Category Archives: Fitness

Chest, Fitness, Triceps

Attitude Adjustment

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Today’s 43 was really fun!  I wasn’t sure if it would be good or not but I liked it!

I laid on my back with a medicine ball.  The first set of 43 I used an 8 pound ball then I decided to do a second set of 43 with a 9 pound ball.  I started with the ball in both hands and my arms pulled down tight to my body then tossed the ball straight up (over my chest) with my arms fully extended.  I caught the ball (surprisingly!!!) and lowered all the way down before repeating.  I tried to keep a quick pace so that it would exhaust my arms/chest.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uinq69gFhPQ’]

Thanks to Hunter for doing the demo!  By the 3rd toss he was getting it in the right spot!!

So I spent the past couple of days being in a funk and wallowing in the fact that I can’t do the things I want to – run, jump, walk….

Yesterday I decided that I was being ridiculous and still in control over my happiness.  I’m just going to make the best of my current situation and look at this as an opportunity for my body to get some rest that otherwise would NEVER happen!!!  I’m going to look for creative ways to get in some conditioning while still following most of the Dr.’s rules!

Above all – I’m going to continue to enjoy my life and stop being a Negative Nancy!!!!

This afternoon I’m back in the classroom – 5th grade!!!

Tonight is one of Hunter’s orchestra concerts!!!  WooHoo!!

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Shoulders

Crutches Suck Mud!!

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Today’s 43 was HARD!!!  Yippee!!!  I’m going to really have to make sure that the daily 43 is super challenging since it is my main work-out for awhile.

I sat on a stability ball (see followed Dr.’s orders!!) and used this kettle ball:

20# Kettle Ball

(The great thing about this particular kettle ball is that it is adjustable from 5 to 20 pounds.  Each of the 5 plates are 3 pounds and you can remove any or all of them.  Handy since it takes up less space than having multiple sizes!!)

I took out 2 of the plates so I was working with 14 pounds.  I held the kettle ball in my right hand and curled it up to shoulder height then rotated my wrist and pushed it straight up.  I reversed the motion to complete the rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97bOZz3FEtI’]

The curl part wasn’t   bad but the shoulder press….rough!!  I had to stretch my shoulders out a couple of times before I reached the goal.  This was one of those exercises that I did 43 with my right arm and then 43 with my left.  Sadly, my left arm is going to be lopsided because I got to #30 and had to take out another 3 pound plate in order to finish with good form.  I figured form was more important than 100% symmetry anyway!!!

I decided that in order to do some sort of work-out without being weight bearing I could use one of my old stand-by DVDs.  It is from Crunch Fitness and called Pick Your Spot Pilates.  I did all 3 of the sections – belly, butt, thighs.  They are 10 minutes each so nothing major but better than nothing at all!!!

So, the crutches aren’t really working out for me.  I can’t get anything done and I’m afraid that I’m going to end up with another injury because of them!  I am just going to limit my activity (walking included) as much as possible for the next few weeks and hope for the best!  (Plus, it just seems weird to be using crutches when I’m perfectly capable of walking even if I do have a little limp.)

Happy Wednesday!!!

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

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Lunges, Quad, Squats

No Pain, No Gain – Right?

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I hope I don’t need to walk a lot later today (or sit, or stand, or…)!! The 43 totally kicked my butt – literally!!!  I also felt it in my quads and some in my hamstrings!!!

I did a variation on a workout that I pinned on Pinterest yesterday called the Designer Whey Glute Workout.  If you check out their version you will see that they did not do 43 reps so I had to adapt!!

Here is how I did my 43 with this workout.

  • 43 squats
  • 43 lunges with right leg forward
  • 43 stomps (right leg forward, hands on ground, left leg back – bring left foot front and set flat next to right foot, drop your butt, extend left leg again) – Killer!!
  • 43 Cook hip-lifts (place right heel close to butt, pull left knee to chest – lift and lower hips, like a bridge)
That was 1 complete set.  The 2nd set was the same but with the left leg.  3rd set was right leg again and 4th set left leg.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwjV-BqYa5k’]
(For the demo I only did 5 reps on 1 side – no need for you to watch me killing myself!!!)

I thought about only doing 2 sets but in the actual work-out they said 4 sets (of 20 only!!!!) so I figured I should  push myself (HARD) and do  all 4 sets.  Maybe now I will have a “designer butt”!!

I’m sure by tonight I will regret my decision but who knows – maybe all the trips I have to make up-and-down the stairs to do the laundry today will help work out the soreness and shakiness!

Yesterday when Chris got home from Drill I was sort-of cranky.  Solution:

 

Because Chris knows me well, he automatically goes to the ultra safe!!!  (he didn’t even have to see this cute little chart).

I think I will make a special dinner for my awesome guy!!! (the boys too, of course!)

Happy Sunday!

Kim