Category Archives: Core

Biceps, Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Lunges

In Case You Were Wondering….

February 21, 2014 Kim 69 Comments

Today’s 44 was one of those that worked multiple muscle groups – my favorite kind of moves!!!

I used 1 dumbbell (10 pounds) and started with it in my right hand –

Step back to right lunge with your leg extended and touch the dumbbell to the ground –

Stand with a knee lift and bicep curl –

And, after you finish 44 on the right side you have to switch sides and do 44 more!!

I enjoyed this move because it was pretty much a full body move and since I was working upper and lower at the same time, I really got my heart rate up.

Today was a fun workout day – Turbo Fire!!! I did Fire 55EZ which is not easy but a 55 minute workout that flies by!!!

I feel like sometimes I talk about stuff on here and then never really get back to it so today I thought I would share a few

1. I don’t set New Year’s resolutions but in January I did share a post with some things I wanted to do and try this year. So far I haven’t made a lot of progress but we did try something new to us the other night!! I made a Greek Barley Salad –

We had never tried barley – not sure why??? The entire family enjoyed this side dish!!!

2. I’ve been wearing a FitBit Force since the start of the year and I reviewed it after just a few days. I still pretty much just use it as a pedometer but that is working out well!! The first few weeks I didn’t really do anything different – just wore it to track and I realized that the only days I reached 10,000 steps were running days. Now, I try to get 10,000 steps in addition to whatever number I reach during my workout.

One way that I increase my steps is through the use of my Christmas gift – my standing desk!!

I love using this desk and when I read blogs I either pace around in between each one or I jog in place while I read!! Yesterday I hit 20,000 steps by the end of the day!!!

3. I mentioned that Hunter wants to run a half marathon this spring to celebrate turning 13 and we all know that I think running your age for your birthday is the best way to celebrate so we are going to do one together. We were going to run a large one in Kansas City in April but when it came time to start training and the weather looked like this –

Hunter wasn’t a fan of the training (and I’ve made it clear how much I hate running in the snow and cold!). For some reason Hunter didn’t want to log his miles here –

Weird but true!

So we picked a different race that I think will work better. We are going to do a race that is smaller the first weekend in June. He will start his official training in March and hopefully by then all of his runs can be outside.

4. Last week I shared a dilemma concerning our event venue and a couple who had sort of strung me along about turning in a contract and paying. Well, they did turn in the contract and full payment by the weekend so they are officially booked.

However, they are still causing me stress!!! They called early this week to set up another meeting at the venue. I let them set the day and time. Yesterday at 11:00 we were supposed to meet. I drove over in the sleet – waited for 20 minutes (past the time) – drove home in blowing snow – in other words I wasted an hour of my day and never saw them!

You know how sometimes you just don’t have a good feeling about a situation? That’s pretty much me with this whole deal!!!

5. I have mentioned that this year I’m trying to increase my mileage and still be smart about it and this morning I looked to see how many miles I have for the year compared to this time last year. I have more than 2x the miles already compared to last year at this point!!! Actually, it is about 2.36 times more!!! (yes – I did the real math!!!)

What updates do you have to share?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings

Dallas Buyers Club and The Biggest Loser

February 19, 2014 Kim 80 Comments

Today’s 44 really worked my hamstrings!!! I did a single leg dead lift (starting with the right leg) followed by a right kick. About the time my right leg was jelly, I switched to the left for a second set of 44!!

Yikes – I should have sucked in my stomach during this move – oops!! I used 15 pound dumbbells for this move and I know that I will feel this in my hamstrings and butt later!!

Still trying to juggle Michelle Bridges with other workouts. I’m pulling out parts of some of the daily MB workouts to do in addition to other workouts and that is working well for me. Today I did TaeBo – Extremely Ripped. This is 60 minutes of fast pace TaeBo with weights for the 2nd half!!! I started with 8 pound weights but because of the fast pace had to drop down to 5s!!

The other day Chris and I watched this movie. It wasn’t at all what either one of us were expecting!!! I truly thought the premise of the movie was gambling – WRONG!!!

The basic premise is that Matthew McConaughey’s character has AIDS. He is given 30 days to live – goes to Mexico finds a DR that is using medicine that hasn’t been FDA approved yet and 3 months later has improved. He sneaks the drugs in and instead of selling the drugs/vitamins he sells monthly “memberships” to the Dallas Buyers Club with access to unlimited meds.

Beyond the movie itself, I think what really got me was the drastic weight loss that McConaughey underwent for this role. Depending on what source you read he lost approximately 38 pounds and went from being fit to a skeleton.

He is about 5’11” -6′ (again depending on the source) and went from 170ish pounds down closer to 130 for this movie.

Actually, several of the actors in this movie underwent drastic weight loss to play their roles.

Here is my problem – actors do this kind of extreme weight loss (or weight gain) for roles fairly often and aren’t criticized by the media. In fact, often they are praised and rewarded by nominations for awards.

However, for 2 weeks now, Rachel from the Biggest Loser has been blasted by the media for her weight loss. Whether she lost too much or not isn’t up to me to judge – I think that she played a game (because that is what The Biggest Loser really is all about) to win and she did just that.

I don’t think she looks any worse than McConaughey and he lost the weight much quicker than she did!!

I guess my whole point is that the extreme weight loss happens in lots of areas and while I don’t think it is ever healthy, I don’t understand why in one case the person is overly criticized and in the other case they are praised.

Have you seen The Dallas Buyers Club?
Do you think that it is more acceptable when actors go through extreme weight changes (very quickly) to play a role than when other people do the same thing?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Quad

Random Ramblings

February 14, 2014 Kim 68 Comments

Today’s 44 was great for balance work. I did squats with a knee raise.

Start with a dumbbell on one shoulder –

ready - make sure you try to look bored! — ready – make sure you try to look bored!

I did all 44 with the right side and then I moved the dumbbell to my left shoulder and did 44 more.

left side - side view — left side – side view

I love moves that provide some toning/strength work but also add in the balance challenge!!

Today was yet another day of Michelle Bridges. I like the program but I don’t think that I will keep doing it every day – too hard to fit in all of the other workouts I want to do.

Some weeks I feel more scattered than others and some days my brain just runs a million directions – today it is all over the place so I thought it would be a great day for some…..

* Thank you so much for all of the great advice on yesterday’s post!! I feel like I have a plan and way to deal with both issues now!!! (Side note: the first couple actually called early this morning and want to meet me AGAIN this morning to “go over details.” I told them that they can drop the contract and full payment in the mail drop and we can meet next week. I had my day already planned and the payment does not have to be hand delivered – plus, I am not going to invest more time until they actually pay.)

* Yesterday we got all the way to 45 degrees and some of the snow finally started melting!!!

look - you can see the grass!!! (even if it is brown) — look – you can see the grass!!! (even if it is brown)

* I had my yearly physical on Wednesday and my DR filled out this Heart Quiz on me. I WON!!! Well, maybe those were my words and not hers but still she was impressed! My LDL and HDL were both 79 which she said is amazing!! And my cholesterol was 158.

* My office (dining room table – same thing, right?!) is a complete and utter mess all the time!!!

Good thing we eat on our kitchen table!!!

* I’m thinking about starting a Bridal Bootcamp at our venue. It wouldn’t be just for brides but the name is catchier that way!!! I’m still working on details and ideas.

* Valentine’s Day is mostly just another day to me. My husband knows – I would far rather get a “mushy” card from him on some random day “just because” than a card on a day that society has turned into a commercial holiday! (just my personal opinion)

* Do you read the 3 Cheap Runners blog?

You should if you don’t – they always have some great stuff over there! And today, you really should check it out because while they are sunning themselves on the beach in the Dominican (I’m not jealous – much!) – I’m guest posting!!

OK – enough rambling for one day!!

What is something random in your world right now?

Happy Friday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Off my Game a Bit but Totally Nailed my Step Goal!!!

February 11, 2014 Kim 66 Comments

Today’s 44 was all about the core. I did a sit-up with a twist. Start on your back with the soles of your feet together and your hands clasped over your head –

From this position, sit-up, twist to the right while bringing your arms down to the right –

Return to the start then come up and twist to the left –

This was a good move because to complete all 44 reps I actually had to do 88 sit-ups!!!

Today was a running day – 1.5% incline – 9 miles in 69:29 + 1.75 miles nice and easy.

Tuesday is pretty much always a treadmill day for me because I like to watch Monday night’s episode of The Bachelor and I don’t feel guilty when I’m running at the same time!!!

Guess What?!

When you run over 10 miles, you can easily get 10,000 steps – all before 7:00 am!!!

I guess today’s goal needs to be 20,000 steps so I don’t turn into a slug for the rest of the day!!!

My schedule feels off today (and it’s only 7:30) – I think it’s because I have a sick boy. Even though my boys aren’t little any more, when they are sick they seem younger!!!

Poor Hunter – came home from school yesterday completely fine and then about 2 hours later he was totally miserable – terrible headache and a stomachache. He has been sleeping pretty much nonstop since 6:00 pm yesterday evening. Hopefully a day full of rest and liquids and he will feel much better again!!!

Maybe if I run up and down the stairs all day checking on him I will reach my 20,000 step goal – taking care of my sickie and getting steps – sounds like a game plan for the day!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness

Celebrating Russia (host of the 2014 Olympics)

February 10, 2014 Kim 90 Comments

Today’s 44 was fun even though I look like a total dork!!! I did a roundhouse with a back fist.

I did all 44 on my right side and then switched to the left for another set. This got my heart rate up and worked my butt and core!!!

I didn’t do Michelle Bridges today – I’m going to keep doing the program but not 6 days a week – it is too hard to balance those workouts with my running so I’m going to mix them in a little differently this week and see how it goes.

The Olympics have always been one of my favorite times – I like the summer ones more but still enjoy watching as much of the winter ones as possible!!!

We decided that we should have a Russian meal to celebrate the host country of these Olympic games. Good thing we have such a great resource with the internet!!!

For the main dish I made cabbage rolls (in the crock pot!!) – I used ground beef and brown rice as the filler. The boys liked this – I think next time I won’t boil that cabbage first since it cooked even more in the crock pot.

As a side dish, we made zucchini pancakes. This is the first time that I’ve ever tried a savory pancake and these were really good!!! Might have to make them again!!!

And, I’ve said many times that I don’t bake but I felt like a Russian meal wouldn’t be complete without Russian Tea Cakes. Surprisingly, these came out OK!!!