Category Archives: Fitness

A Fun Challenge for March

March 1, 2014 Kim 37 Comments

Today’s 44 was a hard one!! I used 1 of the small wobble balls and did a side plank with a knee in.

Just holding the side plank was hard with the added challenge of the wobble ball.

And because I’m trying to take my own picture it is hard to tell but I actually did a little crunch every time I brought my knee in.

Of course, I had to switch sides and do 44 more. I tried about 10 times to take pictures but they are all even blurrier than the ones above so there is no need to show them!

Angela @ Happy Fit Mama set up a fun challenge for the month of March. I wan’t sure if I was going to try this one or not but the more I looked at it the more fun I decided it would be. It is the HappyFitMarch Challenge (fun little play on her blog name!!)

I started today with a run. I ended up running 5 miles and I used my first mile which was actually my slowest for the challenge today –

(Nice sweat mark blurring the screen!!)

5 miles (at 1.5% incline) in 34:51 so it ended up being under 7:00 minutes/mile – kind of nice since lately I have been focusing more on distance and less on speed.

I’m a little sad that this is another busy Saturday – Chris has drill this weekend, I’m fixing to run Hunter around for a special cello practice and bow (cello bow) shopping. Tonight Chris and I have a formal to attend – gotta get all fancied up!!!

And, don’t forget the predicted snow for the weekend!!! They have already been saying that there will be cancellations tomorrow and Monday!! I can hardly wait.

Are you expecting more snow this weekend? Are you as happy about it as I am?

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings

What’s Your Minimum?

February 28, 2014 Kim 74 Comments

I used 2 of my small wobble balls again for the 44 –

This time I stood on them and did dead lifts.

This was a good challenge – staying balanced on the little balls was tricky. Dead lifts are one of my favorite moves and I loved the challenge with the balls!! 15 pound dumbbells was plenty today since I was trying to balance.

Finished the February challenge – 50 push-ups and 50 walking lunges today.

Today I did another old DVD (remember I’m trying to go through my DVD workout library this year!!!) – The Firm, Dangerous Curves Ahead. This workout uses a small band for some extra resistance!

I actually didn’t do the entire workout today. About 30 minutes in I was dragging and thinking about all the things I needed to get done before taking the boys to school so I just stopped.

Not gonna lie – it is rare for me to cut a workout short!!! And, it made me wonder – what is the minimum length to work out and count it as a workout?

I actually read a post earlier this week that was talking about running and what is your shortest distance. Now, I’m wondering about your shortest time to call a workout a workout! (Sorry, I can’t remember whose blog!!)

(Update – Miss Zippy wrote a post called When is a run a run? asking a similar question about running.)

I track all of my workouts (not just my running) and I like to keep up with how many days I actually workout. If all I do is my daily 44 then I don’t count it as a workout day. Normally I get at least an hour (or more) of working out on the days I count.

However, today I stopped the DVD around the 30 minute mark.
So, does it count??

30 minutes has always been my minimum!! I see tons of workouts that can be done in 12 minutes or 14 or 17 or 20 and I think they look like great workouts but I always feel like I have to combine several of them to actually count it as a true workout day.

I don’t have a set number of miles that I’m trying to run this year because I have learned by now that if I try to push too hard I end up injured. But, I do have a goal to workout over 300 days this year and I do use my 30 minute minimum as part of the criteria on what counts.

Do you have a minimum time that you use to count a workout – weather it’s a DVD, something from Pinterest, a walk – whatever? Or do you even track how many days you workout?

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

BTW – I have worked out 52 out of 59 days so far in 2014.

BOSU, Core, Fitness

Favorite Things

February 27, 2014 Kim 55 Comments

Today’s 44 used one of my favorite pieces of equipment –

I did a bicycle crunch while trying to stay balanced on the BOSU.

Umm….this was hard!! I wobbled, nearly fell off many times, touched my feet to the ground….but I did manage to get 44 crunches to each side.

I did another favorite workout today – Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 Live, Ultimate Warriors Workout. This one is fun and because of the number of reps on some of the moves it is not only cardio but offers a nice toning workout, too. And, the time flies by!!!

BTW – this week for the February challenge with Taylor we are doing 50 push-ups and 50 lunges every day. I’m making my lunges walking lunges because I like them!!!

I say that some things are my favorites a LOT because I think I have tons of favorites. Today I thought I would share a few – this is pretty much an ever changing list!!

Drink: Water is what I drink the most (all day long!) but we all know I love my wine, too!

a favorite!!! Wine from Germany — a favorite!!!
Wine from Germany

Food: This one is hard – it changes and I don’t know that I could pick just one food as a favorite. Maybe pizza – pretty sure I could eat it almost every day (but I don’t!).

Candy: Gobstoppers!!

Song: Hard to pick one so I’m going with 2. Brown Eyed Girl and Toes (actually I like all of the songs by Zac Brown Band & Jimmy Buffet)

Season: SUMMER, duh!!!!

Sport to Watch: College basketball!! Almost time for some March Madness!

College Team: State:

Time of Day: Dinner with my family!!!

Shoes: This is another hard one. I love shoes and boots and sandals!!!

Computer Brand: I love my MacBook Air!!! And, iPad mini and iPhone. I don’t really love the Samsung (something) phone that I bought for our business phone – can’t figure it out!!!

Book: I love to read but I rarely re-read any books. The one book that I have read many times is from my childhood – Little Women.

Person: Well, there is no way I can pick just one!!!

What are some of your favorite things?

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Squats

What is Your Cure for Waking Up in a Funk?

February 26, 2014 Kim 91 Comments

Today’s 44 was fun!! I did a squat with a bonus. When I squatted, I touched my dumbbells (just 5 pounds) to the floor then jumped up and pushed my dumbbells over head!!

Talk about getting your heart rate way up there really quickly!!!

I did a DVD from a series that I love and haven’t done much lately – Jari Love Get Ripped and Get Extremely Ripped. Today I did Get Extremely Ripped Lean Body. I did the 30 minute complete lean body section and a 30 minute body rock section. By the end, I felt like I had worked every muscle group in my body – AWESOME!!!

Ever have one of those days where nothing is wrong but you just aren’t completely happy for some reason?!

That’s sort of how I feel – could be the layer of snow/ice/whatever on the ground and the cold temps – but I’m just in a bit of a funk! So, I decided to find some fun eCards because they always make me laugh!

That’s what the song says anyway!!!

This might happen on occasion – you would think that we are old enough to learn this lesson but…..

Trying not to be the cloud today!

Very true even though I probably woke up and looked at the clock myself 5 minutes earlier!!

HaHa!

I’m going to try adding the cape – I think it will make me feel more productive!!

Actually I don’t wish it would snow but I’m pretty much guaranteed to complain every time it does!

For real!! And piling your stuff on top of mine on the belt isn’t the solution either!!!

I know that a lot of parents can relate to this one!

These are so much more fun than listening to me ramble!! And, after I get back from the school drop-off I think I will hop on my treadmill for a run before moving on with the day!

What is your cure on those days when you wake up in a bit of a funk?

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Time to Make a Few Changes

February 25, 2014 Kim 60 Comments

Today I used one of my small wobble balls for the 44. I balanced on it –

Just sitting on this was a bit of a challenge!! While staying balanced on it, I did double leg raises.

You can’t even tell that the wobble ball is under me in the pictures but it is and I promise it adds to the challenge!!!

Today was a run day!!! 8 miles in 63:12 with 1.5% incline
I’m planning to run again tomorrow – rare for me to run back to back but I’m thinking it will be OK!!!

So, I know I won’t ever be perfect but I do need to make a few changes.

I think I’ve talked before about the fact that we try to eat healthy most of the time but I love chips, Cheetos and several other empty calorie items. And, I know I haven’t made any secret about the fact that I love my evening cocktail!!!

But lately, I feel like my appetite has been out of control. Last night within 30 minutes of dinner (where I ate more than enough!) I was starving!!

I think that I need to play around with the amount of protein I get because I’m not sure that I always take in enough. I know that over the weekend I had minimal protein which might explain how hungry I was yesterday.

I can also tell that I have put on a little weight around my middle and I want to get rid of that –

Sort of hard to see clearly from this angle but trust me, it’s there.

So, nothing major but I figure I need to make a few changes now and see if it helps. I realize that each year I will have to work a little harder to maintain the shape I want and there are always things that I’m not willing to give up completely (potato chips & WINE!) but I can scale back on some of the things that I love and try some new things.

Do you ever feel the need to make some small changes in your eating to maintain the size/shape you want to be?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

BTW – this is just me being real about myself. I’m not comparing myself or size to anyone because what works for some isn’t necessarily right for me. I just know what makes me feel my best and I want to try to stay at that point.

Day With KT