Category Archives: Core

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Going in Circles

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Today’s 43  really tested one of my weakest areas – shoulders!  Plus, I sat on my stability ball while doing the 43 so that gave me a little bit of core work!!!

The actual move was sort-of totally old school – arm circles!!  I sat on the stability ball and held a dumbbell in each hand (I used 5 pound dumbbells today) with my arms fully extended to the sides.  Then, I did 43 circles to the front and another 43 to the back.  The circle part wasn’t really bad – the challenge came from holding my arms at shoulder height and keeping them fully extended the entire time.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIxWpjlfA0′]

(for the demo I just did 5 and 5 – those didn’t count as part of the true 43)

I decided to take a little Pilates break today and do a different non-weight bearing work-out.  I did a Bender Ball work-out. You do traditional core moves using this little ball:

add this to your ab routine!
add this to your ab routine!

I know that tomorrow I will feel this in every part of my core!!!

I decided that I was on a roll (ha-ha – I entertain myself sometime!) with core and shoulders today so I thought it would be fun to see how long I could hold plank.  (I know some of y’all can hold it a long time!!!) I got in position with my, iPhone right under my face, and hit start.   I lasted for ……3 minutes!!!  I know that is the longest I have ever held plank at one time – not sure if I want to try to go longer or not – maybe next time I will hold plank on my elbows instead of with my arms fully extended! (or maybe I won’t let my competitive nature take over and push me to try and go longer & longer & longer….hmmm)

Time to go get my nails done! (I know – completely frivolous and unnecessary but it makes me happy!!!)

This afternoon I get to help in the library at Hunter’s school – my favorite!!!

Happy 12-12-12!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Quad, Thighs

Family Picture Day – Fun Times!!

This morning when I picked my 43, I really wanted to do something that would work my legs but it still had to be non-weight bearing.  I finally came up with a good 43 and even sitting here typing my legs are still feeling the burn – Ultimate Success!!!

I used a couple of 8 pound medicine balls for the move.  One of them I just held over my head the whole time just to add a little extra and to make sure that I didn’t try to cheat on the move by pushing off with my hands!  I started like this:

Squeeze Hard!!!

I’m just sitting on a flat stool and have the medicine ball between my knees – just holding it in place took some major effort.  Then I lifted my legs straight up (knees still bent at this point).

Squeeze and Lift

The final part of this move was to extend my legs – this was the hard part and I had to lean back a little (I figure that’s OK – I could work my core some, too!!!).

Extend and Hold

I tried to keep complete control as I reversed the move (pretty sure that a couple of the reps I just sort-of dropped my legs – oops!!).  43 – worked my legs today!!!!

Today we are going to take our annual family picture for our Christmas card.  This is always an ordeal experience to be forgotten that requires a drink (on my part) in the true joy of the Christmas season (thats what we are going with).  Jordan typically wears white Nike shorts and a white Nike T-shirt every day of the year (summer & winter) so the fact that he has to put on something different never goes over well.  Then the timer on the camera and smiles and eyes (open preferably) and poses and locations and…..Anyway, I hope we get some good shots (of tequila, maybe!) later today!!

Today is a foggy, cool day – perfect for hanging out at home as a family (and taking pictures!!!).

Foggy (view from kitchen deck)

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Do you take family pictures every year?  Is it an ordeal?  Any creative ideas for FUN family pictures?

Back, Core, Fitness

LaLaLaLaLaLaLaaaaa

WooHoo!!!  Fun Friday started off with a great 43!!  I did a Roll & Reach!

  • Start facedown with arms and legs extended. (Every time I was in this position, I did a little Superman lift.)
  • Roll over left shoulder and immediately do a V-sit reaching fingers to toes.
  • Drop back down and roll over right shoulder – Superman again.
  • Reverse moves back to start.
The above is 1 rep.  43 was no joke!!!
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt2zlXdEPjc’]
I made the demo yesterday and this morning I added on to the move from the video.  In the demo, I just did the V-sit and then rolled back to the start.  This morning I decided that was far too easy for the 43 so I added the extra steps listed above!  Much better!
I did Pick Your Spot Pilates again this morning – Belly, Butt & Thighs.  I feel sure that I will be a Pilates expert at the end of the next 8 weeks!!! (or maybe just sick of pilates – who knows?)
Goofy grin
Last night we went to Hunter’s orchestra concert at school (6th grade orchestra!!!).  It was a very nice program – you can definitely hear and see the improvement from last year’s programs!!!
Hunter on the cello

I really do like the sound of the cello and Hunter is getting quite good!

Today I get to test my musical ability (or complete lack there-of!).  I’m subbing in the music room!!  Sort-of comical because I have less than zero sense of rhythm, pitch or anything else needed in music.  (Good thing I already know that the plan is to show a video of some sort today – hope it is a good one!!!)

Happy Fun Friday!

Kim

BOSU, Core, Fitness

Good News – Bad News

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I did another 43 today – I know – Big Shock!!  Today I brought out one of my favorite pieces of equipment:

BOSU

For the 43 I did an opposite arm and leg extension with a 5 second hold while balancing on the BOSU.

Balance and Hold
Get that leg higher!!

I counted a right arm/left leg and a left arm/right leg as 1 rep.  The 5 second hold added a bit of difficulty!!!  43 success!

Yesterday was one of those days that I would rather not repeat!!!

Good News:  I finally met with the specialist (Doctor #3 now) about my hip yesterday morning.  I do NOT have a tumor in my hip like my orthopedic surgeon (Doctor #2) told me I might the last time I saw him (6.5 long weeks ago)!!!

Bad News:  I definitely have a stress fracture (and have had it for close to 4 months now – making it worse every day). I have to be on crutches (no weight at all on my hip) for 8 weeks!!!  Ummm…What?!  Not really possible.

I tried to negotiate with the Doc:

Let’s Talk About This a Little More!
  • Me:  I ran this morning – why do I need to be on crutches? (I’m used to limping these days.)
  • Doc:  You have continued to do extra damage to that hip and if you don’t stop it will crack all the way through which means surgery and possibly never running again.
  • Me:  I won’t run but no crutches.
  • Doc: Surgery and possibly never running again.
  • Me:  I won’t run, I’ll use the crutches some, but I can still do other work-outs.
  • Doc:  Surgery and possibly never running again.
  • Me:  Hmmm…well, some work-outs (even if I have to modify).
  • Doc:  You have to be completely non-weight bearing for the next 8 weeks and hopefully then you can avoid surgery and be able to run again.

So, after being awake half the night thinking about what to do and doing a little on-line research this morning around 3 am, here I am:

Epitome of suckiness!!!

I’m going to try and follow the rules (except on the stairs – cause I’m pretty sure that me with crutches on the stairs would be dangerous!!) but I’m still going to try to work-out some.  Cardio is pretty much out (I don’t swim for exercise!!!).

I’m still planning to do a 43 every day – they just might be sort-of lame some days!!  Lots of upper body and core work!

Happy Tuesday! (I hope it is a better day than Monday was!)

Kim

 

 

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Bone Crunches

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Last night I asked Jordan and Hunter if they had some ideas for today’s 43.  I gave them my camera and let them come up with some stuff (very creative stuff, at that!).  They even gave all of the exercises unique names!!!

So, the 43 for today is thanks to Hunter!  Bone crunches (I’m not completely sure where the name came from but I like it.)  You start like you are doing a basic crunch but at the top, snap your head to your knees (a little scary for those of us older much older than 11!). Then, lower down and come back up and do a right and left punch with a little twist to complete a rep.

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

It was a nice ab exercise and the 43 wasn’t too painful!!!

After the bone crunches, I did a short, quick run.  4 miles in 24:19 at 1.5 incline then a super easy cool-down mile.

Happy Monday!

Kim