Category Archives: Cardio

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Running, Treadmill

“It’s Against the Law”

October 2, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

Today for my 44 I tried a new to me move – a football stomp with an axe jump (plyo jack). The football stomp is basically fast feet for about 5 seconds and then you do a plyo jack.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgOsnw0Zdo’]

(Still can’t figure out why all the early morning videos are so yellow – better do some playing around with my camera!) This was a fun 44 and it went really quickly!

I haven’t been running a lot lately (mental block & babying my Achilles) but thought I should get in a few more runs in the next week and a half so that’s what I did this morning.

The run was great – I did 6 miles at a quick pace and then an easy 1.75 miles for 61:00 total minutes of running. (1.5% incline) Hopefully another couple of runs will happen in the next week and then it will be time to see what I’m made of!!!

I rarely have any type of controversial post and political stuff isn’t a big topic for me. However, I couldn’t totally let this whole government thing go.

As you all know, Chris is a pilot for the United States Air Force – he is in the Kansas Air National Guard. For 27 years he has served our country.

Now, thanks to a very unsettled government, there are many military and other government people who are being furloughed and are looking at a few days, weeks, whatever the time period ends up being, of not getting paid.

The way I see it, if the government is shutting down, Congress should definitely not be getting paid – all of them not just the few who have offered to waive their pay.

And, with a shut- down there should at least be some extra days off.

Here was the conversation between Chris and I last night:

Kim: I think the US military should stage a walk-out if they aren’t going to get paid.
Chris: That’s against the law.
Kim: The law made by the same government that is now not paying you?! Oh – well that seem’s ~~fair~~ completely RIDICULOUS!!!

Obviously I tend to exaggerate things a little since (supposedly) the military will still get paid.

So – yesterday I said I was thankful that Chris still had a job – and I am. However, I’m not thankful for the way things are being handled in our country right now. Just my very un-educated point of view on the matter!!!

And, for the record, I think that all government employees should stage a walk-out!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Plyo

Thankful Tuesday

October 1, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

The 44 today is my least favorite move ever – jumping lunges!!! And, because sometimes I feel the need to challenge myself, I held 12 pound dumbbells while I jumped – FUN TIMES!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g-fst927SM’]

I counted a right lunge and a left lunge as 1 rep so I really had to jump 88 times to complete my 44.

Garage boot camp today was the 5-4-3-2-1 Workout. I had to make a few modifications to this one since we were in the garage and driveway but it worked out fine and was a great workout!!! Teaching boot camp has been nice because it is the only time I workout with a group anymore – I am really enjoying it!!!

I feel like I have had more than a few negative days lately and it comes out on my blog. I try to stay positive here but I also try to be completely real and real life sometimes is exhausting and trying and just plain hard!!!

Today I thought I would just share some of the things that I’m thankful for – sometimes I forget to stop and think about how very much I have to be grateful for. I’m always glad that the amazing Jody @ Truth2BeingFit reminds us to start each Monday with gratitude!!!

Today I’m thankful that my family is all healthy!!!

I’m thankful for the great cross country season that Hunter has had!!! Today we will go to Manhattan for his final meet of the year! I’m very happy and thankful that he has learned to really enjoy running!!!I’m thankful that Jordan had a good experience last night at his first debate practice rounds. Even though he was nervous he did a good job and like he said he will just continue to get better.

I’m thankful that even though the US Government is making some ridiculous decisions these days, Chris still has a job!!

I’m thankful that the fall weather has been so incredible lately!!! We are supposed to get to almost 90 for the next few days – love the sunshine and warmth!!!

I’m thankful that we have WIFI at our new venue now so I can get some work done while I’m waiting on the electrician and other stuff today!!! (small stuff is pretty important!)

I’m thankful for all of the great friends I’ve made through blogging!!!!

I could go on and on now that I’ve started my thankful list but it is time to get on with the day!!!

Just making this short list has totally boosted my mood – bring on Tuesday!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

If….Then

September 28, 2013 Kim 39 Comments

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!!

Remember 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

Cardio, Fitness

Rejuvenated

September 27, 2013 Kim 51 Comments

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!

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!!!

For 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)!!

I 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

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Hamstrings

The Great Debate

September 22, 2013 Kim 40 Comments

Today I went with some kicking for my 44. I did a right front kick – left round house for 44 reps and then switched legs for another set of 44.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN1KjRKcaq8′]

(Hunter had American Ninja Warrior paused in the back-ground – Nice!!)

I like moves like this because they go quickly but also get my heart rate up a bit!

Yesterday morning was truly a new experience for Chris and I – we judged a couple rounds of the high school debate tournament.

This is a ZERO experience required gig!!!

It was really like being thrown into a hot fire – I got to the assigned room for my first round and there were 4 boys waiting outside. I just joined them and then realized that I was the one who needed to go in and “set-up” first. Oops!!

2 teams of 2 students + 1 judge = a full house for a debate round – WHO KNEW?!

The topic for this year (every single round, every single tournament): Should the embargo with Cuba be lifted.

Because I’m not really political at all (I prefer avoiding all of it and living in my happy world!) this was a good topic for me to really just focus on which side (affirmative or negative) did the better job of convincing me that they were the way to go!

Of course, the first round, since all 4 of the boys were the same age as Jordan and they were all very nervous because it was their first round of debate ever (Jordan will experience the same thing in a week or so!), it was hard to not just have my “mom” hat on and choose both sides.

My career as a debate judge was fun but 2 rounds was enough – not sure how many rounds of such similar info I could sit through – especially since each round was about 1.5 hours!!

I still don’t really have a firm opinion on the Cuba embargo and whether or not it should be lifted but it was very cool to hear young teen-agers so passionate about the subject!

Did you ever debate in high school or college?
Have you ever judged debate?
Do you think the US should lift the embargo with Cuba?

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Day With KT