Core, Fitness, Shoulders, Thighs

Early Mornings

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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 hand
start with weight in right hand
lift (try to keep your balance)
lift (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
ready for left side

 

lift and hold
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!!!

Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.12.55 AM

 

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.   Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.18.58 AM

And the infamous snooze button – Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.15.25 AM

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!Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.20.39 AM

Yikes!!!  We had to come to an agreement –Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.18.34 AMPretty 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.Screen shot 2013-06-03 at 8.25.29 AMNo 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!!!)

Kim