Category Archives: Core

An Attempt at Being Crafty

August 16, 2013 Kim 48 Comments

Today for my 43 I combined a couple of moves and ended up with a pretty good overall move!! I started with a pair of dumbbells (10 pounds) and stepped my right foot out wide. From there I lifted my left leg and hinged forward trying to make a straight line with my body parallel to the floor (balance work!!). After I stood, I did a squat with my feet together before stepping wide to the left and repeating the series with the other leg to complete 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybm5CsTBwM’]

Clearly, I have some wobbles but I enjoyed this move – 86 balance challenges + 86 squats to complete all 43.

I had plans for the rest of my workout but I had to add an extra trip to the middle school (before 7am) to drop off some stuff and be home in time to drive the boys to school and by the time I finished the morning drive I decided that today would be a good day-off!!! It’s rare for me to randomly decide to skip a workout but today is one of those days!!

Too bad it is just a day off from working out and not a true day off – spent on the beach in the sun – I guess I will just pretend to be on the beach!!!

I know people who are super crafty and creative – they come up with some of the neatest ideas. I am not one of those people!!! Crafting is not a strong point for me and my creativity is almost nonexistent!

However, every once in awhile I make an attempt to be a bit crafty. This week I have been working on a welcome back to school gift for all of the middle school teachers (all 80!!).

After finally deciding to get them gift cards from Starbucks, I decided that it would be fun to jazz up the presentation of the gift card. After a trip to Hobby Lobby, Starbucks (for the gift cards and cup sleeves) – I printed out a little thank you and then did lots (and lots) of gluing!!!

For a noncrafty person like me – I think it came out OK (I hope so anyway!!!).

My stacks of 80 cards ready to be delivered (the reason for the 6:30 trip to the middle school!!!).

Are you crafty? Do you enjoy the whole act of being creative?

Happy Friday!!! I’m going to enjoy my pretend day off!!!

Kim

PS – this was a gift from the PTO for the teachers not just from me!!! I somehow ended up as co-president of the PTO for the middle school this year and we didn’t have anyone who signed up to help with teacher appreciation so it sort of fell to me to get something done.

Core, Fitness, Running, Thighs

When you Make a Mistake, Make a Good One!!

August 14, 2013 Kim 64 Comments

Both boys seemed to have a good first day of school yesterday!! Thank you for your happy thoughts!!!

Today for my 43 I did a standing pilates leg circle. It is a slow controlled movement that is about control as much as anything.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Nh-T55gFw’]

I felt this in my standing hip as much as in the leg that was moving. And, of course this was a 43 that I did 2x – so that I could get each leg.

I did round 2 of The Race Is On (challenge workout of the week from Taylor). This is a fast moving workout and the person who you are racing is yourself. I love trying to beat my time each time I do a workout – makes me really push hard.

I also ran again today!! This time I went outside and it was a perfect morning for a run – 64 degrees with just a slight breeze!!! I tend to run slower when I run in my neighborhood because of all the hills. I need the hill training!! I did 5.5 miles in 45:50 (about 8:20 pace) + 0.50 mile walking for my cool down.

Last night was the band camp exhibition on the football field.

It was very cool because we saw a mini version of everything they have been doing the past couple of weeks. They start with a great warm-up: jumping jacks, push-ups, up-downs, high knees and stretching. It was fun to watch them follow all the different commands. And they actually sound really good!!

This year the marching program is all Styx songs – pretty cool!!

They have just started working on marching in formation and playing at the same time (they have about 3 weeks until the first football game!).

Last night they only marched for one song and did the rest in place.

The band director said they were still in the beginning stages and mistakes were fine. He said –
If you make a mistake make a good one – a confident one! And not the same one you made yesterday!!

I love that idea – we all make mistakes but we should own it and be confident even in our mistakes!! The only time that a mistake becomes a problem is when you repeat the same mistake over and over!!!

A lot of times I think we have a tendency to want to hide our mistakes but the only way we can really learn from them and move on is to admit that we made a mistake and correct it.

I’m going to really work on making sure that my mistakes are good (or at least made with confidence!) and hopefully not repeat mistakes!!!

Are you confident even when you mess up?

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

I’m not Ready for This!!!

August 13, 2013 Kim 68 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a weighted sit-up. I just used 5 pound dumbbells and reached them to my toes as I did the full sit-up and then pressed them straight up on the way down.

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

I ran today (first time in a week!). This week I’m trying to focus on running on tired/sore legs as part of my preparation for my 50 mile race which is just 2 months away. It is a very fine line for me to have weeks with higher mileage and yet stay injury free.

Today’s run was a steady pace (8:00 minute miles) for 8 miles with a 1.5% incline on the treadmill – 64:00 minutes plus an easy 0.75 mile to cool down. It is really hard for me to keep the pace even (I get bored and want to play around with the speed) but I did because I’m trying to focus on getting in extra miles not speed right now!

Today is the first day of school – how is that even possible?! I love summer – the sun, the heat and most of all having the boys home!!! We pretty much always have a good time together even when we aren’t doing anything major.

Summer has flown by and now we are entering a new phase!

I sent both boys to preschool without batting an eye! All day kindergarten? No problem!! In fact, the day Hunter started kindergarten, I hosted a brunch for all my friends who were sending their youngest to school. We had mimosas and everything!!!

But, 2 years ago, when I dropped Jordan off for his first day of middle school, I thought that I was going to have a complete breakdown before the day ended!! I was a shaky mess pretty much the entire day.

Today I will leave my baby (Hunter) at the middle school for the first time and my first-born (Jordan) will have his first day as a high school freshman.

I’m not sure that I’m ready for this! I feel like I’m at a point where I want to start rewinding the years because I’m going to wake up soon and be packing my boys to leave home. I better stop now before I dissolve in a puddle on the floor.

I’m going to just enjoy the ride during these next few years!!!

Happy Tuesday!! I hope I survive the day – I just want them to have a great start to the year!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

You Need Soap!

August 12, 2013 Kim 49 Comments

Today for my 43 I tried a move that Kat @ Sneakers and Fingerpaints did as part of her core challenge for the month. The move is called a Squirm and it is a great move to really work your entire core!!!

Start on your back with knees bent, contract your abs and crunch up – hold the crunch and alternate reaching your hands to your feet (you will be squirming!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQERK6UDdog’]

I counted a right and left reach as 1 so it took a little while to complete all 43. My obliques got a great workout and since I had my abs contracted the entire time, my whole core was feeling the move by the end!!!

Today was boot camp in the garage thanks to thunderstorms!!! We did one of my favorites – Tabata Bootcamp. I love how effective this workout is – short bursts at maximum intensity!!!

I also started week 5 of Taylor’s challenge. This week’s workout is intense!!! It is called – The Race Is On and it is a definite challenge!!! I love the workouts that Taylor has included in this challenge – most are under 20 minutes and don’t require any equipment (or very little!). They are great as an entire workout or as a supplement for the rest of my workout!!

So, earlier this summer when the boys and I took our trip to Texas, Jordan caught me off-guard with one of his comments.

There was some traffic at one point and I’m sure that there must have been some crazy drivers doing stupid things and I might have said a cuss word or two. Well, Jordan is very anti-cussing and he looked over at me and said – “You need soap!”

I looked at him –

and then just busted out laughing!! Ever since then, it has been a bit of a joke – any time Jordan hears a bad word (no matter who says it) he looks at me and says “soap“.

So, the other night, Jordan took his shower and then came into the living room with Chris and I. We were watching the very end of some show and Jordan just started ringing the drink bell repeatedly!!!

It was pretty annoying because it was right by my ear. I was trying to be nice – but after about 5 minutes of the annoying bell I said something to the effect that I was going to throw the damn bell in the trash if he didn’t stop. Next thing I know, Jordan pulls a bar of soap out of his pocket and sets it by the bell (and he has this huge grin on his face!).

Chris and I both just about fell out of our chairs laughing!!! Jordan was so proud – he knew that he could break me and he was ready!!!!

I really do try not to cuss around the boys a lot but sometimes…..At least I don’t really get my mouth washed out with soap! Growing up I did plenty of times (and I didn’t even cuss then!!) and it was always with the worst soap ever!!

Nasty and gritty – not fun!! I have never washed my boys mouth out with soap because I have awful memories of having it done to me.

Do you have a “word” police in your home? Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Quad, Shoulders

It’s Time to Stop Trying to be Accepted

August 11, 2013 Kim 32 Comments

Today’s 43 was one of my favorite kinds – a combo move!!! This one worked my lower body, upper body and core (balance) – it was awesome!!!

I did a side lunge –

and then pushed off my right foot to a knee lift with a shoulder press –

press to right knee up with shoulder press

After completing 43 on my right side, I had to switch sides!!

By the end I was really feeling this move. I used a 10 pound dumbbell and my shoulders were burning plus I was breathing hard since I combined upper and lower body.

I decided to take the day off from working out – I’m hoping to get in a couple of long runs this next week so I need to rest my legs a little.

Last night we went to church (it’s been awhile!) and the message was really good!! The main point was that we don’t have to try so hard to be accepted because we have already been accepted just the way we are!!

What a freeing thought to know that we are fine as we are and don’t have to try to fit any set mold or preconceived idea of what we “should” be. I think it is easy to becomes so focused on trying to be the person that we think others want us to be that we lose sight of who we really are.

We need to remember that what we do, what we wear, where we live – none of those things are what really matter. The person that we are is what matters and what makes us special!!!

And, because we are accepted for who we are, we need to accept others. Everyone is worth love, kindness and respect!!!

A simple friendly gesture can go a long way in helping someone around us feel accepted! The majority of people want to feel accepted by others and sometimes a little kindness and respect on our part is all it takes to help them.

When we truly respect other people it is obvious in the way we treat them!

This was a powerful lesson for me and one that I plan to remember every day! There have been many times when I have felt that I had to do something to be accepted but really I just need to be me and treat ALL those around me with respect, kindness and love.

Happy Sunday!!!