Category Archives: Core

Reality Shows

April 22, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

Today’s 43 was all about balance and working the hips (and outer thigh). This is a move that I got from TaeBo!

Start with all of you weight on your left leg (don’t worry – we will get to the other side!!) with your left toe turned to the side and your knee slightly bent.

Lift your right leg (hip height if possible) and get balanced.

From this position – extend your leg out straight.

Continue bending and extending your leg for your desired # of reps (43 here!). Then the real fun begins because you get to switch sides (and the second leg always starts feeling the pain quicker!!).

Try to do the same # of reps on the second side!!! Of course that means 43 for me!!

I like this move – it works an area that I try to spend time on (hips/thighs) pretty often to prevent injuries when I’m running. Plus, the balance challenge helps strengthen my core – always a good thing!!!

The rest of my workout was great!!! I tried out another Cathe DVD – HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). The DVD has 3 HIIT segments – each about 30 minutes long. I decided (cause I’m a glutton) to do 2 of the segments. I started with the 30/30 which starts with a warm-up and then has 16 intervals each 30 seconds long followed by 30 seconds rest. It’s amazing how the same amount of time can feel so different!!!

After that I did the 40/20 which also starts with a nice warm-up followed by 16 intervals. That extra 10 seconds is brutal!! The nice thing on this section, even though the rest is only 20 seconds, after each 4th interval, you get a 1 minute break!!!

I thought about doing the 3rd section but that just seemed like a bit much on the HIIT action!! Soon!!

I’ve decided I might be a bit of a reality TV show addict!! I’m not sure what the draw is but I get totally caught up in a lot of the reality shows on TV. Some of my favorites:

Celebrity Apprentice – what’s not to love about watching the celebrities go after each other. Plus, it’s always good to see the Donald! This season (All Stars) is really entertaining – how long can Gary Busey last?!

I’m not sure why I enjoy Dance Moms so much – I have never danced, my boys don’t dance…I guess it is just watching Abby!!!

America’s Next Top Model is another one that entertains me. My favorite is when the whole season airs in a single day (usually a Saturday!!) – especially if I have a long treadmill run planned!!I loved the season with the British included!!

The Real Housewives of New York – I know these shows offer nothing in the way of education or even real life experiences (at least not my life) but I enjoy them!!! I liked the RH of NY best when Bethany was part of the group!!

I taught myself to sew just enough to make curtains – so basically I can make fairly straight lines. And, I don’t have a creative bone in my body. But – I love Project Runway!! Do people really wear the type clothes they make?!

My favorite of all the reality shows I watch (and the one I want to be on) – The Amazing Race!!!For years I’ve talked about being on this show. One night we had friends over and Chris mentioned something about the Amazing Race and the fact that it would be fun but he didn’t know who he would go on it with – WHAT?! ME! ME! I’M RIGHT HERE!!!

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to go on it with me because he ~~thinks~~ knows that I ~~might~~ would definitely yell and probably curse at him on national TV. I ~~might be~~ am ~~a little~~ insanely competitive!!! It might not be great for our marriage if we went on the show together!! Plus, Chris is one of those super sweet and caring people and would want to help everyone along the way! (see why we haven’t signed up yet?) I guess it is better for us to just continue watching it together and not be contestants. Maybe I can convince my younger brother, Sam to go on with me!!!

Do you watch reality shows on TV? Would you ever go on one?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders

No Resting Here

April 21, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Some days I pick my 43 thinking it won’t be so hard and some days I am WRONG!!! Today was one of those days – the move was a version of the old windmill move/stretch. The goal was to work your obliques and a bit of arms/shoulders – Done!

Start with your legs wide, toes slightly pointed out and a weight in your right hand.

Reach down with your left hand to the outside of your left foot while reaching straight up with your right hand.

(Jordan said he can’t touch his toes – better work on his flexibility!!) After doing 43, or your # of reps, put the weight in your left hand and repeat.

I used an 8 pound dumbbell and it was hard (I think my shoulders are a little sore from yesterday’s TaeBo band work!).

This morning it is pretty nice here (although it has gotten cloudy in the last 30 minutes) so I decided to run outside. I only ran 3.5 miles (lots of hills!!) at just over 8:00 minutes/mile – I never really settled into the run today. My breathing was all over the place. Still, it was nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!!

I typically take Sunday off and I know I haven’t the past couple of weeks – starting Wednesday I will be taking a few days off (not from my 43 but the rest of my workouts) so I’m taking advantage of the days until then!!!

Now, I’m heading back outside to pull the weeds that have gotten out of control with all of the rain we’ve had lately – FUN TIMES!!!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

A Few Basic Facts

April 20, 2013 Kim 12 Comments

Today’s 43 was fun!! Just 2 simple parts: plank

then push back to a pike.

The work comes on the way back down to the plank – you have to really hold your core muscles tight to stop yourself so that you are level (no droopy butts here!!).

I tried to keep the movements nice and smooth – not super fast – so that I could get max benefit from this exercise. I timed this 43 and it took 2:38 to complete all the reps.

Definitely a move I recommend trying!!!

Then, I pulled out one of my old-school TaeBo DVDs. I did Total Body Fat Blaster and it was HARD. For this workout, you use bands that slip onto each foot. (I took out the 1 pound weights inside of mine and still struggled!)I’ve always enjoyed TaeBo and today was no exception. This workout was 55 minutes of cardio and toning all tied together. My arms are still shaking from all of the tension the bands provide!!

A friend had this on FB the other day and I thought it was too good not to share!!!

Some of the other “facts” I have learned over the years:

You can’t keep your eyes open when you sneeze.
If you do manage to sneeze with your eyes open, your eyeballs will pop out!
If you cross your eyes, they could get stuck in that position.
Almost all dust is actually human skin cells that have been shed.
It is not possible to tickle yourself no matter how ticklish you are.
You can’t hum when your nose is plugged.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.

Do you know which of he above “facts” are real and which are myths?

Happy Saturday!!! (don’t you feel smarter or at least happier for reading the silly facts?!)

Kim

Butt, Chest, Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Perspective & Gratitude

April 18, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

Today’s 43 was a great combo move! I did a bench press with my hips raised. (22.5 pound dumbbells using my Select Tech weights)

I wanted a weight that would challenge me to complete all 43 and this weight did the trick!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQHMwn_cn-Y’]

For the rest of my workout I ran (first time in a couple of weeks because of a sore hamstring). It was a great time for me to really think about some things and gain some much needed perspective!!!

8 miles @1.5% incline – 54:24 + 2.5 miles at a slower pace with higher incline for a total of 95 minutes.

Yesterday was one of those days!!! I had a long list of things to do and everyone of them took longer and was more difficult than it should have been. After dropping Hunter at school, I had 45 minutes before my dentist appointment so I went by the medical supply store to pick up some of these lovely support hose

However, the store didn’t open till 9:00. No big deal – headed to the bank to make a deposit. Went around to the drive-thru area and thought they were all closed. Fine – back to the medical supply place to wait.

When I went in the medical store, the guy was super nice and said they were cash-and-carry (no insurance) and recommended another supply store (because I guess these support hose are pricey!). OK. Back to the bank – only to realize that I’m an idiot!!!

What I thought were closed drive-thru lines (which I thought was weird since it was way past 7 or even 8:00am) were open. The problem – they all said open in RED!!! Red means STOP – everyone knows that!!!

See – why I thought they were closed?! Oh well – marked it off the list. Next stop was the post office and thankfully that went smoothly!! By this time, it was almost 9:30 so I spent an hour at the dentist – he thinks I might need a root canal but wants to wait until my next visit to decide (6 months) – Joy!!

After the dentist I headed to the other medical supply place (across town) – found it, along with a sign on the door saying they have moved!! Awesome!! Another drive across town, a phone call (couldn’t find the place) and I finally made it. A super sweet lady helped me, measured my legs and said they might be able to get them here by next week (supposed to have them before Wednesday) and my insurance might cover them. (She called later in the afternoon to say they would be in and insurance would cover 80%!!)

I called Chris on my way to the grocery store to vent – he answered and immediately asked if he could call me back. Of course – par for the day (not his fault, he was in a meeting – just seemed to fit in with everything else). While grocery shopping, I got a text letting me know that my PE sub job was cancelled (track meet cancelled due to rain & storms) – not gonna lie – I was elated!!!

Oh – it was rainy and cold all day yesterday, too (and again today) – sort-of wish I was still enjoying the 90 degree weather that Texas had when I was down.

However I know that the events of my day yesterday are so trivial and insignificant when I look at the tragedy in Boston on Monday and the awful explosion in West, Texas last night. My family is all together and healthy and I really don’t have a single thing worth complaining about!!!

In fact, I have much to be thankful for!!!

I wanted to end with something that made me super happy yesterday – I received my newest shirt from the super talented Cait.

I'm out to chick you — I’m out to chick you

Check out Cait’s online store to see her other T-shirts as well as art work. She rocks!!!

Happy Thursday – I’m going to spend my day being grateful for all of the wonderful things in my life and not complaining about the things that don’t even really matter!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Treadmill

Winner Winner

April 14, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today’s 43 was supposed to be easier than yesterday’s!! I wanted to work my abs so I did a star crunch. It ended up being a pretty good challenge!

Lie on your back with your arms and legs making a big X. Lift your legs, arms and head slightly off the ground. Reach your right hand and left leg up (above you), trying to touch your toe – switch sides – 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pvMvdU_C5g’]

(special video today – Chris!!) The move should be slow and controlled – a big challenge to get 43 done!!

I typically take Sunday’s off but I have spent a LOT of time sitting the past few days. I take the stairs (4 flights at my hotel and 2 at the hospital) as much as possible but still… I need some activity – I just walked on the treadmill in the hotel fitness center (4 miles @ 2.5% incline – 58:00 minutes). I didn’t run because my left hamstring is still a little sore and the treadmills have really short belts – not my favorite for running!!!

Yesterday was another day full of hospital time, being with my 2 brothers and sister and seeing my grandpa!! My dad is looking really good – not at all like someone who suffered a major heart attack 2 days ago. Hopefully he will be able to go home soon!

FYI – Hunter had a great time at his birthday sleep-over. Pizza, cake, ice cream, donuts, some Xbox, a movie and lots of basketball!!!