Category Archives: Core

Friday, Friday, Friday

November 1, 2013 Kim 71 Comments

The 44 today is from Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) and her Weekly Wednesday Workout. The move is an oblique raise. I love the way this move works your core and also your hips (at least after several reps!).

start on side with bottom hand out for support

After completing 44 on this side, you know I had to flip over and do another set!!

I will probably feel these tomorrow!!!

For my workout I did a Jari Love DVD – I really like her entire series of workouts – her concept with lifting is high reps with lower weights but I’ve been trying to up my weights, too.

Today I did – Get Extremely Ripped Body Rock. This workout is fun – about 45 minutes that alternates between various dance based moves and high impact segments. The dance parts sort of made me laugh – especially the funk and hip hop but I just kept moving so that at least my heart rate stayed up. After the cardio, there is a 40 minute segment of weight work – complete muscle failure by the end – awesome!!!

I’m glad it’s Friday – this week has been rainy and gray but today is supposed to be sunny!!!

Look how cute Sam, Stacy, Isabel and Hays are all dressed up for Halloween!!! (Sam is my younger brother you know – I wish they lived closer!!!)

can you tell what Hunter is supposed to be?

Hint – look at the colors!!!

I had to quit buying these since apparently I have zero will-power right now!!! I don’t even like regular Oreos but these are amazing!!! (available at Target if you need some!!)

Look at the awesome new scarf that came in the mail yesterday. I won a giveaway from the lovely Susan @ Sole Searching Mama (thanks again, Susan!!) and I got to pick a scarf from Raven + Lily. They also have jewelry, clothes and gifts on their site.

Tonight is the last home football game for our school which means the last marching band performance. I’m excited to see the band but not looking forward to sitting in the cold for hours – better bundle up!!!

Happy Fun Friday!!! Any fun plans?

Kim

Butt, Calves, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

Where’s the Easy Button???

October 30, 2013 Kim 80 Comments

Today’s 44 was fun because not only was it a good move to tighten the butt/hamstring area but it was a great calf stretch – always a necessary thing!!!

I did a donkey kick from downward dog. Start in downward dog position:

Pull the knee in as close to your chest as possible (good for the abs) and then kick your foot back – repeat x 44. Then switch sides and start again!

This move went quickly – definitely one that I will do again!!!

Today I ran – always a happy thing. I did 5 miles just under 7 minutes/mile (34:44) and then 2.25 more miles at a nice easy pace with a steeper incline.

I need an easy button!!! Or maybe I need to be like Sam in Bewitched

and just be able to wiggle my nose and take care of everything!!! (Although, if I remember correctly, it didn’t always work out that well for her!)

Lately, it seems that everything takes 10x longer than I expect it to and every time I turn around there is a new problem/issue to deal with.

I know it’s just a phase and things will level out (I HOPE!) soon.

In the meantime, I will just suck it up and

HaHa – just kidding!!! (sort-of!)

This eeCard makes me laugh so I’m going with it!

If you have an easy button that you don’t need anymore, feel free to send it my way – I will return it as soon as possible!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

The Ebb and Flow of Friendships

October 29, 2013 Kim 85 Comments

Today’s 44 was a move fairly new move for me – the Sprawl!!! Start by making yourself a ball, then sprawl out (a big X) with your arms and legs slightly off the ground. Curl back in before repeating.

Clearly not the best place for pictures since my hand is hitting the stair rail – I was just trying to get the pictures done before Chris left for work!!

A few of these and you will really feel it in your core!!

And, for Garage boot camp, I finally put together a new workout!!! Today we did Count Down Boot Camp – not gonna lie, this was a challenge in a great way! Isn’t that what boot camp is all about?!

Friends come in all forms – work friends, social friends, fun friends, best friends and those friends that are closer than family!

As I look back at different points in my life, I can see times when I relied more heavily on certain types of friendships over others.

As new mom, I needed social friends more than anything. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with my boys when they were little but it was hard. There were times when Chris was deployed on or another trip and it was lonely!!! Thankfully I had a group of friends who were also raising young kids and we could plan outings together or escape for a couple of hours without kids in the evenings. During those years, this group of friends was essential.

As our kids got older, we all sort of moved on to other things. I eventually went back to work and spent a lot of time with my work friends. I was very fortunate to work with a great group of people in the office at my boys’ elementary school – we enjoyed spending time together for work and outside of work, too.

I have also been fortunate to have had the kind of friendship that is closer than family because it is 100% choice! In my mind this was a friendship that would never end and we would watch not just each other’s kids grow up but also grandkids.

For years our families spent all of the major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, birthdays….) together.

And then one day things changed. (I’m still not sure why or what happened.) There have been many times over the past year that I have grieved over the loss of this friendship in the same way you grieve over the loss of a loved one.

Over the past year I’ve realized that the number of friends we have isn’t really what matters (most fall into the acquaintance category truthfully!) – it is the quality of the friendships that is what counts!

Some nights I lose sleep over lost friendships – it is hard to completely let go sometimes. However, I try to just treasure the friendships that I have and let those people know as often as possible how much I truly appreciate them.

Friends – some come and some go while others will always be there even after long periods of absence.

Make a point today to let your friends know how much you treasure your friendship!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

PS – this post ended up being harder to write than I thought it would be so if it doesn’t make complete sense sorry!

Core, Fitness, Triceps

Workout Tools

October 27, 2013 Kim 34 Comments

Today I decided to work my triceps with the 44 – I did skull crushers using my stability ball.

The nice thing about this move on the ball is that I also had to work to hold my hips level so I got a little core work!!!! I just used 8 pound dumbbells because I knew that after about 20, my form would suffer with anything heavier – ended up being the perfect choice for all 44 – I definitely felt them but could perform all the reps with proper form.

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite workout tools since I keep using different ones for my daily 44.

Resistance bands: These are awesome especially when you travel since they don’t weigh much or take up much space. They are great as an alternative to weights and actually sometimes make moves feel harder than using dumbbells because of the constant tension.

Bowflex Select Tech Weights: I love these when I’m doing a weight workout. Since I store all of my workout equipment in one room and move it to another to work out, this makes it easier to move!! These weights adjust from 5 pounds each up to 50 pounds each!!! On moves that you just want a light weight they are a bit bulky but otherwise I love them!

Stability Balls: I love the extra challenge you can add to so many different moves by using a stability ball. Today I used one to keep my hips up. The other day I used one to do push-ups. So many options!!!

BOSU: This might be my all time favorite piece of equipment. It can be used like a step for an entire cardio + toning workout and it is also great to add a balance challenge to any move!! I love trying new moves on the BOSU – some are successful and others don’t really workout!!

Treadmill: I’m pretty sure that everyone knows by now that I actually prefer running on my treadmill these days!! Years of having no choice (babies and a traveling husband) helped with turning me into a treadmill runner. And, occasionally I try to use my treadmill for things other than running – not always a great idea but sometimes it works!

If I can't be on the beach then I'm pretty happy here!! — If I can’t be on the beach then I’m pretty happy here!!

What is your favorite piece of exercise equipment?

Happy Sunday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

Off Kilter

October 26, 2013 Kim 34 Comments

Today I used my favorite piece of equipment (again!) –

For the 44 I did a plank with my toes on the BOSU.

I alternated stepping one foot off –

then back on and the other foot off.

I counted a right and left step-off as 1 rep. About half-way through the 44 I started thinking that I should have timed it so I could see how long I stayed in plank – oh, well – I know it was long enough that my arms were shaking!!!

I decided to run again today. I’m enjoying just running to run again!!! I did 6 miles in 44:19 at 1.5% incline and then 2.25 more miles at a super easy pace.

Lately, for some reason, I feel a little off-kilter. I think it is a combination of the things that I need to get done and all of the extra activities the boys have this year.

We have always had family dinner – typically around 6:00pm – this is a great way to reconnect after being out and about all day. Lately, it is rare for everyone to be able to eat at the same time – I feel like we eat in pairs. This past week we only had dinner together 2 times!!! (Hooray for my crock pot so that dinner is ready at multiple times!!!)

Lately, our dining room table is just a mess. It is my home “office” and the piles are driving me insane. The problem is, my list keeps growing but my motivation is not keeping up with the To-Dos!!!

Last night I was home alone for the entire evening and I didn’t do a single productive thing – I watched mindless TV (have you seen that 4 Secret Princes Show?), spent hours playing on my laptop (not work stuff!!!), added more blogs to my feed (not sure why since I can barely keep up with the ones I already had!!).

So, I guess I will make another list for the day and hope that today is the day I actually make some progress and get back on track!!!

And, I always add stuff after I do it just for the happiness that comes from seeing stuff marked off!!!