Category Archives: Core

A Retirement Tribute

July 27, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today for my 43 I worked my abs (silly since the rest of my workout was very ab/core heavy!!). I used my band –

With the band – I did a bicycle counting a right twist and a left twist as 1 rep. The resistance of the band adds a nice little extra to the standard bicycle crunch.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZZS5XrQhEw’]

After that, I did my 3rd round of the Climbing Everest challenge (from Taylor @ Lifting Revolution). Today instead of doing 1000 total reps, I did 1500. Instead of 7 sets of 100 mountain climbers, I did 7 sets of 150. And the 6 other moves that are normally 50, I made 75. Yikes – that really made this a difficult workout!!

Tuesday – 1000 reps – 14:13
Thursday – 1000 reps – 12:23
Saturday – 1500 reps – 19:13

Yesterday was not a beach day – we had much better things today!!

The main reason that we picked Bradenton Beach, FL for our vacation this year was because some of our long-time friends recently moved here and yesterday was DP’s retirement from the Air Force.

We first met the Page family when Chris and DP were in pilot training together in Lubbock, TX. They started off flying the T-37 Tweet –

The next plane that they both flew was the T-1. They were both planning to be “heavy” pilots (not fighter pilots).

After Pilot Training, the Pages moved to Oklahoma and DP flew the E-3 AWACS –

Later in his career, he flew the RC-135 (an air refueler – Chris flies the KC-135) –

For 22 years, DP has served our country! He has been deployed numerous times and has been involved in 1000s of missions both during war-time and peace-time.

The retirement was a great time to honor DP and for him to share about the family and friends that have supported he and his family during his career.

Throughout DP’s incredible military career, his wife (Erica) has been the most supportive military wife possible. She has survived numerous deployments, moves all over the place (even other countries), raised their 2 boys (often as a single mom) and done it all without ever complaining!!!

The Page family is a true example of a family that has given themselves 100% to our country!!!

Plus, they are just amazing people!! They are the kind of friends that if you need something (anything) you call them! We have taken several trips to Hawaii with them, visited their home and hosted them in our home – every time we are together is always a fun experience and plenty of great memories are created. (It helps that their 2 boys and our 2 are close in age and all get along!)

Congratulations DP & Erica!! We are proud to be your friends and love all of the times we have shared together!!! We’re looking forward to tons of new memories (on the beach!!)!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Cardio, Chest, Core, Fitness, Push-Ups, Shoulders

Packed Sand or Loose Sand for Working Out?

July 25, 2013 Kim 41 Comments

Today I did my 43 on the beach! It was hard!! I did a burpee with a tuck jump (although my tucks are not very high!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCSfRRoiuA4′]

It is HARD to jump up high in the sand!! This was a 43 that pretty much worked my entire body.

I also did my 2nd round of this week’s workout with Taylor’s challenge. I’m pretty sure that I’m doing the wrong workout this week but I decided to just stick with it because it is perfect for vacation – the one part that requires weights I can use my bands. This is the workout that has 1000 total reps (700 are mountain climbers!). Tuesday it took 14:13 and today I crushed my time – 12:23!!

And, because we are on vacation and I’m trying to maximize time, that was the extent of my work out!! Not gonna lie – working out for less than 30 minutes is not my normal and I’m trying really hard to be OK with the fact that if I go all-out for a short amount of time (HIIT) then I don’t need to work out for hours. Still working on the whole guilt thing!!

Burning Question:

In my 43 video today, you can see that I worked out in the loose heavy sand. I think it’s much more difficult to perform moves that require any jumping in the loose sand. However, when I was doing the burpees this morning, I had someone tell me that I should do them on the packed sand to really get the full benefit.

So – what do you think? More benefits from trudging through the loose sand or the packed sand?

And – you know I have to post some more beach pictures!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQgDZ13AERI’]

Chris and the boys playing in the water – Chris and Hunter said the waves were big enough that it was a workout. Jordan said it wasn’t even close to a workout – maybe because he has been doing boot camp with me all summer!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running

Pictures are Better than Words

July 24, 2013 Kim 31 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a move that I just tried for the first time yesterday (thanks, Taylor!!). The move is a plank with alternate thigh taps.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGOTXHt7u1E’]

I counted a right tap and a left tap as 1 rep. This was another one of those fun ways to spice up a plank!!

I also went for another humid Florida run. I only ran 3 miles (24:54) and then walked 0.5 miles. Today’s route was nice because I had water views almost the entire way!!

The condo that we are renting has some really neat beach themed pictures hanging around.

For years, Chris and I have talked about retiring to a beach. This vacation has pretty much solidified that for us – I love everything about being here – the water, the sounds, the art, even the feel of sand on my feet all the time!!!

The boys enjoy the time in the water, time hanging out with our friends here, and the whole relaxing feeling of vacation!!!

Matt (on the left) and Chris have been friends since they were young (like junior high)!! Matt & his family live in Texas but they flew out for a few days while we were here – so much fun to catch up with them again!!! Watching Chris and Matt play in the water yesterday reminds me that we are all kids at heart – they road waves for an hour and had a great time!!! (the boys were all at the pool!!).

Vacation is the perfect time to relax, recharge and reconnect with friends!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Ground Hogs Day: the Sequel

July 20, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today I had to get sort-of creative with my 43 since we were in a hotel room and I didn’t want to take the time to seek out the fitness room! (We checked in last night at 10:00pm after 14 hours in the car and I was done!!!)

I did a decline plank (put my feet on a hotel chair) with a spider step to my hands (right foot, left foot = 1 rep).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP36krKCfWQ’]

We actually did the video last night close to 11pm because I just wanted to get up this morning and knock it out (in my nightgown!!!) – and I was so tired that I didn’t care much how it looked – I just was happy to not fall on my face!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbtAFq7dP8′]

Well, I didn’t smash the alarm this morning like Bill Murray (only because I used my phone alarm and well….I might want my phone!) but I thought about it.

All I could think was UGH

A repeat of yesterday with some more of this –

A lot of this – But the main difference between how yesterday ended and how today will end will be this view –

So I guess I will endure a repeat day since I know what I have to look forward to for the next 10 days –

See you from the beach!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Butt, Calves, Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Hamstrings

Ways to Stay Entertained on a Car Trip

July 19, 2013 Kim 39 Comments

Today’s 43 was one of those that was much harder than I thought it was going to be when I decided to do it. I used a foam roller –

and did a single leg glute lift.

(BTW – I didn’t really do these barefoot – I just had Jordan take the pictures for me last night because I knew that no one would be up at 5 am this morning!) So, from the bridge position, I just lifted my hips and lowered them – 43 times!!

And, of course I couldn’t just do one leg!!!

Supporting myself with one leg is always a bit of a challenge but supporting myself with one leg on the foam roller was no joke. My calves actually cramped up before I completed all 43 lifts!!!

Today was my 3rd (and final) round of The Lucky – the workout that I’ve been doing this week as part of Taylor’s challenge! This workout was made up of 3 circuits with 3 moves each. To complete a circuit, you do each of the 3 moves for 20 seconds, then 40 seconds, then 1 minute. Finish with 5 final reps of each move and then 1 burnout move of 50 reps.

You count the # of reps every time through and track them. I’m happy to say that I improved each day!!! I wasn’t sure that I would today but – BOOM – nailed it!!!

As of 7:00 AM this morning we are on vacation!! The only downside is to get to the destination (Bradenton Beach, FL – near Tampa) we have 20-24 hours in the car!!! (Chris thought is would be fun to drive this time – guess who voted against that plan?) So, we are driving (and driving and driving and….)!!

Unless you are the driver (which I actually prefer), it is mandatory to have something to do to pass the MANY hours!! We will entertain each other but I also brought a few things to keep myself busy!

We bought this cool little thing called a WiFi Hotspot (we went with the Verizon brand from Best Buy) so that I could have internet access on the road.

It’s pretty cool – just activate it (we just did a 1 month plan), plug it into a USB and – Voila!!! I can still blog!!! My little set-up –

And, yes, I’m in the back seat!! Jordan likes the front and I don’t really care where I sit if I’m not driving!!!

I also have a whole bag full of entertainment – iPad, Nook, several magazines, trivia books and logic puzzles to quiz the boys with!

If Hunter and I get bored, we can watch a movie on my laptop (I just picked up 42 the other day and can’t wait to see it!).

Other forms of car entertainment – Turner style!!

* see how many different state license plates we can find (and yes, I’m keeping a list)
* ABC game (no less than 500 times!)
* the boys like to sleep (or pretend to be asleep)
* take 100s of pictures of each other (documenting the day!)
* music trivia – see who can name the artist of the song first
* play word games – rhyming words, starts with, memory games
* car bingo
* who can find _______ first (things like an RV with a bicycle on the back, a bright yellow pick-up, a horse…..)
* snacks – when the boys are bored they decide it is snack time

I’m sure that we will come up with other fun things (cause, you know, we have plenty of time!!).

What are your favorite ways to stay entertained or to keep the family entertained during a long car trip?

Happy Fun Friday!!! (I’m hoping our day is full of fun on the road!)

Kim

Day With KT