Category Archives: Fitness

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

March 6, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 was inspired by the daily challenge for HappyFitMarch – set a new bridge PR.

Well, I don’t think I had a previous PR for bridge (not sure I’ve ever timed it) but I decided to do do alternating leg lifts for the 44 while I was holding bridge.

I counted a right & left as 1 rep – fun way to hold bridge for awhile!!!

I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – part of the 10 Minute Solution series – Tone Trouble Zones. This DVD came with a band –

I like to use the band/tubing for extra resistance and this workout was a good one especially for my upper back! I did all 5 of the 10 minute sections including the 10 minute stretch. I’ve mentioned a few times that I don’t always take the time to stretch but 10 minutes isn’t too bad and this was actually a nice treat today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkFIPev-pz8

The summer that my parents were divorced, I lived with my grandparents. Every morning I watched The Facts of Life and wished that I could live with the girls at a boarding school!!!

I like the theme song – “You take the good, you take the bad…..” Such a very true thing in life every day.

Tuesday, I had to take some bad –

I went to our venue to clean and set up for an event and walked in to see the river floating through our place. After I figured out the problem and took care of it, I mopped up the water then went down to check out the creepy basement. Also flooded – water was still dripping down from the ceiling. Not my favorite way to start a day but thankfully it has been taken care of and last night I was over there and the floors don’t seem to be damaged from all the water.

Yesterday morning I had another appointment with the DR who did my vein surgery last April. I have 2 places (my left ankle and my right inner thigh) that have hurt pretty much every single day since last April when I had the initial procedure done.

This DR said it shouldn’t be hurting anymore but that she thinks it is all fine (I have lumps in both of those places that I can feel and they are STILL bruised). She said if it still hurts in about 6 months she will do some checking because it could have gotten into my muscles.

I’m not sure how I feel about waiting 6 more months since it has been 11 months already for something that was supposed to be “no big deal” and healed quickly. I think that I will give it about 2 months and then look into getting a 2nd opinion if it isn’t better!!!

Some weeks, the bad seems to outweigh the good but I know that every week is different and even the bad isn’t that bad in the big picture!!!

And, to end on a happier note, check out our weather forecast –

Minus the snowflake on Saturday, it looks awesome!! Look at Sunday and Monday – happiness!!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Fitness, Quad, Running, Treadmill

Giving Something Up

March 5, 2014 Kim 90 Comments

Today’s 44 was a wall sit with alternating foot raises.

sit - goofy look helps — sit – startled look helps (hands???)

raise right foot (YIKES!! Take the picture!!) — raise right foot
(YIKES!!)

These might be some of the “best” pictures yet if you want to see me look like a total dork. 5:00 am is early and I can’t spend much time worrying about how I look in the pictures!!!

I counted a right lift and a left lift as 1 rep. For fun I timed my wall sit while I did this – 2:35.

I was hoping to get in another 9 miles today but during mile 7 my Achilles started hurting quite a bit so I just finished that one and then did 1.5 nice and easy to try and stretch it out some.

We aren’t Catholic but after doing some research and talking to friends who are Catholic, I’ve learned that anyone can benefit from the act of giving something up for a period of time. I also learned that if you are going to give something up it should be something that will be hard for you so that it really makes a difference.

I picked something from the above list and if you have read my blog for awhile you might know which one of the things up there will be a hard one for me to give up.

I have decided to give up my evening cocktail/wine!!

“An experience of want, however temporary, can help us to appreciate the true abundance in our lives. And a small positive change can have a big impact that lasts beyond the 40 days of Lent.” (Neela Kale)

So, this will be a challenge for me (I really enjoy my happy hour drinks!!) and I think that Chris is pretty sure I won’t really stick to the 40 days but I think it will also be a great experience!!!

Do you give anything up for Lent?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Bring Your Personal Best to the Table Every Day!!

March 4, 2014 Kim 75 Comments

I combined my 44 and the challenge of the day for Angela’s Happy Fit March Challenge. The goal today was a max plank hold and I decided to have some fun with it. I used 2 of my small wobble balls to set up the plank –

I let the timer run while I did my 44 which was to stay in plank and alternate lifting my legs –

The hard part was trying to keep my body still when I lifted and lowered my legs. I counted a right and left lift as 1 rep. Counting my reps made the time pass quicker than just trying to hold plank!!!

I decided to spend some time with Jillian Michaels this morning – Extreme Shed & Shred! I did both parts (Level 1 & 2) of this workout to get just over an hour of hard work!! This workout was a fun mix of kickboxing, yoga holds, plyo, HIIT, a few moves using weights – Fun Stuff!!!

During the workout today, Jillian said something that I really liked. She said, “Bring your personal best to the table every day.”

First, I love that she put the emphasis on personal best because we shouldn’t compare what we do to anyone else!!! As long as we are striving to be the best form of ourselves that we can be then that is good enough!!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a very competitive person but I think that the biggest competitions I will ever have involve beating myself!!! Sure, when I do race, I want to win but I know I’m not a world class runner and will never win every race. However, I can continually work to be the best that I can be!!!

The other thing about that quote that I like is the every day part. Some days and some tasks it is easier to just put in a half effort but the only person we are hurting is ourselves!!

Today is another day of cleaning and setting up for an event over at our venue and it would be easy to just do a half-ass job but then I would look around and know that I hadn’t done my personal best and I wouldn’t have the sense of satisfaction that comes from doing the best I can no matter the job!!!

Do you do your personal best everyday no matter how small or big the task?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Quad, Running, Treadmill

#Mania #Frenzy #Overload

March 3, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 was another compound move – I did a fast lunge to a knee up with a row.

After 44 on my right leg, I switched and did 44 more with my left leg.

I ran today – I’m hoping to get a bit more mileage this week (last week was down a little). Today was 1.5% incline – 9 miles in 66:24 + 0.5 miles to cool down.

So, the boys and I have been joking around about hashtags this weekend. I’m pretty slow on the social media front and just don’t understand the hundreds of hashtags that are everywhere!!!I have only used hashtags a few times because I feel like I’m an idiot when I use them – I don’t really even know what they are for or why I need them.Hunter will respond to a text from me with #totes just because he knows it makes me laugh. Jordan is like me – he doesn’t get the hashtag thing. Maybe we need to take a class?!What are your thoughts on hashtags? Do you use them/hate them/love them/get them?

#Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings

Being Fancy and a Much Needed Lazy Day

March 2, 2014 Kim 60 Comments

Today I did a fun 44. A little balance work and a little hopping – perfect. I did a single leg dead lift (slowly) then brought my knee in and hopped before repeating.

And, after I did 44 with my right leg I switched and did another set of 44 with my left leg.

Last night Chris and I did something that we don’t do very often – we got all Fancy for the Dining Out (military “prom.”).

It was fun to get dressed up but I’m glad we don’t do it every day!!! Chris’ mess dress (what he’s wearing) is actually the same one he wore when we got married almost 18 years ago!

It was a fun night! We didn’t stay out late because of the nasty weather that had been predicted. Thankfully even though the roads were slick when we came home, we got home before the heavier stuff came down.

We didn’t get the 6+ inches of snow that was forecast but we got lots of ice – we could hear the ice pellets hitting the deck and house for a long time last night. I’m sure it is super slick out now since it is only 3 degrees.

The good news about the weather – yesterday at drill (besides working at the base full time, one weekend a month, Chris has drill), they decided to cancel for today!!! And, Hunter’s special cello practice for today has been rescheduled so today turned into a completely open day.

I’m so excited that we got this “bonus” lazy day – we all needed it. Chris and I didn’t even get up till after 8:00 – that hasn’t happened in months!!! And my plans for the day are pretty minimal!! I think I will make a big pot of soup or chili for dinner and then a whole lot of nothing!!!