Category Archives: Cardio

Love the Feeling AFTER you Complete a Brutal Work-Out!!!

Today’s 43 is one that I have put off for almost a week!!  Hunter helped me make the demo last Wednesday before we all went back to school.  Last night I decided that today would be the day!!!  (I know that intro makes all y’all want to read more so that you can hurry up and do the exercise!!!)

The move:

  • burpee with push-up
  • jump up to squat
  • in squat jump and turn 180 degrees
  • burpee with push-up
  • jump up to squat
  • in squat jump and turn 180 degrees (to start)

The above is 1 rep!!!  To complete my 43, I actually had to do 86 burpees, 86 push-ups, and 86 squat-jump-turns!!!  Painful!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtBPSB1xiDo’]

I actually broke this 43 into groups of 5 – after each set I took about a 30 second break – cheating?  Maybe –  but necessary to complete all of these with good form!  (all push-ups on toes!)

For the rest of my work-out I decided to go with another day of Les Mills Combat.  I like to follow the guide the first time through a program so the next work-out was Power HIIT 1.  (a disclaimer – I’m not a lawyer – obviously!!!) Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 7.11.55 AMThat saying was running through my head as I did this new (to me) work-out.  The first part was strength – not too bad.  The second half – at least 30 more burpees with push-ups and squat jumps – REALLY????  Then….the Les Mills crew challenged us to add a tuck jump after each burpee!!!  (I stuck to the squat jumps today!)

BRUTAL in every way – but I did it!!!!!Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 7.08.04 AM

I might have looked a little like this dude when I finished – a wet, limp noodle!!!  However, I showered and got ready for another day at the library – rockin’ another pair of boots today so it’s all good!!Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 6.55.47 AM

 

Today is my niece, Bailey’s, birthday!!  A huge birthday shout-out!!!Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 7.19.03 AM

Bailey, I hope today is awesome!!!  Maybe Tim (her dad – my twin brother) will get you a car!!!  Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Tuesday (or Happy Birthday if today happens to be your birthday!)!!

Kim

Camera Issues (might have to go shopping!)

So weird – this morning when I went downstairs to do my daily 43, Jordan recorded me and everything worked fine.  However, after I finished my work-out and came up to upload the video – NOTHING!!!  I can’t get the camera to turn on.  I plugged it in to computer – NOTHING! I plugged it in to wall to charge – STILL NOTHING!!!  Crazy! (and a bit frustrating!)

Today for my 43, I used my kettlebell again.

20# Kettle Ball
20# Kettle Bell

This time I kept all of the plates in it so it was the full 20 pounds.  I used it for kettlebell  swings.  (Last night I watched this video, so I will use it since I can’t get to mine!!!)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJqPgV681Hg’]

I used the same form she did – just not as much weight!!!  Still, 43 with 20 pounds was no joke!!!  I was panting by the end!!!  This move worked so many different muscle groups – I should really incorporate more kettlebell into my work-outs!

I’m still keeping up with the 12 Days of Fitness.  Today (day 8) added bicep curls – I used 15 pound dumbbells for this move.

I felt pretty good after my run yesterday – I don’t have the sharp pain in my hip that I had for months!!!  I haven’t decided if I will give it the rest of the 8 weeks (4 more left) to heal or just start running again.  I might give it another week or two – I’m all about compromising!!!

I did Turbo Jam, Cardio Party 2 today.  Chalene really does make the work-out feel like a party!  I still kept it semi-low impact – I would rather be able to run sooner than later!!!

Today, is the last day before school starts back!  Jordan is in a bit of a funk – this hasn’t been his favorite year of school. :Worry:   I told him that tomorrow is a new start and we just have to be positive!!!  I hope the spring semester is better for him!!!

Screen shot 2013-01-02 at 9.45.13 AMMaybe we should watch this movie today – there is a lot we can learn from Mary Poppins!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

 

Good-Bye 2012

The final 43 of 2012 involved my

BOSU
BOSU

Today I did an L-step to the right with a knee raise and oblique crunch, L-step off the back with a knee raise and oblique crunch, repeat to left side and back = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTDxViXl5T0′]

You can tell from the video that I included a knee raise and crunch as often as possible.  I enjoyed this 43 – it got my heart rate up some but was still low-impact!

I did day 6 of the 12 Days of Fitness – today added in 6 pull-ups. (I had to do the assisted kind!)

Today instead of doing a work-out, I closed out my work-out log for the year.  It was a pretty consistent year of working out for me – 291 days!!!  (if all I did was the daily 43, that did not count as a work-out day)   Only 78 days of running (stupid stress fracture/hip pain!!!) but I did get a total of 694.7 miles so that is 8.9 as a daily average!!!  Hopefully I will stay injury free in 2013!!

Some highlights of 2012:

  • Quit my job in June (happy & a little sad)
  • family trip to Florida   in June
  • Great Wolf Lodge with boys
  • Sam & Stacy up for 4th of July
  • family trip to Texas in July – spent lots of time with my 98 year-old Poppa
  • Hunter broke his arm (he handled it very well!) – end of July
  • family trip to Denver in August
  • started this blog in mid September!!
  • quick trip to TX – shopping with my sister – early October
  • lots of time spent together as a family – Chris wasn’t deployed at all this past year!!!

Looking forward to a great new year in 2013!!!Screen shot 2012-12-31 at 9.37.53 AM

I’m going to try to remember this quote every day!!!  I truly want 2013 to be the year that I live my life in the moment and not spend all of my time looking ahead (or behind)!

Happy end of 2012!!!

Kim

Merry Christmas, Y’all!

Merry Christmas!  Since the boys are older and at least one of them (Hunter) likes to sleep in, I had time to do my 43 before we did our stockings this morning!

Today I used one of Hunter’s new Christmas gifts for my 43.

check out the sweet pink boxing gloves
check out the sweet pink boxing gloves

Hunter wanted a punching bag/speed bag combo unit (and, I’m really glad he got it!!!!).

For the 43 I did a combo move:

  • 5 right jabs
  • left-right punch x 5

I did 43 of the above combo and then switched my stance and did 43 of the combo starting with left jabs.  Worked up a sweat for sure!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOPvl3XTSKY’]

Check out the awesome shirt designed by this phenomenal running artist (just don’t check out the holiday belly underneath!).

Yesterday we had so much fun as a family.  I think everyone was happy with their gifts – always a good thing.  Here are some of the favorites:

Look out!!!Ruger of some sort
Look out!!!
Ruger of some sort
an iPhone 4S!!!
an iPhone 4S!!!
Apple TV x 2! (actually 3)These were requested - something about putting movies directly on the TV?
Apple TV x 2! (actually 3)
These were requested – something about putting movies directly on the TV?
Rocking new outfit!!!
Rocking new outfit!!! (obviously mine – I just skipped out on being in the picture)

(Check out this site if you are need your own sweet outfit.)

Lots of fun as a family.  I love it!!!

Another of our Christmas traditions is to do Raclette on Christmas Eve for dinner.  (I think true Raclette involves way more cheese than anything else.) Some great friends of ours introduced this fun way to cook dinner to us several years ago.  We always make it a competition to see who makes the best of each meat – steak, chicken, shrimp.  The set-up looks like this:

Set-up for Raclette
Set-up for Raclette  – sauces & spices to flavor your meats
Getting ready to cook!
Getting ready to cook!

It really is a lot of fun.  Last night, Jordan won for best chicken, Chris for steak and Hunter for shrimp.  Hunter was also the all-around winner!!! (notice who didn’t win anything??)

I love that no matter how old (and big!) the boys get, we still do milk and cookies for Santa!

cookies for Santa
cookies for Santa
pouring the milk
pouring the milk

Jordan even wrote a note for Santa:

note from a 14 year old
note from a 14 year old

This morning we did our stocking, stuffed ourselves with reindeer bread and now everyone is checking out all of their new stuff!!!  Later we will play some games with a friend who will join us for the afternoon and evening.  Chris will make a turkey for us in his new indoor turkey fryer.  (the very best way to have a turkey!!)

Best turkeys ever are fried!!!
Best turkeys ever are fried!!!

I decided to keep the meal fairly simple this year but I did make 2 tasty desserts – a cherry trifle and a candy bar brownie trifle.

Diet?  No!!!
Diet? No!!!
Low cal?  Ummm...
Low cal? Ummm…

I’m hoping that this awesome new machine gets broken in VERY soon!!!

Party Machine!!!!
Party Machine!!!!

Now, enough writing about our Christmas – I’m off to enjoy it.

Merry Christmas!!!

Kim

Fun Times – Games, Friends, “Work-out Tools” & Bells!!!

I love the fact that both of my boys have totally embraced my daily 43 and are willing to help me by filming me or doing the demos themselves!!!  I REALLY  love it when they pick  the move of the day!!!

Today’s 43 is compliments of Hunter.  He told me I should do classic boxing (classic according to Hunter).  Perfect – what would that be?  Duh….. (sometimes my boys think I don’t know things – shows what they know!!!).  Classic boxing:  jab-jab-punch-jab-jab-punch-uppercut-hook.

  • right jab
  • right jab
  • left punch
  • right jab
  • right jab
  • left punch
  • right uppercut
  • left hook

Well, I decided that I wanted to make the “classic boxing” a little more challenging so I added this:

BOSU
BOSU

Much better!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krPD8W3BoEo’]

Of course, after I did the first 43, I had to switch sides and do another 43 using the opposite arm for each move!!!  Thanks for a great idea, Hunter.  This worked my core, arms, legs (I kept my knees slightly bent in a semi-squat on BOSU) and got my heart rate up!!!

Yesterday was a perfect snow day!!!  The boys and I spent about 3 hours playing Monopoly (I won!! Chris thinks I’m awful but it is all in fun).  Last night, Chris and I met up with some great friends for drinks and dinner – good times!!!

A good friend posted this on my Facebook page yesterday:Screen shot 2012-12-21 at 9.03.07 AMUm….yes, please!!!  See, here is my “work-out equipment” ready to go!

New exercise tool?
New exercise tool?

The other night a friend of mine gave me an early Christmas gift.  The best part?

Chris!!!
Oh, Chris!!!!!

I can’t even begin to tell you how much this bell entertains me.  Chris, however, doesn’t seem to find it quite as much fun – not sure why?!?!  I think it will grow on him!!!  (or he might try to hide it…hmmmm)

Gotta bundle up and do some last minute errands and hit up the grocery store (not sure how that venture plays into Fun Friday since it will be a crazy mess – maybe I should take my bell with me!!!)

Enjoy your Fun Friday!!!

Kim