I used my BOSU again!!!

Today I used it for cardio, balance and toning all at the same time!!! I started by standing behind the dome, jumped onto it and squatted, jumped off the sides (straddle) into a squat, jumped back on and squatted then stepped off the back for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFsT5a6WHyk’]

The demo is painful (I could not get my balance!!). I found during my actual 43 that if I kept my center of gravity lower (basically stayed in a partial squat) during the jumps, it was easier to stay balanced and do the squats. I enjoyed this 43!!!

I also did Les Mills Combat – Power HIIT. I’m not gonna lie – that work-out seems harder every time I do it!!! Maybe because I know all the exercises and can really push hard the entire 30 minutes. It has things like power press x 20 (which is actually 60 squats with shoulder presses) and I used 15 pound dumbbells for those today!! Burpees with push-ups and up into 2 tuck jumps x about a million! Fun stuff!!!

I wanted to really push myself (I think a couple of lazy days helped me kick my tiny illness and now I’m ready to go hard again!!!) so I decided to hop on my treadmill after the HIIT. (15 degrees outside is way too cold for me to attempt an outdoor run!!!)

4 miles at 1.5 % incline 25:19 (+ an easy 2 total time 48:45)

7:48
6:32
5:46
5:13

It was hard but it felt good to push like that after my pathetic attempt outside the other day. Hopefully it will warm up and I will get back out on the road again this week!!!

Last night on the Biggest Loser, the contestants ran a 5K. Because I am a complete geek – I actually clapped for each of them as they crossed the finish line!!! I love it when they (or anyone for that matter) really dig deep and push themselves to do something they thought was completely impossible!!!

I think we all have unlimited potential – we just have to dig deep to find it and then push ourselves to reach it!!!

This guy has the right idea:

Yesterday was a big day for Hunter!!!

Hunter before braces - nice pic! — Hunter before braces – nice pic!

This morning he told me he is already ready to have them off. Ummm…..soon (like 1.5-2 years!!!). I think they make him look even older than he really is.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Power Moves, Running

Lessons Learned on my Run Around the Lake

January 19, 2013 Kim 5 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a power move! Super fun (and hard)! This past week, Cranky Fitness and Fitknitchick both had posts about the benefits of power moves. I love power moves but probably don’t do them as often as I should.

So, today I used my 14″ step to do box jumps. I jumped up onto the step and then

14" double step (the Transfirmer) — 14″ double step (the Transfirmer)

stepped off. I did all 43 quickly so I could get my heart rate up (soaring!!).

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

I’m really trying to be smart as I start running again. I decided that as much as I love my treadmill and running on it, I have a tendency to run too hard on it.

I think the reason I never get bored on it is because I constantly play little games with the time and speed. When I try and just set an easy pace to run – I get BORED. The other day I decided that much as I hate running outside in the cold, I would try it.

Good news? I got to go shopping for some winter running gear!!!

Had a very successful trip! Plus, I got an armband for my iPhone 5 so I could have some music!!! All set! This morning after my 43 and downing about 32oz of water I headed out. A quick stretch:

stretching my calves/achillesAgain with the pissed-off look (blame it on the sun in my eyes!) — stretching my calves/achilles
Again with the pissed-off look (blame it on the sun in my eyes!)

And I’m off. The route I like around the lake (which I haven’t run since summer – thanks hip!) is just over 5.5 miles. I started my watch because I’m anal and even when I’m not planning to run hard I have to know my time! Here are a few of the things I learned today:

HILLS SUCK!!! (my 1.5 incline is not the same as the hills around the lake!)
My breathing is off (and loud!)
It is hard to sing while running – plus I probably looked and sounded like a complete dork (Oh, well – normal!)
The sand on the streets (from the last snow) is slippery!!!
The sand when going downhill is dangerous!!! (thankfully no falls – would have been very unhappy to get a rip in my new gear!!!)
I walked 2x for a total of 7 minutes and I’m going to be fine with that today!
I’m an idiot and was running sub-8 minute pace (explains the breathing and walking bit) – I’m supposed to be taking it easy!!!
If I hadn’t stopped and walked when I did the first time, I would have missed this:
Amazing!

This isn’t actually a picture I took (far too much trouble to get my phone out of the band) but a lady backing out of her driveway stopped and pointed out a bald eagle sitting on the lake! It was so very awesome! I wish it would have flown so I could see the wing-span but neat to see it sitting, too!
My little gloves are perfect for the constant running of my nose caused by the cold.
The sweat from running makes you really cold when you finish the run and walk an easy cool-down.
I’m going to continue to run outside (even in the winter) but unlike some of the true die-hard winter runners it has to be at least 32 for me! (I’m a wimp and totally OK with that!!!)
Over-all I enjoyed my run around the lake this morning (even though I still love my treadmill!!!).

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness

Is it Play or is it Exercise???

January 10, 2013 Kim 1 Comment

My 43 (entire work-out actually) involved this piece of equipment:

Would that count as true exercise or is it just child’s play? I’m going to say it was a work-out!!! (BTW – if you look at the picture closely you can see how beat up my little mini-tramp is. I have had it since college – 20+ years!!)

I got up (at 5:00am) planning to just do 43 star jumps on my little mini tramp – no big deal!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGLDTKwF-z4′]

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

(You get to see both boys because neither wanted to be left out of the fun!!)

Anyway, a couple jumps in I decided that 43 would be way to easy!!! So, I did what anyone would do and did 43 sets of 43 jumps with 43 little jogging steps on the tramp in between each set. By the end I decided that even though it was mostly fun – it was definitely exercise and a great work-out. In fact, it was interval training at it’s finest!!! For the star jumps I really pushed my arms out and up which helped get my heart rate up. The little jog was enough to recover slightly but not drop my heart rate entirely.

Things I learned during this play/exercise session:

All those big jumps at my age are a little scary!!
If I watched my reflection in the black TV screen it helped me keep my balance!
Play can be a great work-out!
43 sets of 43 jumps = 1849 total star jumps!!!
I can do things like this without falling off and breaking any bones (at least on this particular day!).

I’m happy that I changed my original plan and turned this into an interval work-out! Fun times!!!

Yesterday after the funeral for Chris’ aunt we went to the hospital to see another aunt and uncle of his. His uncle had heart surgery on Monday. He had one of his heart valves replaced with the valve from:

Yep – from a pig!!! Crazy!!! He is still in the CCU but hopefully not for much longer. His kids, Chris’ cousins (and their spouses) were full of pig jokes!!!