The 43 for today was a sit-up but it was also a great move for my shoulders and a nice hamstring stretch!!!
I did a 1-arm weighted sit-up. Start with left leg bent and right leg extended, weight in right arm overhead –
start
Sit-up making a half-circle with right arm (from floor to right foot) –
1/2 way upreach for toes
Slowly lower down and repeat x 43. Then, of course, you have to switch sides and repeat the whole process!!!
start on left sidealmost therereach for the toes
I love moves that target a specific area but also work bonus areas!!! BTW – I did this move with a 5 pound dumbbell and that was plenty for me!!
I pulled out a DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – Gaiam Cross Training for Fitness. This is a fun workout with 5 – 15 minutes sections: Cardio Kickbox, Strength & Flexibility, Lower Body Balance, Core Power & Flow, Relax & Restore. I did the first 4 (I know I should take the time for the Relax & Restore but I’ve got other things to do!!). The hour went very quickly and I loved the intensity of each of the segments. I feel like I got a great whole body workout with this DVD!
Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.
I find it very ironic that people have to work on Labor Day – a holiday that was created to honor the laborers. I realize that there is never a day when everyone can be off but just in my lifetime things have changed a great deal! When I was a kid, holidays and Sundays meant that there was no shopping (not even at the grocery store!!) and very few (if any) restaurants were open.
When I was growing up, Labor Day meant that school started the next day!!!
Now, my boys have been in school for 3 weeks already!!!
One of my favorite things to do from 6:00pm on the Sunday before Labor Day till about 6:00pm on Labor Day was to watch as much of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon as possible.
I remember being amazed that Jerry Lewis could stay up the entire time!!! Watching him decline over the years was sad for me.
One thing that really hasn’t changed much – Labor Day has always been a big day for family & friends to get together and have a cook-out!!
And, growing up we didn’t enjoy time at the lake or the pool (my mom thinks swimsuits in mixed company are inappropriate – oops, I guess I’m inappropriate a lot these day!!!), but now Labor Day always includes some time at the swim beach and on the boat!!
I hope that even if you have to work today you are able to celebrate with friends/family and enjoy the day!!
For my 43 today I did a side plank with a front reach – pretty much just what it sounds like.
startreach
I really liked this move – I could feel it in my core, hips and shoulders!!! And, you know that I had to flip and do a set of 43 on the other side!!
second sidereach
I tried to make sure and keep my hips lifted the entire time – I was shaking by the end of each set – success!!!
I also started up Garage boot camp this morning! It has to be in the garage because at 6:00am it is dark outside now. I just have a few ladies who asked me if we could keep going with boot camp even though summer is over so we are going to try it for awhile. Today we did a repeat boot camp – ABC Boot Camp!!!
After boot camp, I did a super quick run before taking Hunter to school. Treadmill at 1.5% incline – 3 miles fast + 1 cool down mile for a total of 4 miles in 30:05. I’m sure Hunter was thrilled to hop in the car with his sweaty mom!!
We all have people in our lives that have helped mold us into the person we are today. It might be your parents,
a teacher,
a coach,
or any other person who has been a major influence in your life.
Some of you might be sitting there thinking – “Yep, I know exactly the person who has helped shape me into who I am.” Others are probably thinking that there are too many different people and you can’t pick just one. And, some of you might not know yet who you would credit with helping you develop into the person you are or want to be.
For me, I know exactly who has made me the person that I am – my grandparents!!!
Mema & Poppa
Growing up, I spent every second I could with my grandparents – when we lived in other states it was harder but I loved and cherished every visit!!!
The summer before I started 9th grade, my parents got a divorce. I lived with my grandparents that summer (and many after!). Poppa taught me the things that my dad wasn’t around to teach me – how to build a book shelf, how to weed-eat, how to kill a rattle snake (I lived in west TX!!), how to drive, how to swim – the list could go on and on.
And, Mema taught me about life!! She never met a stranger – from the check-out clerk at the grocery store, to the security guard at the mall, the small children at church and the oldest neighbor on the block – she would talk to anyone about pretty much anything.
Mema & Poppa
Mema always wanted to look at the person/people in the picture not the camera!!! In all of our wedding pictures she is looking at me because she said everyone should look at the bride – at the time I didn’t totally understand – now I do and I think it is one of the best wedding gifts I received!
Poppa showed me every day the meaning of a true work ethic. He was still working at 80+ because he loved being able to get out there and do things. He taught me that any job – no matter how big or small – should be done to the very best of my abilities. I try to live up to that standard today in all of my endeavors.
Because of issues/factors that I haven’t ever mentioned on my blog, my mom is not the person that I really ever tried to please. However, any time that I felt like I let my grandparents down, I was devastated. In fact, several years during my early 20s are the only period in my life that I didn’t talk at least once a week with Mema – and that was because I knew she didn’t approve of all of my choices and I hated knowing that I was disappointing her!!!
Mema & Poppa
The biggest thing I learned from my grandparents was how to really love someone. They showed me true love every day of their lives! They loved each other completely with no reservations and they loved me that same way. There was never a second that I ever doubted the love my grandparents had for me. Because of that love, I was able to open myself up to the love of a great guy – Chris, now my husband of 17+ years!
I’m blessed beyond belief to have had the amazing grandparents that I did. Even though they are no longer with me, I know that the lessons I learned from them will remain and be something I continue to strive towards every day!!!
Who made you the person you are today? What is the biggest thing you learned from them?
Today I used my wobble ball (not really a ball – more of a disk I guess) –
I tried to stay balanced (tried!!) and did some shoulder work.
start
I started with a lateral raise –
raise to the side
From there, I lowered my arms back to the start –
down
Then I raised my arms to the front –
front raise
I tried to keep all of the movements slow and controlled. Even with just 5 pound dumbbells, my shoulders were burning by the time I finished all 43 and the wobble ball really increased the challenge since I had to fight to maintain my balance.
I also did my 2nd round of this week’s challenge with Taylor – Wake Me Up – and trust me, this workout will wake you up!!!
I decided to get in a quick 3 mile run on the treadmill because I might have to cut some workouts in the next couple of days. I ran at 1.5% incline – 7:05, 5:45, 5:03 and then cooled down with 0.5 miles.
Poppa
Yesterday morning I received a phone call that I did not want to get. Tim (my twin) called to tell me that Poppa had passed away.
He was sitting in his chair on the porch at the ranch – one of his favorite places to start the day – yesterday morning and my aunt walked out to check on him and he was gone.
a good day
I’m happy that he was home and spent his final minutes enjoying the view that he loved so much!
Peace
But – I wasn’t ready for this good-bye!!! I wanted to have one more visit.
more of this
I wanted one more Bear Hug because Poppa is the one who taught me how to give Bear Hugs!!!
I wanted one more chance to tell him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I very selfishly want more time with my grandpa (Poppa)!!!
I know that at 98+ I was fortunate to have had as much time with him as I have but that doesn’t make it easier to say good-bye.
Today I will drive to Texas and prepare myself for the final good-bye knowing that Poppa has been reunited with Mema (my amazing Grandma) and that they are once again happy together!!!
Mema & Poppa
Take a minute today to give someone you love a Bear Hug and tell them how much you love them!!!
Today for my 43 I did a plie squat with a curl to press.
downcurlup
43 of these really got my heart rate up and with 8 pound dumbbells, my shoulders were feeling the last few!!!
I decided to do a Cathe Friederech workout today – Cross Fire. This is an hour of lots of HIIT plus weight thrown in – awesome!!!
Today Chris celebrates his 45th birthday. I don’t think he plans to run 45 miles (weird, I thought everyone did that kind of thing!!!) or do 45 of any other exercise – so I decided that I would do a special 45 today for Chris.
45 Fun Facts about Chris:
1. His name is actually Thomas Christopher. He is the 3rd generation Thomas _______. We thought about naming Jordan – Thomas Jordan but I didn’t want him to do the whole middle name thing.
3 generations
2. He had a full beard in high school.
nice beard
3. When Chris was young he put an un-popped popcorn kernel in his ear. It popped (the kernel) and got stuck – lesson learned!!!
4. Chris has 4 sisters – 3 that are older than him and 1 younger. He always says that his parents tried 4 times to get it “right” and then they pushed their luck!! Of course he is joking because he loves all of his sisters.
5. Chris played football, wrestled and ran track in high school.
6. Chris was in lots of musicals in high school – often with the lead role.
7. He graduated 2nd out of about 77 students.
giving his speech
8. When Chris was 17, he went to San Antonio for Basic Training. He had on white jeans when he got there – big mistake – the instructors called him Don Johnson!!! Thankfully after they all had their heads shaved and had uniforms on he blended in and was no longer Don!!!
9. In 1989, Chris quit drinking soda (he used to drink more soda than anything else) cold turkey and hasn’t had any since.
10. When we first met he only ate chicken and rice – that didn’t last long!!!
11. Chris lived in Korea for a year when he was active duty in the Air Force – he was only 19-20 at the time.
12. He got his degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
13. We don’t run together – we tried it when we first got married and it wasn’t the best plan. Chris is able to run 3 miles at pretty much any given time but he doesn’t really care about running fast or much further than 3 miles.
14. Chris worked as a trash man for awhile in high school!!
15. He taught himself to play the guitar.
16. He also taught himself to play golf.
17. When Chris was in Korea, he was the singer in a band. They mostly did Led Zepplin songs!!!
18. Chris is still best friends with one of his high school buddies – Matt.
Matt and Chris
19. Thanks to his job (pilot in the Air National Guard), he has been to over 50 countries!!!
20. When his mom was still alive he called her every Sunday no matter where he was at the time.
21. At one point he owned 3 Volkswagon Bugs – all old and in need of work.
22. When we buy new cars, Chris is always prepared. He knows what the car is worth and how much the dealer will make. He is good at negotiating and getting the exact price he wants.
23. Chris is a good cook. He will look up recipes (on the internet, for some reason he never uses any of my cookbooks!) and try new things!!!
24. Chris would rather be home with his family than just about anywhere else!!
my boys
25. He graduated from Pilot Training on May 24, 1996 (the day before we got married).
26. Every year when he takes the fitness test he sends me his results – usually prefaced with “I have the body of a 19 year old!”
27. Chris is the kind of guy that will always help out someone in need without them ever having to ask.
28. When we met, Chris didn’t really watch a lot of sports on TV. He started watching sports with me – especially college basketball.
29. He doesn’t say negative things about people – I could really learn a lot here!!!
30. Chris is good at looking at the big picture. He will ask himself, “will this matter in 10 year?”
31. He rarely cusses!!! Or gets mad! (we are sort-of opposites)
32. Chris is super handy – he has made built in shelves, tiled floors, installed wall ovens, built composite decks (2nd story ones!!) – pretty much anything that needs done he can figure out how to do it.
33. He is a very hands-on Dad.
34. An older man gave him some advice when we got married and he has applied it many times and shared it with other young men. The man said, “The 6 most important words in a marriage – You’re right, I’m wrong, I’m sorry!” Chris has always remembered that and he still says it (more often than he really has to but he does it to keep the peace!).
right after we got engaged
35. He sang to me at our wedding! Beautiful in my Eyes by Joshua Kadison
36. When the boys were little babies, Chris was the calm one. He said there are only a few things that could be wrong – hungry, tired, need to burp or need a diaper change.
37. The first few months of each of the boys lives (when they were waking up every few hours), Chris would get them when they cried, change their diapers, hand them to me to feed, then burp them and put them back to bed.
38. He used to hate getting rid of anything – garage sales caused him a bit of stress and he saved every empty box “just in case”. Now, he has gotten much better at getting rid of stuff and he throws away empty boxes.
39. One of his favorite movies is Ben Hur.
40. Chris is pretty much always happy, always whistling or humming or snapping his fingers as he walks around.
41. Chris is a doer and a server! He is always waiting on me or others. He is always willing to get up and wait on others – me, the boys, our friends.
42. The boys have the very best role model possible in Chris. He has taught them that they can do anything and also how to be caring, compassionate men. Things like opening doors, thanking people for a meal, offering to help carry stuff – they have learned many life lessons from Chris. They have also learned that men/dads/boys can cook, clean, do laundry, iron and any other task around the house.
43. Chris is the very best dad ever for our boys!!!
44. Chris is the my best friend!!
45. Chris has made me the luckiest person in the world because he picked me to marry and have a family with. He is the very best person I know!!!
Happy Birthday, Chris!!!! I love you!
Kim
PS – I know Chris will read this because he has read my blog every day since I started and almost always sends me a text after he reads it.
I put both feet in the same loop and held the other loop with both hands.
start
From the start position, I just did an upright row –
pull up
This was a fairly simple 43 but by the last 15 or so I was feeling it in my entire upper body.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the things going on in my little world that I don’t look beyond it to all of the other important events happening around me.
This past week has been a prime example of my extreme self-absorption. I have been so focused on school starting, band stuff, making crafts, planning a brunch (yesterday I had a jewelry party and hosted a brunch) that I have completely neglected a lot of things and more importantly, people!!
Yesterday was my sweet nephew Hays’ 2nd birthday and not only was I late in sending a gift – I didn’t even call. Epic Fail on my part!!!!
I have got to do a better job showing the people I love how much I care about them and not always be so wrapped up in my own stuff.
Do you ever struggle with self-absorption?
Happy Sunday!!! I’m off to apologize for being so selfish!!!
I remember being amazed that Jerry Lewis could stay up the entire time!!! Watching him decline over the years was sad for me.
