Category Archives: Lunges

Happiness

May 26, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

Today’s 43 was a quad burner!! I just did a back lunge with my right leg, pulled my knee in while staying in low position and repeated x 43.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF74OVc-r9g’]

You can tell I wobbled a few times – it happens!!! And, you know, this was the kind of move that I had to do 2 sets of 43 so that both legs could feel the burn!!!

I’m hoping that Hunter will decide to get up soon so we can all go play tennis!!! Jordan and I usually like to get a nice walk after our tennis rounds so I even though I’m not doing a “true workout” today, I will still get plenty of activity!!

Happiness is a state of mind and while I feel like I’m generally a happy person, I know that I’m always much happier in the summer!!!! So many things are making me happy right now!!!

Yesterday I put on a pair of my shorts (the first time of the season is always a little scary) and they still fit great!!

and my longhorn tat makes me very happy!!!

The boys washed the cars yesterday – clean cars make me happy and watching the boys spray each other “accidentally” really makes me happy!!!I just hung out, took pictures and tried to get a little color on my pale legs!!

Swimsuit season = HAPPINESS!!!

Chris and I went for the first boat ride of the year – it’s like being on vacation, almost!!!How can you not be happy floating around on the water???

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!!! Margaritas on the boat!! — It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere!!!
Margaritas on the boat!!

And, since it was our anniversary (another reason to be HAPPY), we got dressed up and went out to a really nice dinner!!We ate at the Row House which is always fun!! We always get the tasting menu which is about 6 courses but none super big!!! Last night we went out to the courtyard area for our dessert!

all of the veggies we had with our dinner came from their garden

How could I be anything but happy when this is the person I’m hanging out with?!

So many things that are making me HAPPY!!! If I had to sum it up I would say

Chris
my boys (Jordan & Hunter)
the sun – beach, boat & warmth

Like I told Chris yesterday – it really doesn’t take much to make me happy!!! But we all know that this never hurts!!!!!

What is making you happy right now?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Squats

Silver Linings

May 19, 2013 Kim 27 Comments

Today for my 43 I did some squat and lunge work because yesterday I caught a glimpse of my backside and realized that I have lost a lot of butt toning the past few weeks (TMI??) and swimsuit season is here!!! Yikes!!

So today, I did a 4-step move to try and start back in the right direction (ie – not saggy!!!). I held 12 pound dumbbells during this move to add some extra intensity and weight!

I started with a side-lunge to the right –

Then I stepped my foot back to the center for a squat with feet together –

A side-lunge to the left –

lunge to the left (don't mind the fact that I'm not going super low - wraps get in the way!) — lunge to the left (don’t mind the fact that I’m not going super low – wraps get in the way!)

And finally, another center squat to finish the rep –

One thing I love about doing lower body work like this, I can get my heart rate up while toning!! By the time I finished all 43 reps, I was breathing hard for sure!!

I’m giving myself another recovery day because between being an idiot last week, the storms last night, and being awake from 2-4 this morning while waiting for Jordan and the rest of the band kids to get back, I think it will be the best idea for the day!!

A couple of weeks ago I read the book The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick and loved it!! It is pretty intense but the concept is awesome (I’m not going to do a book review here because you might want to read it yourself!!). The other day, Chris and I watched the movie!!! Awesome movie – great story (and enough humor that Chris even enjoyed it!!).

A lot of times, I don’t like to read a book then watch the movie – it drives me crazy when they don’t match up. However, in this case, I didn’t mind the differences between the 2 (and there were plenty!!). I enjoyed the movie more – it wasn’t as intense (plus, hello, Bradley Cooper!!).

One thing I noticed, though, the concept of Silver Linings is brought out a lot more in the book. Pat (Bradley Cooper), is convinced that he will have a silver lining after all of the hardships he has gone through. I tend to agree with this idea most of the time. I think the times that we need the silver lining the most are sometimes the times it is hardest to really remain positive and believe that every bad situation has some good aspect to it. I think we all have different ways of “looking for the silver linings”. Some of us run! Some of us pray. Some of us turn to friends and/or family. I think the main thing is to keep looking for that Silver Lining because it’s there!!Without the trying times in our lives, we would never fully appreciate the happy times!!

How do you look for the Silver Lining during the low times?

Happy Sunday – I hope it’s full of Silver Linings!!!

Kim

PS – I highly recommend the book (if you’re a reader) and the movie!!

Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Running, Treadmill

Overcoming Fear

May 15, 2013 Kim 37 Comments

Today my 43 was all about working my legs!!! Finally!!!

I did a 4-count lunge: Lunge forward with right leg, clap overhead, clap under leg, clap overhead, step back – switch to left leg – repeat = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJjkZp1Rc4′]

Not gonna lie – 43 of these and my quads were burning, my arms were getting tired and I was breathing hard – I might be a little out of shape!!!

Today I RAN!!! This was my first run in over 3 weeks and obviously, my first run since having surgery. I was actually really SCARED!!! Like, awake half the night thinking about it, SCARED.

I don’t know why the thought of running scared me so much. I have run after numerous injuries – Achilles tendonitis, a torn calf muscle, stress fractures galore (the last one in my hip and I ran with it for 3 months) – I’ve run during 2 pregnancies and after giving birth x2 – I’ve run after wiping out during a run with blood streaming down me – but not after having part of my legs striped away.

It is completely irrational – a runner scared to run?!

But today – I was scared to run!!! So, I geared myself in compression stuff (I knew the wraps would be a mess) –

compression shorts compression socks — compression shorts
compression socks

I told myself what I needed to do –

I dug down deep –

And I ran.

As much as I wanted to test out my new Garmin,I decided to save that for another day and stick to the comfort of my treadmill (my overcoming and digging down only carried me so far!).

I started this run slower than I have EVER run but then I felt “it” come back and I drop-kicked the fear and just enjoyed the fact that slow or fast – I AM STILL A RUNNER!!!

I ran 5 miles and walked 1/4 mile.

Did it hurt? Yes
Have other runs hurt? Of course
Can I run through pain? DUH!!!
Will the next one be easier? Without a doubt!!!!

I’m glad that I didn’t let my fear hold me back!!!

What fear are you facing today? Big or little – you can beat it!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Fitness, Lunges, Quad

On the Mend and On the Road

April 15, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

Today I made use of the furniture in my hotel room for my 43. I used this little footstool as a bench. I did a lunge, one foot on a bench (stool), with a twist.

not me (sadly I'm not on a beach right now) — not me (sadly I’m not on a beach right now)

This was one of those times when I did 43 with my left leg on the stool and another 43 with my right leg on the stool. (We all know that I wish I was on a beach but I’m just pretending!!)

The rest of my workout was Turbo Fire Fire 45. For some reason it was hard – I must be more tired than I thought I was! Oh, well – I needed to do something before I spend the day sitting!!

Yesterday afternoon, Tim (my twin) and I took my dad home. He really did not look like someone who had just had a major heart attack (and surgery) 3 days earlier! I hope that this is a wake-up call to make some changes but I can’t force anything and he is a “big boy.”

On the way back to Abilene, we stopped to see our Poppa (98 years old!).

Overall, my trip to Texas has been nice (other than the initial reason I came down) since I got to spend time with all of my siblings, my dad, my Poppa and my aunt!! I told my dad that next time he wanted to see us he could just call and invite us down – it would be easier all around!!!

I’m heading home today (WooHoo!!!)! However, Chris is leaving this morning to go to the sim (simulator training) in Wichita. Because I didn’t know until yesterday when I would be leaving, he made arrangements for the boys for the night – both are going home with good friends (of their’s and mine).

Yesterday evening it hit me – I’m driving through Wichita anyway – boys won’t be home….so I think I will stay the night with Chris in Wichita!!! It’s a win all the way around – 2 hours less driving today, spending the night with Chris (and not home alone), boys are happy to spend a Monday night with their friends – WIN!!!

Happy Monday – I’m hitting the road!

Kim

PS – Good luck to all Boston Marathon runners today!!

Fitness, Lunges

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock

April 10, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

For the 43 today, I tried a new variation on a standard move – a spiced up lunge!!!

I did a right lunge with my left knee barely touching the ground – stayed in a low stance to pivot 180 degrees and did a left lunge (right knee barely touching ground) = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3k9zIyXDoo’]

(clearly I had some balance issues!) My quads were burning and my legs were shaking by the time I reached 43!! (the sign of a good move, right??)

My workout today had me ready to totally cuss Bob Harper!! It was hard, long, intense and great!!! I did Bob Harper – Inside Out Method – Pure Burn/Super Strength. 66 minutes of torture with Bob. So many reps and holds – my arms are still shaking while I’m trying to type. Even the 3 people in the video struggled to do all of the reps and holds! Every time Bob said just 15 more seconds I had to tell myself that you can do anything for 15 seconds!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Vn5kCasUo’]

The clock just keeps ticking – sometimes I feel like I’m barely keeping up with it and other days it can’t keep up with me!! Lately, every time I look at our calendar I think I either need to move faster or the ticking needs to slow down. And I know that compared to lots of people we aren’t really that busy because we are all 4 home-bodies!!

I’m going to adapt to the ticking today and not lose sight of what really matters – Chris and my 2 boys!!!