Category Archives: Fitness

Butt, Core, Fitness, Quad

Random Ramblings

February 14, 2014 Kim 68 Comments

Today’s 44 was great for balance work. I did squats with a knee raise.

Start with a dumbbell on one shoulder –

ready - make sure you try to look bored! — ready – make sure you try to look bored!

I did all 44 with the right side and then I moved the dumbbell to my left shoulder and did 44 more.

left side - side view — left side – side view

I love moves that provide some toning/strength work but also add in the balance challenge!!

Today was yet another day of Michelle Bridges. I like the program but I don’t think that I will keep doing it every day – too hard to fit in all of the other workouts I want to do.

Some weeks I feel more scattered than others and some days my brain just runs a million directions – today it is all over the place so I thought it would be a great day for some…..

* Thank you so much for all of the great advice on yesterday’s post!! I feel like I have a plan and way to deal with both issues now!!! (Side note: the first couple actually called early this morning and want to meet me AGAIN this morning to “go over details.” I told them that they can drop the contract and full payment in the mail drop and we can meet next week. I had my day already planned and the payment does not have to be hand delivered – plus, I am not going to invest more time until they actually pay.)

* Yesterday we got all the way to 45 degrees and some of the snow finally started melting!!!

look - you can see the grass!!! (even if it is brown) — look – you can see the grass!!! (even if it is brown)

* I had my yearly physical on Wednesday and my DR filled out this Heart Quiz on me. I WON!!! Well, maybe those were my words and not hers but still she was impressed! My LDL and HDL were both 79 which she said is amazing!! And my cholesterol was 158.

* My office (dining room table – same thing, right?!) is a complete and utter mess all the time!!!

Good thing we eat on our kitchen table!!!

* I’m thinking about starting a Bridal Bootcamp at our venue. It wouldn’t be just for brides but the name is catchier that way!!! I’m still working on details and ideas.

* Valentine’s Day is mostly just another day to me. My husband knows – I would far rather get a “mushy” card from him on some random day “just because” than a card on a day that society has turned into a commercial holiday! (just my personal opinion)

* Do you read the 3 Cheap Runners blog?

You should if you don’t – they always have some great stuff over there! And today, you really should check it out because while they are sunning themselves on the beach in the Dominican (I’m not jealous – much!) – I’m guest posting!!

OK – enough rambling for one day!!

What is something random in your world right now?

Happy Friday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

What Would You Do?

February 13, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 is thanks to Josie @ Yum Yucky. She did a twisted burpee which I’ve never done before so I had to fix that!!!

And since I did her move I’m going to share her video instead of making my own (plus it is parent-teacher conferences so the boys are out of school and still asleep!!).

Josie’s videos are way more fun than mine ever will be!!!

Pretty much anytime I do 44 burpees I feel like it is a good move!!! Oh, and I did the push-up on every rep!

I also did a nice easy run today – still working on increasing my overall run days and mileage!!!

I have a couple of situations that have come up and I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to handle them. I thought I would throw them out here and see what advice y’all have.

1. I met with a couple back in October who wanted to have their reception in our venue in March. They loved the venue and had a date picked which was available. I explained that a 50% deposit along with the contract holds the date and the balance is due 1 month prior to the event.

They came back in January for another look and said they still wanted the same date. I told them it was still available and again explained the procedure to book it. They have emailed a couple of times saying they will get the deposit to me the following week – which hasn’t happened.

Earlier this week I had a phone call from someone who wants to have a large shower at our venue on the same date (March 15).

I emailed the couple and told them that they still haven’t officially booked the date and if this other party completes a contract and pays me then they can have it.

The guy called me yesterday and said, “OH, no we are still planning on that date. We will meet you on Saturday to give you the deposit. Our invitations have already gone out with the date and address.” Seriously?!

What would you do?! I told him that I need the contract and not just a deposit but the entire amount since Saturday is a month prior.

2. The day after we closed on the venue (in August), we had a charity event that had been booked for months. It was actually free for them because they are a non-profit health agency that does a lot of great things.

About a month later the lady in charge of the event contacted me and said they loved our venue and asked if I would be interested in donating it for a few more of their upcoming events. She gave me the dates and I had them all available so I said, “Yes, I would be happy to. Let me know how you want things set-up and what all you need for each event.”

Last week I realized that the first event was on the calendar for this week. I kept thinking I would hear from them. I was trying to plan out my week and actually my day because it was on a day that I was completely booked with appointments, other events and stuff for Hunter’s school.

Tuesday morning I emailed my contact and asked her what I needed to do to set up (the event was scheduled for Wednesday). I told her that I had some appointments Wednesday morning and would be tied up all morning so I needed to take care of it in advance since I had them scheduled for 12:30 on Wednesday!!!

She emailed me back at 10:50 on Wednesday (less than 2 hours prior to the original meeting time) and said that they had decided to cancel the event!

What would you do?! Now I am completely torn about the next 3 dates that I have marked off for them. I feel like I’m committed to still offer the dates but now instead of being happy to help this group out I feel like I’m only doing it because I can’t go back on my word.

I like that quote – maybe I should put that on my business website!!! (just kidding -sort of)

Feel free to share your advice – I’m still trying to figure out this whole “running a business” gig!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

BOSU, Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Triceps

Is Curling Really a Sport?

February 12, 2014 Kim 94 Comments

Today’s 44 is a move that Kristin (Stuft Mama) did with her class and showed on her blog. I had to try it because it uses my favorite piece of equipment -the BOSU!!! It is a triceps dip with alternating kicks.

Start with your hands on the BOSU and feet on the ground –

Dip (triceps) and kick right leg –

Go back to start position –

Dip and kick left leg –

Since I counted a right kick and a left kick as 1 rep, I had to do 88 tricep dips to complete the 44!!! My arms were shaking!

The February challenge with Taylor (Lifting Revolution) is a fun one! Last week we did 100 walking lunges every day. This week it is 400 push-ups split however you like. Yesterday I did 135 push-ups and today I did 80 so in 2 days I’m over half-way!!!

And, I added in Les Mills Combat – Extreme Cardio Fighter today. 60 minutes of kicking, punching, twisting and just plain fun!!!

Curling – is it a sport or just a past-time? I don’t even get the concept. Chris keeps saying it is like Shuffleboard. Well, I’m pretty sure that shuffleboard is a game they used to play on The Love Boat so I’m not convinced it is a true sport.

pushing the stone

Here’s what I’ve figure out about curling – one person pushes the stone.

The rest of the team does a sweeping motion to speed up (or maybe it slows it down?) the stone. Pretty sure the object is to get the stones into certain parts of the ring or something and try to knock your opponent’s stone out of the circle.

What I do know is that there is ZERO cardio involved and I’ve never seen any of the participants even come close to working up a sweat.

In the 2010 Vancouver Olympics one of the competitors was actually 6 months pregnant – So, if you compare curling to some of the other events in the winter Olympics, is it really a sport?

Ski jumping – look at the strength required to hold the body in the jump position!!!

Snowboarding – Half Pipe: These guys (and girls) are flying up to 15 feet in the air on some of their flips. And, then they have to land the jump and do another and another and another….

Have you seen how fast these athletes guy down the mountain while still dodging the gates?! Look at the leg strength required to hold the position without falling!!!

The amount of athleticism required to perform some of the jumps, holds and other tricks that the ice skaters perform is amazing!!!

All of the skating races seem brutal – short ones, longer ones – just staying in the low position requires tremendous lower body control!!

Then we go back to curling – at least they can wear “fun” pants!!!

So – what do you think? Is curling really a sport or is it just a hobby?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Off my Game a Bit but Totally Nailed my Step Goal!!!

February 11, 2014 Kim 66 Comments

Today’s 44 was all about the core. I did a sit-up with a twist. Start on your back with the soles of your feet together and your hands clasped over your head –

From this position, sit-up, twist to the right while bringing your arms down to the right –

Return to the start then come up and twist to the left –

This was a good move because to complete all 44 reps I actually had to do 88 sit-ups!!!

Today was a running day – 1.5% incline – 9 miles in 69:29 + 1.75 miles nice and easy.

Tuesday is pretty much always a treadmill day for me because I like to watch Monday night’s episode of The Bachelor and I don’t feel guilty when I’m running at the same time!!!

Guess What?!

When you run over 10 miles, you can easily get 10,000 steps – all before 7:00 am!!!

I guess today’s goal needs to be 20,000 steps so I don’t turn into a slug for the rest of the day!!!

My schedule feels off today (and it’s only 7:30) – I think it’s because I have a sick boy. Even though my boys aren’t little any more, when they are sick they seem younger!!!

Poor Hunter – came home from school yesterday completely fine and then about 2 hours later he was totally miserable – terrible headache and a stomachache. He has been sleeping pretty much nonstop since 6:00 pm yesterday evening. Hopefully a day full of rest and liquids and he will feel much better again!!!

Maybe if I run up and down the stairs all day checking on him I will reach my 20,000 step goal – taking care of my sickie and getting steps – sounds like a game plan for the day!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness

Celebrating Russia (host of the 2014 Olympics)

February 10, 2014 Kim 90 Comments

Today’s 44 was fun even though I look like a total dork!!! I did a roundhouse with a back fist.

I did all 44 on my right side and then switched to the left for another set. This got my heart rate up and worked my butt and core!!!

I didn’t do Michelle Bridges today – I’m going to keep doing the program but not 6 days a week – it is too hard to balance those workouts with my running so I’m going to mix them in a little differently this week and see how it goes.

The Olympics have always been one of my favorite times – I like the summer ones more but still enjoy watching as much of the winter ones as possible!!!

We decided that we should have a Russian meal to celebrate the host country of these Olympic games. Good thing we have such a great resource with the internet!!!

For the main dish I made cabbage rolls (in the crock pot!!) – I used ground beef and brown rice as the filler. The boys liked this – I think next time I won’t boil that cabbage first since it cooked even more in the crock pot.

As a side dish, we made zucchini pancakes. This is the first time that I’ve ever tried a savory pancake and these were really good!!! Might have to make them again!!!

And, I’ve said many times that I don’t bake but I felt like a Russian meal wouldn’t be complete without Russian Tea Cakes. Surprisingly, these came out OK!!!