Today I did another one of the burpees that Taylor at Lifting Revolution included in her cool list of 30 burpees as my 43. This one is called an 8-count burpee.
Jump back to plank position, do a plank jack, perform a push-up then jump in and up.
(for the record, Jordan wasn’t up until after I did all 43 of my burpees plus my insanity workout – so I was sort-of burpeed out by the time we made the demo!)
Today’s Insanity Asylum was Back to Core. I can tell just from the last time I did this program (last week) that I’m getting stronger through my back!!! A couple of the moves that I could barely eek out the first time, I managed all of today!!!
part of the beach
Today was my 2nd round of Boot Camp. I’m doing a 6 am class on MWF (in my backyard) and a 7 am class TT at the swim beach. (We can’t be on the beach until 7 which worked out because several people interested in boot camp didn’t want to get up for a 6 am workout.)
This was the view we had while working out – The dock goes around 3 sides – inside the dock is safe for swimming!!!
shoreline
Today wasn’t too hot, just muggy but I have a feeling that later in the summer we might have to end some of our beach workouts with a little dip!!!
4 people came to boot camp today (5 yesterday – so 9 total) – and it was a lot of fun this morning!!! I even got them to let me take a picture after –
still smiling!!
It was fun to work out in the sand!! I like the extra challenge and resistance that the sand offers. We all decided to do the workout barefoot so I’m pretty sure that I will have tougher feet by the end of the summer!!!
Gotta say, everything is better at the beach!!! (even a little lake beach in Kansas!) I loved working out in the sand with some friends – not a bad way to start a Tuesday!
Now, if the sun would just cooperate and come out and warm this place up the boys and I could start logging some serious time at my favorite hang-out place in Topeka!!!Hopefully soon!!!!
Today’s 43 worked my shoulders, hips (with abduction) and definitely challenged my balance!!! I did a combined arm & leg lift to the side.
start with weight in right handlift (try to keep your balance)
I had a hard time keeping my balance long enough for Chris to take the picture! And, you know that I can’t just do 43 on my right side – I had to do another set on the left.
ready for left side
lift and hold
I just used a 5 pound dumbbell for this move because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to raise my arm to shoulder height with anything heavier.
At 6:00am I taught a 45 minute bootcamp class (my first one in ages!!). 5 ladies came and hopefully they all got a great workout!!!
After bootcamp, I did Insanity Asylum – Strength. I used heavier weights today than I did the first time through this program and I can already feel the difference in my upper back!!! I figure the only way to get stronger is to push myself so that’s exactly what I’m trying to do!!!
Early mornings used to be my very least favorite thing ever!!!!! When I was in college, it was almost a daily thing for me to roll out of bed 5 minutes before class, pull my hair back (in a bow clip!), throw on sweats, brush my teeth and run to class.
And the infamous snooze button –
I’m pretty sure that I used to hit that thing between 5 & 8 times every day. I would lay in bed and think about what part of my morning routine I could skip if I stayed in bed another 9 minutes!!!
Then, Chris and I got married!! And he is one of those annoying super cheerful morning people!
Yikes!!! We had to come to an agreement –Pretty much, the only time we had a morning conversation was if I initiated it – very RARE!!!
For years, I basically dragged myself out of bed every morning (usually not in a pleasant manner!). Then something happened – after being a stay home mom for 9+ years, I went back to work. And I realized that if I wanted to make sure I got my workout done (and I definitely wanted that), I had to get up early.No more snooze button (that took time out of my workout, you know)!!
And, the beauty of getting up so early, by the time I was actually around people, I had been up long enough that I could be semi-friendly!!!
Now, I find it much easier to get up in the mornings. And, I LOVE how much more productive I feel for the entire day!!! In fact, there are mornings now when Chris is off that I get up before him (that never used to happen)!!!
Are you a morning person? Do you like to talk (or whistle) first thing in the morning or slowly ease into the day (you know by doing Insanity or running 8 miles!!!)?
Happy Monday!!! (8:30am and I have the whole day to enjoy now!!!)
Today’s 43 was a challenge – my favorite kind of 43!!! I got this move from Insanity Asylum (I’m a little obsessed with my new program!). The move is a hip raise – roll – plank.
I’m going to try and describe it but I’m afraid it might be a little confusing (good thing there is a demo!!). Start on the ground with your right leg extended and your right hand on the ground. Your left knee should be bent, foot on the ground. Push your hips up (using your right arm) and rotate to the right until you are in plank. While in plank, curl your right leg up. Rotate to the left until you are back to the starting position. Repeat (x43).
You can see that I did a little mini push-up while in the plank – just an extra bonus!!! And, Jordan helped me with the demo when he finally got up which was after I had already completed my 43 and sweaty workout so I was TIRED by the time we filmed this!!
Also, this was one of those super 43s where I did 2 sets because after I did all of them on my right side I had to switch and do 43 on my left. My triceps and shoulders were shaking and burning by the time I finished!!!
Today’s Insanity Asylum workout was by far the hardest one yet – Vertical Plyo! Like the name implies, there was a LOT of jumping!!! The 10 minute warm-up was brutal and then the workout – YIKES!!! Did I mention that there was a LOT of jumping?! This is the kind of workout that pretty much sucks while you’re doing it but after you are done you feel awesome!!!!
So lately I’ve read lots of the great recap posts about the Blend Retreat from a couple weeks ago. I know there are a lot of other neat events where bloggers meet each other, too.
Reading about some of these has caused me to start thinking about the differences between meeting people online (through blogs and other social media) and in person. Over the past few months, I have gotten to “know” some really amazing people through their blogs.
So far, I haven’t met any of my blogger friends in real life. Last night I was talking to Chris and I told him that I hope to eventually met some of them in person. What I really hope, though, is that when I meet my online friends for the first time – I’m the person they expected to meet!
Meaning that I hope no one thinks it is like the little Facebook cartoon above!!! I try to keep my blog real and be exactly the same in it that I am in real life!! Just like all of my wonderful pictures and videos – I don’t primp for them – cause I don’t fix myself up to workout!!!
I try to make most of my posts positive but some days (ummm…yesterday!) it just doesn’t happen cause life isn’t all roses for any of us!!! Over-all though, I love my life and am usually happy both on my blog, when I comment on other blogs and in real life!!!
So, I hope that at some point I get to meet a lot of y’all!! I even know some of the things I want to do with some of my blog friends: (see if you know who some of these might be)
ride scooters to the playground
get the best weight room experience of my life
run (so this one is almost everyone!!!)
go to the Mall of America
I could list more but I already sound like a creepy stalker!!!
What are your experiences meeting your blog friends for the first time? Were they exactly what you expected, better?
Today’s 43 took a standard move (the push-up) and used it in a whole new way (at least for me!!). I did Frog Push-ups!!!
To do these, start with your legs bent at 90 with just your toes on the ground. Hands are in normal push-up position. The only thing that really moves are your arms when you bend your elbows down.
This was a fun 43 and I loved the extra shoulder benefit of this push-up!!!
Today I finally started a program that I have put off for close to 2 years – Insanity Asylum. I’ve done Insanity a couple of times (the entire 60 day program) but it’s been awhile. These programs have the names they do for a reason – they are intense and not for the weak of heart!!! I can tell that I lost a lot of conditioning the past month so I figured the Asylum would be just the thing to push me!!!
Today was just the first assessment or Fit Test. 25 minutes with a very short warm-up, 9 different drills for 1 minute each and a short cool down. A lot of these moves were new to me because it takes a more traditional move and combines it with some agility training!! Not easy!!! Gonna have to work hard this month!!
Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, not to be confused with Veterans Day which celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.
On Memorial Day the United States flag is raised to the top of the staff and then lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all. (from Wikipedia) We might not all know someone personally who has lost their life while serving our country, but we can still honor the memory of all who have fought for our country and given their lives.It is also a day that the families who have lost a member (or members) should be remembered since they have made a huge sacrifice for our country.So, whether you are spending the day on the lake, at the ballpark or just hanging out with friends, family and good food – take a few minutes to remember all the many military members who have given their lives for the freedom that we often take for granted!!!
Today’s 43 was brutal in every way!! I did Man-Makers!! Heard of them? Get a set of dumbbells (I used 15 pounds) and get ready!!
Put the dumbbells on the ground about a foot apart. Jump down to plank placing hands on DBs and do a push-up (you know, like a burpee). Then do alternate arm rows (while still in plank!!). Jump up into a low squat and bring weight to your shoulder. Stand, using your legs for power and push arms straight overhead. That was 1 rep!!! Repeat (43x if you are doing my version!).
After I finished that torture43, I decided to go out for a run to shake out the last bit of soreness in my legs from Thursday’s long run. I finally used my new Garmin on a run!!! I just ran 3 miles in 26:00 + 0.5 miles walking to cool down!! It is already muggy and humid today!!!
Look how young we were!!
Chris and I are celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss today!!! So, I think it’s a good time to share some of our story.
We met in August of 1995 at Whalers Bay in Lubbock, TX. (yep – we met at a bar!!!) Chris was with 3 other guys and I was with a group of people. My roommate that summer was a hostess there and had seen Chris in before. She purposely seated me next to him and his friends. Chris and his buddies all had large notebooks with them (the Dash 1) and were “studying”.
I started talking to Chris and asked him, “Are you a pilot?” His response, “No, but I want to be.” (he was in pilot training at the time)
I drank Rum & Coke that night (more than a few) all paid for by Chris and his pals, and because of that Chris’ buddies called me “rum & coke” for months after we met!!
At some point that night, Chris and I made plans to go out over the weekend. He called me the next day and asked if I had a chance to go out of town would I do it. I figured he was standing me up. Actually, he invited me to go to Austin to hook up with some friends of his and go to a Live concert.
We went to the concert, did 6th Street up rightgot a little sleep and drove back to Lubbock (Oh – it is 7 hours each way). Yep, we met in a bar, our first date was over 7 hours from were we lived – pretty sure we broke a lot of “dating rules” but it all worked out and look at us now!!! And we didn’t go as crazy as some people – the SLS Dating Site scene isn’t for us – but we did break a few conventions here and there!
Chris told me later that he knew on the way to Austin that I was the person he wanted to marry!!! The Monday after our first date he sent these to me at work!!
We dated the rest of the year (my first year as a teacher – 6th grade Science) while Chris was in pilot training. Most of our dates were like this:
Well, maybe not exactly, but we did spend lots of time with the other guys (and their wives or girlfriends) in pilot training at a great piano bar called Off Broadway and karaoke happened often – good thing Chris can sing!!!
We were engaged all of 8 weeks!!! Not because we “had” to get married! Chris graduated from pilot training on May 24 and we got married the day after – we figured it would save his family a trip to TX (from Kansas).
at 2 and on the day of Pilot Training Graduation
The frame says – From long ago and far away…Love brought us to our wedding day.
It was a busy but incredible weekend!!! Chris sang to me at our wedding (a complete surprise to everyone, especially me!!)
Beautiful in my Eyes by Joshua Kadison (now know as “our song”)
Obviously that isn’t him singing but it could be!!! (If you’ve never heard the song, it is definitely worth listening to!!)
Our wedding was Saturday and on Monday, Chris had to go to Altus, OK for his next training phase. I still had a week to finish school. So, we started our married life the way it would frequently be – the life of a military pilot and spouse!!!
The night I got to Altus, we ate at the O Club (Officer’s Club) – right when we walked in we heard our song so of course we danced cause that’s what you do!!!
I can’t even count how many times we have gotten up in the middle of dinner or while cleaning the kitchen to dance to our song (because I had my ipod playing on random)!!! The boys love it just roll their eyes and ignore us!!!
Happy Anniversary, Chris – you will always be the love of my life!!!
Do you and your spouse/significant other have a song? Do you drop everything and dance when you hear it?
Happy Saturday!!! I’m off to spend the day with my true love!!!
The dock goes around 3 sides – inside the dock is safe for swimming!!!
Hopefully soon!!!!
