Category Archives: Fitness

Why I Blog

February 9, 2013 Kim 12 Comments

Today for my daily 43, I took another move from one of my Combat work-outs! This one is just plain fun!!!

The move is actually a combo:

upper cut
upper cut
jab
jump-kick
4 jumping jabs back

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9V6QEFw-24′]

(This might be my most uncoordinated looking demo yet!!!!) And, quite frankly, I don’t think it matters which arm does which punch – just pick a way and go with it!!! Then, switch sides and do 43 (or whatever # you choose :Happy:) more.

Check out my cool Combat gloves:

combat gloves - make you feel powerful!!! — combat gloves – make you feel powerful!!!

Wearing them makes me feel like a true combat fighter!!!

The rest of my work-out today was – wait for it… Les Mills Combat. Combat 30 was up for today – this one is short (30 minutes) but pretty intense!! Good news – 8 more jump kicks on each leg!!!

I have been blogging for almost 5 months and for some reason the past 2 nights I have laid in bed wide-awake(for way too many hours!!!) thinking about my blog. Here’s what my sleep-deprived mind came up with:

I started my blog because I thought that this year in addition to running my age on my birthday (as I have for a few years now), I would carry the age thing a step further. I thought (still think, actually) it would be fun to pick a different exercise/move and do the # of reps = to my age (43 as we all know by now!!!).
I thought sharing them on a blog would do a couple of things. First, it helps keep me accountable! Second, I thought it would be a great way to share the idea of doing something active every day. I realize that 43 is sort-of extreme for some (and not enough for others) but 5-10 is doable for everyone!!!
When I first started the blog, I thought I would only post about the daily 43. However, I realized after a short time that I actually really enjoy writing other stuff, too. I like looking for silly pictures or funny quotes. I love having a place to record little parts of my day (hence the name – daywithkt)!
I think that there is a true blogging community (as evidence by the fact that I see the same names over and over on lots of the blogs I enjoy reading). At some point I hope to be a bigger part of the growing community of fitness bloggers!
I have been told that blogging is “self-indulgent” and I think that to a large extent it is. But it is also nice to have a place to share thoughts and ideas on a particular topic. For me, it is almost like a public form of my work-out log (and I’m OK with that!).

Writing out this little list has helped remind me why I started blogging – it had nothing to do with having lots of readers (although I wouldn’t mind that), lots of comments (also something I wouldn’t be opposed to) – I needed to remind myself to enjoy blogging and not become consumed by it.

I also need to remind myself not to compare my blog to any other blogs – defeats the point of my goal with blogging!!!So, I hope that taking the time to write all of this down will ~~help me sleep better tonight~~ help me stay focused on why I wanted to do a blog in the first place!!!

Happy Saturday – look I made a special treat for the boys breakfast!

(French toast – not my thing but they really like it!!!)

Kim

Core, Fitness

Twittering, Tweeting, Hashtag………What?????

February 8, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today I took a move from Core Attack (Les Mills Combat) and turned it into my 43. It not only worked my core, but my arms and hip flexors as well!

You can use a dumbbell if you want (I just used a 5 pound one) or do the move without a weight and still get a good work-out!! Start by crunching in with your upper and lower body (knees at 90) – extend your arms over your head and your legs out straight (not touching the ground) – bring arms and legs together in a V-sit – extend long = 1 rep. Repeat for 43.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SScXCGBOaQ&feature=youtu.be’]

You can see I struggled a little with my balance – that’s because this move kicked every part of my body!!!!

The rest of my workout was Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 which we all know I love!!! This week was a nice break – no HIIT Combat work-outs!!! Those things are brutal!!

So….. I finally joined ~~this decade~~ the Twitter world! Too bad I don’t really have a clue how to do it – do you twitter, do you tweet? When do you # and when do you @? I feel old and out of date!!! I better enroll in

We’ll see if I ever ~~use it~~ figure it out!!!! The really weird thing (to me, anyway) was that when I signed up it (whoever that might be!) suggested I follow people like Jimmy Fallon, Justin Bieber, Lebron James – why?!?!

This morning on my way home from taking Jordan to school, I heard Kiss by Prince. I love the song because it reminds me of a scene from one of my favorite movies of all times – Pretty Woman!!

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

So many scenes I love from that movie!!!

Last night Chris and I went to our favorite Thirsty Thursday place – always fun.

Plus, a good reason to not wear work-out clothes!!! And, don’t let the sock-less feet fool you about the weather – I thought it was warmer than it was – the wind was arctic!!!

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

8th day of February – 8x 1 minute wall sit – DONE!!! (so far I’ve done them every day!)

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Kale Recipes, Anyone???

February 7, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 was all about cardio. I did a right shuffle (4 shuffles) – touched my right hand to my right foot then reversed direction for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMCtlTJIl7s’]

Thanks, Hunter, for doing this demo (even without shoes!) – wish the lighting had been better. (I’m pretty sure that is due to user error!!!)

It was fun to do a simple, cardio based 43 for a change.

After the 43, I tried the Plank Ab-Burner that the Fitnessista posted yesterday. If you haven’t been over to her site and checked it out you should – your core will thank you (later!!!). It is only a 4-minute routine (good thing, too!) but it will challenge you the entire time!!!

For the rest of my workout on this rainy day in Kansas,

I hopped on my treadmill and did some incline work. I kept the speed down (6.5 miles in 60:30) but the incline at 10% for mile 1, 12% mile 2, 15% mile 3, then 12% for miles 4-6. YIKES!!! I think I need to get in more hills!!!

Enough work-out talk!!! Onto food – namely Kale. Last night, for the first time ever, I made some kale. This is the final product (after we had all taken a serving because I forget to get a picture before):

I’m not sure if it will make a return appearance at our table or not. I think I need more ideas for making it (or just to perfect the one I tried).

I keep reading about kale and all the benefits from it so I bought some and thought I would try to make kale chips. First off, I have no idea what it means to massage the kale!!! I washed it really well and tore it into bite size pieces. I tried to dry it but I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that very well.

Then I spread (more like piled) it on a large stone baking sheet, sprinkled (more like poured) some olive oil on it and sprinkled with season salt. I think this is where I really messed up – it looked like such a huge amount that I probably put way too much oil and salt.

Who knew that it would cook down to almost nothing? (not me for sure!!!) It didn’t get as crispy as I thought it would (I’m guessing the oil & not drying it enough had something to do with that).

The verdict: Hunter said it was a bit strong (I think he meant too salty!!!), Jordan said it was OK, and Chris didn’t really comment (which means not his favorite but he doesn’t like to say negative things about my cooking – he’s super smart!!!). I liked it fine but I think I need help if I’m going to try it again!

I googled some of the benefits of kale and found out the number 1 benefit is it can keep you looking attractive!!!! Another benefit is anti-aging!

So I think I better practice up on my kale techniques!!!

Any recipes or suggestions would be welcome!!!

Happy Thursday! In fact

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups, Triceps

Just like GI Jane (or maybe not)

February 6, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

Today’s original 43 was an EPIC FAIL!!! I truly thought I was ready to attempt the 1-arm push-up (just like Demi Moore in GI Jane!!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOrglFs21IA’]

I remember being in my late 20s and watching that movie thinking “no way could I ever do that!”. However, almost 20 years later I think “for sure, I can do that!!!”.

Here is my pathetic attempt:

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

So, then I thought “No big deal – I will just do them on my knees.”

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zff-5Z_jtqQ’]

Umm….form????

Moving on…. I decided to continue working on my strength and will hopefully attempt those again later!

I picked a different 43 and started fresh! This one was a side-lying triceps push-up.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfwhesD9kZg’]

I know it looks like I’m going really fast (maybe I was a little too fast at the beginning) but that is just the demo!!! Completing 43 of these on each side really was a great work-out for my triceps!!!

Today was another day of (I’m sure this is no surprise!!!) – Les Mills Combat. Today was Combat 45 – another fast-pace, fun-filled over-all great work-out!!! (Really, I just wanted to see how many word combos I could hyphenate!)

I thought about getting in some punching bag work (and I might still do that). I’m really hoping that Jordan will want to go for a nice easy jog with me when he gets home this afternoon – it is supposed to be mid-60s!!!! Even if I can’t convince him (I would just drag him along but he is bigger than me), I might lace up and head out later!!! Gotta enjoy the nice weather now since I’m sure that in a day or two it will be gone again!

Do any of y’all have a particular move or exercise that you are trying to build up to?

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Thighs

Keep it Real!!

February 5, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

I started the 43 today thinking I wanted to do some standing ab/core work. The move I picked did work my obliques some (and my core because of the balance involved) but it mostly targeted my hips and outer thighs (which can always use more work!). After the first 10-12 I realized why they were hurting (hydrant kicks yesterday, duh!!!) – OOPS!!! I usually try not to target the same muscle group 2 days in a row with the 1000s of choices I have – oh well!!!

Anyway, back to the 43!! I did a standing leg extension (to the side). I started like this:

(the goofy hand pose is mandatory!!). Then I lifted my right leg straight to the side – held a second – and lowered. I tried not to touch the floor between every rep (had to tap it occasionally in order not to fall on my face!).

After doing 43 with my right leg and really feeling it in both hips, I ~~had to~~ got to switch sides and do another 43 with my left leg.

(At least I have an awesome T-shirt from the super talented Cait!!!)

Today was a fun work-out day because it involved my favorite (so far anyway!) Les Mills Combat DVD – Combat 60 Ultimate Fighter! I like that the work-out is an hour, it keeps my heart rate up, works legs and arms as well as cardio and the time flies by.

One thing I really like about the the Les Mills Combat program is the motivation and tips they provide. And today at the end of today’s work-out they said – KEEP IT REAL!!!

I love that saying!!! It is one of the sayings I try to live by. With me, what you see is what you get!!! Whether I’m working out, buying groceries, subbing, blogging (my own or commenting on others) or just hanging out with my family = I’m just the same ol’ person! I’m just me!

And on that note – another fun ecard (cause while the card is humorous and a bit extreme, I’m just keeping it real!!!).