Category Archives: Fitness

Butt, Fitness, Quad, Thighs

Breaking the Rules (barely!!)

December 11, 2012 Kim 4 Comments

I did a lower body 43 today and it was awesome (and hard!!). It involved this cute little band around my ankles.

I stayed in a semi-squat (just enough to feel the burn but not a true squat) and did the following:

2 steps to the right
2 steps left
2 steps right with a left leg abduction
2 steps left with a right leg abduction
abduction – left, right, left, right

The steps listed above = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4slDnqMyI’]

43 of those and I felt all of them – especially in my outer thighs/hips. I had to do a quick stretch 2 times before I finished all of the reps. I did this hip stretch:

Put all of your weight into one hip and push that hip back. Nice!!

So, I know that this little move goes against Drs orders (non-weight bearing and blah, blah, blah) but it was less than 15 minutes and it was sooooooo great to move and work my lower body!!!

Hair night – WooHoo!!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

BOSU, Fitness, Push-Ups

Favorite Things

December 10, 2012 Kim 5 Comments

The 43 today was another version of the good ‘ol push-up! I love trying all different types of push-ups and today’s was a good one!

I used my BOSU again!

Today, however, I flipped it over for the move.

After Jordan did a few awesome push-ups, I did 43 using the BOSU. I was able to do all of them on my toes – just had to stop and do a quick stretch 2 times before I finished!

I also did my standard (standard for these days – while I can’t do a real work-out) work-out: Pick your Spot Pilates. I did all 3 sections again – belly, butt, thighs.

This morning when I was driving home, after dropping Hunter off at school, I heard the song My Favorite Things by Lorrie Morgan.

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

The song made me think of some of my favorite things (it is an ever-changing list except for the top). Here are some of my favorites on this bitterly cold Monday:

Chris, Jordan, Hunter
seat heaters in my car (even though Jordan always puts on the seat cooler for his seat – even today when it is only 10 degrees – crazy!!!)
hot Chai
crockpot (with tonight’s dinner cooking away!)
Christmas lights in every room!
text from a friend
running (just not today or for awhile)
sappy, predictable Christmas movies on Lifetime
fleece (doesn’t matter what really – shirt, pants, blankets…)
music
pictures

I could go on but I have to get busy addressing Christmas cards!!! Normally I used the kind of envelopes that you just peel off the back and stick – not this year for some reason (oh yeah, the size of the picture). I’m not sure about licking 150+ envelopes.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt8E_27iyOk’]

Maybe I will find a damp sponge!!!

Happy Monday!

Kim

Back, Fitness

Don’t Quit!!!

December 9, 2012 Kim 1 Comment

Today was the first time since I started my quest of completing a 43 every day this year that I almost didn’t do one. However, I decided that it didn’t have to be super hard – it just needed to be!!!

So, the 43 today (Yeah!!!! there was one!) was a lateral raise while laying face-down on a stability ball. I just used 5 pound dumbbells for this move.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfpBJikZC48′]

The main thing I focused on during the 43 was trying not to jerk my arms up and to use control when lowering them.

Yesterday after the fun family photo shoot, (more great pictures on the family page)

Jordan decided that he would make dinner. He had plans to concoct a unique creation (beef, ketchup, honey, barbecue sauce, Italian seasonings, lettuce, tomatoes,scrambled eggs and who knows what else were mentioned) cooked in some ~~crazy~~ manner. He and Chris worked together in the kitchen (I was banned) and I truly thought they were making Jordan’s stuff because of the conversations I could hear.

When they called me in, they actually had a baked spaghetti dish (very tasty!!). However, Jordan did make up a new dessert:

Not sure if it has a name but it was pretty good. He mixed blackberry pomegranate yogurt, some sugar, some graham cracker crumbs, some craisins, granola and honey to make the above treat! Maybe he will be the next Bobby Flay or Gordon Ramsey!!!

Happy Sunday! I’m excited because I’m going to see the Nutcracker with some friends later this afternoon – should be fun!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Quad, Thighs

Family Picture Day – Fun Times!!

December 8, 2012 Kim

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:

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).

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!!!).

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!!!).

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

December 7, 2012 Kim

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?)

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 Orchestra Concert — 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

Day With KT