Category Archives: Shoulders

Butt, Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Shoulders, Triceps

Is it a Compliment when you add a Qualifier?

November 20, 2013 Kim 83 Comments

Today I did a basic move for my 44 but I added in a challenge by holding an 8 pound medicine ball straight above my head the whole time! I did alternating forward lunges (a right lunge and left = 1 rep) with the ball overhead.

This move was great because I felt it in my legs, my arms were shaking and I got my heart rate up!!!

I also did one of my 10 Minute Solution DVDs – Sculpt, Tone and Reshape with the Figure 8.

I like the format of this workout – it is a total body workout with toning and some cardio. Each of the segments goes by very quickly and there are some fun moves!

Have you ever gotten a compliment that you’re not sure if it was really intended to be a compliment?

I’m sure that most everyone has at some point.

My least favorite – “You look good, for your age.” Why does that last little bit (the qualifier) need to be added on? That makes me feel like A. I’m old and B. I don’t really look good at all.

Last night while I was getting my hair done, Jennifer (my hair dresser for over 12 years!) told me about a “compliment” she had gotten over the weekend.

She was at a store and had on some new boots and a cute top. A girl (complete stranger) said, “You could be on a magazine as a plus size model.”

Really?! She couldn’t have just left that last part off?

I’m sure that I’ve added a qualifier to compliments before but I’m going to start really paying attention to how I word compliments!!!

What compliments have you been given with qualifiers?
Did you still feel like it was a compliment?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Resistance Bands or Weights?

November 18, 2013 Kim 87 Comments

Today for my 44 I did a slight variation on the standard burpee – sumo burpees. The main difference is your feet are in sumo position (out wide) at the beginning of the move and when you jump back up.

I was sucking air big-time at the end of this 44!!!

I pulled out an oldie today – TaeBo – Total Body Fat Blaster. This workout uses the TaeBo bands – It is about an hour of very fast-paced moving – lots of cardio plus some serious resistance training with the bands. My shoulders were screaming about half-way through this workout!!!

While I was struggling with some of the moves this morning I started thinking about the differences between working out with bands and weights.

Bands: lightweight, portable, great for travel, constant tension

Weights: heavy, not portable, gravity will take over if you aren’t careful

Don’t get me wrong – I love lifting weights!!! But in workouts like the TaeBo one that I did today where it is non-stop and fast paced, the bands are a great way to really push your muscles to the point of fatigue (especially your shoulders!!!).

I have no plans to get rid of any of our weights but if you are just starting to build a home-gym and want a way to do some resistance training bands are a great investment. Plus, they don’t take up any space!!!

So – what are your thoughts – bands or weights? Both? Neither?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Quad, Shoulders, Triceps

Sweat – It Does My Body Good!!!

November 17, 2013 Kim 37 Comments

Today’s 44 was another challenge – I loved it!!! I did a crab hold with opposite toe touches.

The above sequence made up 1 rep. 44 of these had my arms shaking and my quads burning!!!

I also did a Turbo Fire workout – Fire 30. I love all of the workouts with Chalean and even this short 30 minute workout is a good one!!!

While I was working out today I could feel myself settle into to my happy place because I was finally working out again (first time since Monday!)!!!

I spend most of my life being cold so I don’t sweat EXCEPT when I workout!! And then

I SWEAT!!!

And working up a good sweat is pretty much my favorite way to start any day. It makes me feel strong and healthy and alive!!!

The days that I don’t get a good sweat going are the days that I feel like I left out something important.

But, today, all is right in my world again!!!!!

Does working up a good sweat make you happy?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

500 Posts!!!

November 16, 2013 Kim 68 Comments

Today’s 44 was a super fun move!!! I got it from the super cute Allie @ VitaTrain4Life. Allie is tough and she made this move look easy but it was hard!!! She actually included this move in an entire ab workout – Allie’s Abs – I should probably do the entire video for a 44 – maybe then my abs would look more like hers!!!

Anyway, the move – 4 mountain climbers and a push-up x 44!!!

I realized the other day that my published posts were getting close to 500 and TODAY is the day that I’m publishing my 500th post!!!

I have actually only blogged for 427 consecutive days (365 days of 43 and 62 days of 44) but along the way I’ve done posts with recipes, boot camps, some workout reviews and even a few random fun posts!!!

To celebrate my 500th post I thought I would share a few of my favorite posts.

My very first post ever was on my birthday in 2012 when I turned 43 – I had absolutely no clue what I was doing but I’m so glad I decided to give blogging a try!

Because we all know by now that I love a nice ~~bottle~~ ~~glass~~ bottle of wine, this post about German wine makes me smile!!! (Except I’m down to only a couple of bottles left – not cool!!)

Some of the pictures we took in our attempt to get a good one for our Christmas card last year were super entertaining – mostly thanks to Jordan!!! Actually, it’s about time for me to think about this year’s family picture – better get on that!!!

I have to share my all-time favorite drink – The Educated Cosmo – just saying the name makes me happy!!!

I love to try new recipes and only have a few stand-by dishes that I go back to over and over. The sad thing when I try something new and we all like it, months down the road Chris or one of the boys will ask me to make such-and-such again – ummm……I have no idea how I made it on that day!!! Last February I tried a new crock pot soup and we all loved it – Chicken and Rice Gumbo Soup. I figured that by putting my recipe on here I would be able to go back to it!!!

I think that my favorite boot camp workout that I did this summer was Tabata Boot Camp – super fun way to get in a great workout!

And, I can’t do a list of my favorite posts without listing some of my favorite blogs and blog friends!!! The only problem with that list is it’s a couple months old and I’ve added in a few more favorites since then!!!

I have other favorites but I figure that I’ve been self-indulgent enough for one day!!!

Feel free to link up one of your favorite posts from your site in the comments – such a great way to catch up on any that we might have missed out on!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Biceps, Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Shoulders, Thighs

Before and After

November 15, 2013 Kim 58 Comments

Today’s 44 was a great one to work my whole body and I got my heart rate up – bonus!!!

I did a plie while holding a dumbbell (10 pounds) – stood and pressed the DB overhead and to the right while lifting my left heel – lowered to plie – repeated to the left for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSIK5CzLlhE’]

The video is super dark because Jordan doesn’t believe in light in the morning – he’s 15!!!

2 weeks ago, I walked into a nasty disgusting apartment and had a little freak out!!!

Today we have new tenants moving in!!!! In a short (BUSY) 2 weeks the apartment has undergone a huge transformation!!!

Kitchen Before (left) & After (right) — Kitchen
Before (left) & After (right)

Bedroom #1 Before (L) and After (R) — Bedroom #1
Before (L) and After (R)

Bedroom #2 Before (middle) After (sides) — Bedroom #2
Before (middle)
After (sides)

Living Room Before (L) & After (R) — Living Room
Before (L) & After (R)

After shots of the bathrooms and built-in

In the last 2 weeks – we hauled out 2 dumpsters full of stuff plus a couch and several other pieces of furniture, cleaned the nastiness, primed, painted, repaired numerous broken things (good thing Chris is super handy!!), did another cleaning (that’s how gross it was) and hung curtains.

The apartment went from being a place that I couldn’t stand to a super cute apartment with a lot of character!!!

In 2 months, we’ve turned over 2 of the 3 apartments – I hope that we don’t have to do this again any time soon!!!!

Happy Friday!

Kim

Day With KT