Category Archives: Core

Friday Funnies Are Back!!

Today I tried a move that completely intimidated me – a wall climb!  Ever heard of it? I hadn’t either until the other day when 6 Pack Momma @ She Runs Everywhere did a little video demonstration.  Well, that move did not end up being my 43!!!  I did a grand total of 4!!!  

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq5GZLzYlYU’]

And, even those weren’t very good because you are supposed to get your hands much closer to the wall and take yourself all the way to vertical – like I said – I was totally intimidated by this move!!!!  A 43 FAIL!!!

So, for my real 43 I did a killer lower body move!!!  

  • squat with feet together
  • stay in squat & step right leg out then back in
  • lift right knee
  • extend right leg (while your knee is up)
  • bring leg in & lower foot
  • Repeat (x 43)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JikMbSaL7A’]

And, once your left hip is totally burning and your quad is shaking (and you have completed all your reps!!!), switch legs and do some more – 43 more for me!!!

I decided to change things up with my workout today and do some yoga.  I did Denise Austin’s Fat Burning Yoga.  It was pretty good – a total of 60 minutes with plenty of strength work, core work and of course, flexibility.  I can only take Denise in small doses but I usually like her workouts!!

And, because the past week has been full of extreme emotions I decided that it was time for some more humor over here!!!

Yep!
Yep!
I sort of think this would be funny!
I sort of think this would be funny!
pretty much my thoughts every morning!
pretty much my thoughts every morning!
Duh!!!
Duh!!!
HaHa - I think this was me a few weeks ago!!
HaHa – I think this was me a few weeks ago!!
no kidding!!
no kidding!!
Again - Duh!!!!
Again – Duh!!!!
Love this - even though I might be a bit of a grammar nazi myself!
Love this – even though I might be a bit of a grammar nazi myself!
Still haven't learned this one!!
Still haven’t learned this one!!
I've said for years that if the label doesn't show the calories there aren't any!!
I’ve said for years that if the label doesn’t show the calories there aren’t any!!
especially if everyone around you is in the same boat!
especially if everyone around you is in the same boat!
Good plan - I'm going with it!
Good plan – I’m going with it!
Maybe....
Maybe….
see above!
see above!
HaHa!!!
HaHa!!!
every night!!
every night!!
Yep - about the time I finish my workout I realize that my productivity is gone!
Yep – about the time I finish my workout I realize that my productivity is gone!

Hope you enjoyed a smile and maybe even a little chuckle today!

Happy Friday!

Kim

Why do I stay up till midnight?

Today for my 43 I decided to do a move that Kristen @ Stuft Mama demoed.  This move involves one of my favorite pieces of equipment – 

BOSU
BOSU

Kristen called the move a scissor move on the BOSU – I’m not sure if I did it exactly the way she did but either way it is an incredible way to work your core!!

start
start

Just balancing myself was a challenge!!!

scissor legs
scissor legs
still scissoring
still scissoring

I counted a right leg up and a left leg up as 1 rep.  43 of these were hard!!  And, I had to hold lightly to the ball otherwise I kept rolling off!!!

I also taught Garage Boot Camp this morning.  We did another repeat workout – 7 mini workouts or 1 Super Boot Camp one of my favorites!!!  (I really do have a lot of favorites, I guess – oh, well all the favorites match all of my exclamation points!!!)

I decided to do another short run – I’m so happy that I’ve been able to run on consecutive days again.  I’m trying to not get too crazy with the running though because I have some big runs coming up – 44 miles in about 2.5 weeks (birthday run) and 50 miles in mid October – no time to end up injured due to running too much!!

Today I just did 5 total miles – 4 hard (24:19) + 1 much easier (almost 12 minutes) all with a 1.5% incline.  Other than my left Achilles which stays swollen all the time, my legs are feeling really good these days!!!

Screen shot 2013-08-28 at 11.44.19 PM

For the past 6 years, I have become one of those people who gets up at the butt crack of  dawn and therefore, I rarely stay up past 10:00pm.  This works well because Chris has gotten up early forever so he likes to go to bed fairly early, too.

However, lately, I haven’t had time during  the day to spend blogging so when Chris (and the boys) go to bed at night I sit down with my laptop (and HGTV!) to play catch-up.  All good until this happens – 

Screen shot 2013-08-28 at 11.45.54 PMMidnight!!!  12:00 am!!! 5 short hours before my alarm will start screeching at me and I will start all over with another day!!!

Screen shot 2013-08-28 at 11.50.44 PMYikes – how did it get to be so late with me still up?!  And why am I up?  Maybe tonight will be the night that I don’t ring in the new day!!!  (doubtful but…..)

How late do you stay up on a normal night?  
What time do you get up in the mornings?
Alarm or natural wake up?
How many hours do you generally sleep at night?
 (I’m to the point where it is rarely more than 6 & staying up till midnight is making it even less!)

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Who Helped Make You the Person You Are Today?

For my 43 today I did a side plank with a front reach – pretty much just what it sounds like.

start
start
reach
reach

I really liked this move – I could feel it in my core, hips and shoulders!!!  And, you know that I had to flip and do a set of 43 on the other side!!

second side
second side
reach
reach

I tried to make sure and keep my hips lifted the entire time – I was shaking by the end of each set – success!!!

I also started up Garage boot camp this morning!  It has to be in the garage because at 6:00am it is dark outside now.  I just have a few ladies who asked me if we could keep going with boot camp even though summer is over so we are going to try it for awhile.  Today we did a repeat boot camp –  ABC Boot Camp!!!

After boot camp, I did a super quick run before taking Hunter to school.  Treadmill at 1.5% incline – 3 miles fast + 1 cool down mile for a total of 4 miles in 30:05.  I’m sure Hunter was thrilled to hop in the car with his sweaty mom!!

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 10.00.30 PMWe all have people in our lives that have helped mold us into the person we are today.  It might be your parents,

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 10.02.22 PMa teacher, Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 10.03.21 PM

a coach, Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 10.04.48 PM

or any other person who has been a major influence in your life.

Some of you might be sitting there thinking – “Yep, I know exactly the person who has helped shape me into who I am.”  Others are probably thinking that there are too many different people and you can’t pick just one.  And, some of you might not know yet who you would credit with helping you develop into the person you are or want to be.

For me, I know exactly who has made me the person that I am – my grandparents!!!

Mema & Poppa
Mema & Poppa

Growing up, I spent every second I could with my grandparents – when we lived in other states it was harder but I loved and cherished every visit!!!

The summer before I started 9th grade, my parents got a divorce.  I lived with my grandparents that summer (and many after!).  Poppa taught me the things that my dad wasn’t around to teach me – how to build a book shelf, how to weed-eat, how to kill a rattle snake (I lived in west TX!!), how to drive, how to swim – the list could go on and on.

And, Mema taught me about life!!  She never met a stranger – from the check-out clerk at the grocery store, to the security guard at the mall, the small children at church and the oldest neighbor on the block – she would talk to anyone about pretty much anything.

Mema & Poppa
Mema & Poppa

Mema always wanted to look at the person/people in the picture not the camera!!!  In all of our wedding pictures she is looking at me because she said everyone should look at the bride – at the time I didn’t totally understand – now I do and I think it is one of the best wedding gifts I received!

Poppa showed me every day the meaning of a true work ethic.  He was still working at 80+ because he loved being able to get out there and do things.  He taught me that any job – no matter how big or small – should be done to the very best of my abilities.  I try to live up to that standard today in all of my endeavors.

Because of issues/factors that I haven’t ever mentioned on my blog, my mom is not the person that I really ever tried to please.  However, any time that I felt like I let my grandparents down, I was devastated.  In fact, several years during my early 20s are the only period in my life that I didn’t talk at least once a week with Mema – and that was because I knew she didn’t approve of all of my choices and I hated knowing that I was disappointing her!!!

Mema & Poppa
Mema & Poppa

The biggest thing I learned from my grandparents was how to really love someone.  They showed me true love every day of their lives!  They loved each other completely with no reservations and they loved me that same way.  There was never a second that I ever doubted the love my grandparents had for me.  Because of that love, I was able to open myself up to the love of a great guy – Chris, now my husband of 17+ years!

I’m blessed beyond belief to have had the amazing grandparents that I did.  Even though they are no longer with me, I know that the lessons I learned from them will remain and be something I continue to strive towards every day!!!

Who made you the person you are today?  What is the biggest thing you learned from them?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Autopilot

Today’s 43 was great because it worked my entire body!!!  The move includes a knee lift, lunge, plank and a big step.

Start by standing on your left foot and lift your right knee – lunge back with your right leg and place both hands on the ground – step your left foot back so that you are in plank – bring left foot back in between hands – stand lifting your right knee = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7CdkGEA0jc’]

I think the balance part was the hardest part of this move!!  After completing the first set of 43, I had to switch legs and do another set!!!

I pulled out a DVD that I don’t do often but it is a great workout – Reebok Boot Camp.  This workout is made up of a warm-up, 4 full-body boot camp style workouts, an  ab section and a cool down to give a pretty solid hour workout.  I like it because it includes some of everything – toning, core and cardio.

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 6.53.36 AMEver feel like you are on autopilot?  I do!!!  Saturday when I got in my car to drive home from Texas, I feel like I flipped a switch to autopilot 

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 6.53.17 AMand now I can’t figure out how to disengage!!!

All day yesterday, I felt like I was just going through the motions – workout? check, blog? check, meals? check, tutor? check.

At the beginning of this year (2013) I said that my main goal for the year was to live in the moment and enjoy every minute.  Well, to do that I have to figure out how to turn the autopilot switch off again!!!

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 6.57.18 AM

I look around at the huge amount of things I need to get done today and this week and think that I need to start by making some lists and prioritizing.  

Screen shot 2013-08-26 at 7.02.22 AM

#1  I think that I will get dinner going in the crock pot so I don’t have to think about it all day!!!Crock Pot#2  And, maybe if I sneak over to the swim beach for an hour or so, I can relax a little and come back focused and ready to tackle everything!!!

focusing and taking control!
focusing and taking control!

Yep – I think that the only way to get back on track is to spend a little time in the sun!!!  After that I can move on to #3, #4……

Ever get stuck on autopilot?  What do you do to get back in control?

 

 Happy Monday!!

Kim

Home Where I Belong!!!

Today for my 43 I wasn’t feeling very inspired.  I decided to try a new sit-up move and I really liked it!!! 

I used a stability ball that I held between my feet.Stability BallI did a sit-up while squeezing the ball with my feet/lower legs – touching my feet as I came up.

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

The nice thing about this move – I felt it in my abs for sure but my inner thighs also got a nice little burn!

Yesterday after the funeral, grave service and a late lunch at the church I hit the road and headed home.  Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.33.42 AM

 

1.5 books on CD (a great way to pass the time), a bag of sunflower seeds (eaten 1 at a time to keep me awake!),Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.37.10 AM 2 Laffy Taffy bars,Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.38.11 AM plenty of water, 1/2 a Diet Coke, Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.38.56 AMa cappuccino (trying to wake up for the last hour), Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.39.58 AM

2 quick stops (for the above junk and gas!!), 8 hours of driving

Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.41.31 AMand I finally made it home!!!

Screen shot 2013-08-25 at 9.43.14 AM

HOME – the best place ever!!!

Thursday, Friday and Saturday felt like a month with all that was packed into them and today I need to get caught up but I really just want to hang out and do nothing!!!  (For the record, my BlogLovin feed is up to 348 unread posts – and as hard as it is for me, I think I’m going to have to mark all  as read and start fresh tomorrow!!!)

Happy Sunday!!!  I’m off to enjoy my boys at HOME!!!

Kim