Category Archives: Squats

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Spring (or not) & a Special Movie Viewing

March 20, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today’s 43 was a quick cardio based one. I did a jump jack squat with a toe touch.

Start with feet together and both hands straight up. Jump to a squat and touch left toe with right hand while keeping left hand up – jump feet together – switch sides = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw5mNakvJMk’]

I guess I didn’t touch my toes in the video – downside of making the demo at the end of my workout!!! I did the 43 first thing but the boys are enjoying sleeping in since it’s spring break so the demo was after a couple sweaty hours of work!!!

I realized recently that I had been slacking off with weight training so I’m working on that! Today I did another Jari Love DVD – Get Ripped to the Core. This is one that is just strength training – I think there are about 8-9 different tracks and all are high reps!! I really like the fact that Jari incorporates multiple muscle groups into each track!!

After lifting I hopped on the treadmill for a quick run. 1.5% incline for the first 4 miles (24:19) then gradually higher incline for the next 2.5 miles (much slower pace for these).

Is it spring??? Yesterday morning about 11:00 it started snowing here! Where did that come from? The forecast was for a 30% chance of rain during the afternoon – Oops!! Thankfully it was about 34 so nothing was sticking. As the afternoon went on, the temperature dropped a little so by 3:00 it looked like this outside:

(If I knew how to use my camera better, maybe I could have gotten a picture of the actual snowflakes – they were enormous!!!) At least it was warm enough that nothing was sticking on the streets!

By 6:30 the area looked like this:

same view - same day 6:30 pm — same view – same day 6:30 pm

Crazy!!! I like this look much better! Now, if it would just warm up!!!

I’m not sure if y’all all know this but yesterday the Hobbit was released on DVD.

This was a big deal in our house! Jordan loves Lord of the Rings and actually did his History Day project on J.R. Tolkien.

History Day Display - my sweet boy/man — History Day Display – my sweet boy/man

So, to celebrate this event we planned an entire Hobbit themed meal/feast around the viewing!!

(Yes, those are jelly beans – the Starburst ones that only come out during this time of year!!) The best part about this – the boys helped with all of the work!!!

rolling pins - not my strong suit! — rolling pins – not my strong suit!

We had lots of fun making everything and then enjoyed the feast.

Jordan helped pick out all of the recipes based on different aspects of the movie.

Dragon Breath Chili (hot as dragon’s fire) – as an appetizer (I put this in the crock pot) this was pretty spicy but had great flavor!
Lembas (Elvish) Bread – this was actually really good – no sugar in it because it uses honey
Mixed Vegetables Meduseld (this has something to do with the King of Rohan)
Balin’s Spiced Beef (also in a crock pot) – nice flavor – apple cider, cinnamon, cloves
Victorian Cherry Turnover – no picture of these – this was the hardest part of the meal to make – rolling out the dough was a struggle but the boys were all happy with the final product!

The picture doesn’t do it justice!! It was quite a Hobbit feast (because apparently that is a huge part of the movie)!

After the feast (and clean-up), Chris and the boys watched the movie. I did not – I haven’t seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies – so not my thing!!! (I got caught up on Dancing with the Stars instead.)

Anyone else turn the release of a new movie into an event??

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Calves, Fitness, Squats

Exercise – Do it for Yourself!!!

March 11, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

For my 43 today, I pulled out this little ball:

Instead of using it for an ab move, I amped up a squat by placing the ball between my knees while doing squats. I also stayed on my toes throughout all of the reps so that the squat targeted my both my quads and calves. To add a tiny bit of shoulder burn – I kept my arms extended straight in front of me (at shoulder level) the entire time I was performing this move.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0JuvJDAjTQ’]

Here is a fairly decent demo by Hunter (just overlook the sword slinging through the air!). I did hold the squat for 2-3 seconds at the bottom each time but otherwise, Hunter did a nice showing the move!

Jordan also did a little demo..

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ72cUDbnDc’]

He didn’t get on his toes and the boys were in rare form while we recorded this!!!

Try this move next time you want to add some punch to a standard squat – you don’t have to do 43 (or your age) – just try 5, 10, 15, whatever you can do!!!

As you know if you’ve been reading for awhile, I’ve been doing Les Mills Combat for a couple of months now. I really enjoyed this program but I’m done with it (there are supposed to be 4 days this week but…). There are so many things I want to do – I jsut can’t fit it all in!!!

Today I did one of my old favorites – Turbo Fire – Fire 55EZ. (Don’t let the EZ fool you – this is a fast-paced, high intensity cardio workout!!!). There really isn’t anything about Turbo Fire that I don’t love!!! On a day where I’m not super motivated, this is always the perfect choice for me!

Is accountability an important part of exercise? I think it is!! But I think, unlike many other areas of our lives, it is an accountability to ourselves!! Of all the people I know, I’m probably the only one who truly cares if I get up every day this year and do 43 of a particular exercise because I’m the only one who will benefit (or lose out) from completing that goal.

As much as I love fitness and working out, every once in awhile I have a day (or days) where I’m just not feeling it. On those days I have to decide – Do I need a break or am I just being lazy? I don’t think it’s possible (or even a good idea) to good hard-core all the time (at least for me!!) but I do think it’s OK to do something everyday!!!

So when I’m laying in bed awake at trying to decide if I really want to get up at 5:00 and workout, I have to listen to my inner self and know that either way the only person who it will really make a difference for is ME!!!

Do you keep yourself accountable when it comes to working out/taking care of yourself?

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9qaCrOUx8′]

Here is how the boys get some of their daily activity!!!

Happy Monday!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Squats, Treadmill

Tonight is one of my Favorite Nights of the Year!!!

March 9, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 was another combo move!! This move is a big part of Les Mills Combat – HIIT Power. I decided to just make the move my 43 instead of doing that workout today because I wanted to run!!

So, the 43 was a squat with a bicep curl – stand with a shoulder press – squat when you bring your arms back down = 1 rep. (not as confusing as it sounds, I promise!)

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

Today I used 15 pound dumbbells and by the last 15-20 I was working really hard!!! (And, again – I don’t know why my videos are coming out so dark when I upload them – gotta work on that!!!)

I ran for the 3rd time this week!! I rarely run more than that in a week anymore – body can’t handle it. Good week – 3x – almost 30 total miles (counting the cool down ones!).

Today was a fast, hard 8 miles at 1.5 % incline in 48:38 with an easy 2 to finish for a total of 82:00 minutes. Next Saturday I have a big run planned – can’t wait!!!

This night has marked one of my favorite times of year for as long as I can remember!!

Growing up I loved when Daylight Savings time started because it meant that we had an extra hour to play outside before dark! We used to spend hours outside when I was a kid. Sort-of different with kids now! I’m pretty sure that kids today could care less about the time change or an extra hour before it gets dark – different world!

Now, I love the change to Daylight Savings because it means it is almost spring!!!

And, we all know what comes next…….

Do you like the change to Daylight Savings Time?

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Fitness, Squats, Treadmill

One-on-One

March 5, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

One of the blogs I enjoy reading is The Great Fitness Experiment by Charlotte. Today she had an entertaining story about her and a gym buddy trying new “moves” on the treadmill. After seeing some of their antics, I decided to use my treadmill for my 43 today. I didn’t do any of the moves they did but I’m going to try to figure out how to make some of them work. (I don’t have space between the back of my treadmill and the wall – I think I can use the front, just have to experiment!!)

So, the 43 today was a sliding squat on a moving treadmill!!! I just kept the speed at 1 mph since this was the first time I’ve ever tried these. Because the lead leg takes the brunt of the work, I did 43 facing right and another 43 facing left.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teh1OrA4Z98′]

After I finished the first sets (at 0 incline) I decided to up the challenge and do another set each direction with the incline at 5%.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBu8SKnaxjo’]

Little more challenging but still I wanted more!! I put the incline at 12% and did another set of 43 in each direction.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBBwFJ9WRA’]

This was a fun way to use my treadmill. I’m going to work up to a little higher speed and 30% on the incline!! (maybe not for 43 though)

Today was Plyo HIIT with Les Mills Combat. My legs always feel like jelly after all of the jumping lunges and squats on this workout!! 30 minutes of plyo!!! I also did another round of Jillian Michaels – Six Weeks to a 6 Pack – Level 1. I like the fact that even though it is an ab work-out, she includes cardio and multi-muscle exercises. It is a brutal program!!!

One-on-one (and I’m not talking about basketball or personal training!) time with my boys is so important! I love the time I get to spend with just Jordan or just Hunter!! (and they are at an age where it’s not a lot of time anymore)

I think my favorite part of school days is in the morning when I take the boys to school. Because Jordan is in middle school which starts an hour earlier, it means 2 separate trips. In August, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like driving them every day (they could ride the bus you know!) but now I wouldn’t give that time up for anything!!!

This morning Jordan and I talked about friends. He is fairly quiet and completely OK with doing his own thing (which I love!!) but he does have a couple of good friends. He also deals with people every day (because he is in middle school and it’s how some kids are) that aren’t very nice.

Earlier this morning I read a great quote that Monica at Run Eat Repeat had on her post. (and it is to good not to share!!)

I shared this with Jordan as we were driving today because I think it definitely applies to the life of an adolescent! I just want him to always know that even when other kids say things that aren’t nice – it doesn’t change who he is because it really doesn’t have anything to do with him – just their need to be hateful!) 12-15 minutes (depending on the carpool line) every morning that I wouldn’t trade for a million dollars!!!

Hunter I spend most of the time talking about the song/artist playing on the radio or his newest technique for solving one of his many cubes.

Hunter's Rubik collection — Hunter’s Rubik collection

Every once in awhile we do something crazy like solve difficult math problems in our head! He’s 11 and still in elementary school (6th grade) – life is good for him!!!

So, for the next 3 months I will continue to treasure and enjoy every minute of these times that I have with my boys!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Fitness, Quad, Squats

Making it Count in March

March 1, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

Today’s 43 was inspired by a post I read the other day over at evilcyber. The idea is to make sure that you are strong enough to do squats safely before doing them. Simple squat test – stand without using your hands to push you up.

I decided to use that simple move to do a squat & hold move with my stability ball. I started by sitting on the ball (I kept my hands behind my head for a little added challenge)

from here, I stood but only part-way , so that I was in a semi-squat.

I held the partial squat for a 2-count and then lowered down just enough to barely touch the ball before repeating. 43 of those and my quads were burning!!!

Today I was back with Les Mills Combat for Combat 60 Live – Ultimate Warrior. Like I said the other day, I think this one might be my favorite!!! Then I did some Jillian Michaels – 6 Weeks to a Six Pack, Level 2. Not gonna lie, I thought about just doing the circuit through one time but I gutted it out for the whole thing and I’m glad I did (now that I’m finished!!).

I’m happy that March is here and February is done for another year!! I feel like I always start March on the count-down:

how many days till spring break
how many days till NCAA basketball tournament time (my favorite!!)
how many days till spring
how many days till Easter
how many days till summer

But, in keeping with my goal for 2013 (live in the moment), I don’t want to spend March counting down the days this year. I’m going to spend it making sure that each day, each moment counts.

Jillian Michaels said (in the DVD that I just finished sweating to), “If you’re going to spend your time doing this work-out, Make it Count!!!”

I think that statement can (and should) apply to all areas of life (not just fitness) – make it count!!!

So, my plan is to make every minute of March count!! I think that will include:

finding the positive in every day
less complaining
being spontaneous
working towards a goal (for what to do with my life now that I don’t work full-time)

Because it is March and March Madness is quickly approaching I figured a basketball quote would be very applicable: You only have one shot – make it count!!!

How will you Make March Count?

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

Day With KT