Mistakes

May 5, 2013 Kim 25 Comments

For today’s 43 I actually worked my legs a little! I used this band:

I put the band on my right foot and held the other end with my right hand and did a side leg abduction while doing a cross-body curl.

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

It wasn’t super pretty (and I had to tap my toe after every rep to keep my balance) but at least I was able to get a little bit of leg action!! And, you know, this was the kind of 43 that had to be repeated on the other leg to keep things semi-balanced!!!

Yesterday I was a little short with both of the boys at different points during the day and later I felt really bad about it – they hadn’t done anything wrong – I just didn’t have any patience. I apologized and since they understood, I tried to forget about it but sometimes it is hard to let go of things.

We all make mistakes – I probably make at least 10-100 every day!!! Some are small and don’t affect any one but myself and others are bigger.

When Hunter was younger (1st and 2nd grade), he really struggled with making mistakes. He wanted to do things exactly right the first time and didn’t want to even attempt things that he felt like he might mess up on. I think this is something that many adults (like me) struggle with constantly.

It took time but eventually he has learned that mistakes are a very natural part of life and we all make them – and make them often. He finally realized that he could actually make a mistake, learn from it and move on.

I think that fear of making a mistake (or failing) often holds us back from really achieving greatness. It is hard to put yourself out there and risk being wrong or feeling/looking stupid. But the reward can be so great when you succeed!!

When you really think about it, life would be boring without mistakes. If we always got things right the first time – YUCK – what would be the point of trying new things?!

When I look back at my life so far, I realize that some of the bigger mistakes I made could have had far worse consequences than they did. (Let’s just say I used poor judgement for an entire semester of grad school!) Thankfully, I was able to learn from my many mistakes and move on!I think that some lessons have to be learned the hard way for all of us.Even though I make more mistakes than I would like to (in every aspect of my life), I will just keep on trying (and hopefully learning)!

I will keep asking forgiveness when necessary and also keep trying to forgive myself (much harder!!). I know that today (and tomorrow and the next day….) I will never be perfect. But that’s OK!!I think one of the best things that my boys (all of us, for that matter!) can learn is it is OK to fail because it shows that you were trying!!!

Do you beat yourself up over little mistakes or just shake it off and keep trying?

Happy Sunday and Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Kim

Back, Biceps, Circuit, Fitness, Shoulders, Triceps

Saturday Morning Circuit

May 4, 2013 Kim 2 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a circuit for my arms. All I can say is OUCH!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1NzTzWvH1A’]

(The demo is actually my last 3 – I had to go wake Hunter to come record me! Chris has drill this weekend and Jordan stayed with a friend last night.)

I did the first 13 with 8 pound dumbbells then I dropped down to 5 pound dumbbells for the next 30!! This was a great workout for my entire upper body and exactly the kind of 43 I needed today!!

Obviously, you don’t have to do 43 reps of the circuit (unless you really want to!!) but I promise you if you do even 5 or 10 you will feel this!! Try it, I know you want to!!!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Some Friday Fun

May 3, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

Today’s 43 is a move from Les Mills Body Pump. I did the Mac Raise. This is a shoulder move and we all know that my shoulder’s are my weakest area!!

To do the move you can use dumbbells or plates like these:

I used my 5 pound plates for the move today. The mac raise involves both arms at the same time: 1 arm does a front raise while the other is doing a lateral raise.

From here, slowly lower the weights and switch directions with arms:(look a smile instead of a scowl!!) I counted a right front raise and a left as 1 rep which means to complete my 43 each arm did 86 raises!!

So, it has been 9 days since my surgery and I’m still not at a place where I can workout. Here are a few pictures from this morning (nothing gross – just major bruises):I don’t know if you can tell from the picture but my right calf is still very swollen (and hard) making it painful to put any weight on it.My left ankle is still really bruised and swollen – this actually happened after my 24 hours of torture in the compression stockings!My right thigh is still very bruised and sore (I didn’t show the worst part on the backside).

My Dr was very mis-leading pre-surgery about the recovery. I’ve done a little research (thank you Google!!) and other people have had the same experience with their doctors telling them one thing about this surgery and then having a completely different experience. Oh, well – it’s temporary, right?!

So, yesterday in an effort to get out of my little funk, I hit up You-Tube for some laughs. I thought I would share a few of the entertaining clips I watched:

Ever had a run like this?

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7d77kFLr7U’]

Sometimes you just have to laugh!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc’]

Who knew that treadmills could be so hard to control?

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNPhVVjnoC0′]

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

How do you get Yourself out of a Funk?

May 2, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

The good news? I did another 43 today!! (I’m counting that as good news because at least I’m still on course to meet my goal for the year!)

So, today I did a new (to me) variation of a bicep curl – a V-curl. This one was cool because it actually worked my shoulders a bit, too!

I started in a standard position for a bicep curl (arms at side, palms facing out) then instead of curling straight up, I did an arc motion to bring my hands up to my shoulders (palms still facing out).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhBPQV4oyAs’]

(overlook the slight lean, I can’t put much weight on my right leg so I’m a little off-balance!)

I tried to keep the motion slow and controlled. I had to use lighter weights than I would for a standard curl (12 pound DBs today). Overall, I liked this 43.

I’m in a MAJOR FUNK!! Nothing a good hard run won’t fix!! OH – wait – that’s part of my problem – I can barely walk today much less run!

Plus – it’s May 2 and the temp has dropped from 39 to 34 in the last 2 hours. Currently I’m watching some of that awful white stuff mixed in with sleet fall from the sky – NOT COOL!!!

So, I’m going to get some soup going in the crock pot and then probably spend the day with my legs up watching mindless reality TV!!! (and maybe eating chocolate!!!)

Happy Thursday – hopefully no funks for you!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness

Prescription Compression Stockings are AWFUL!!!

May 1, 2013 Kim 42 Comments

I wanted to do a completely different 43 than the one I actually did – mostly because I want to be able to truly workout again – but today isn’t the day!!

For my 43 I combined a little ab work with some chest work – I did a hip lift with a press. Start by lying on your back with your legs straight up at 90 degrees, elbows bent at 90 holding dumbbells (10 pounds for me). Press your arms up while lifting your hips straight up, return to start and repeat.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl2_i4zRL-M’]

I really thought that I would be able to at least do the dreaded elliptical for a little bit today but there is no way that is happening!

Yesterday I put on my lovely prescription compression stockings for the first time.

The ones I have are from Medi.

See that stocking? It is supposed to go all the way to the top of your thigh!! Yesterday it took me 15 minutes of sheer pain and torture to get both of the lovely gems on.

Don’t you love my fashion statement? Stockings, Nike running shorts and Brooks running shoes – the best part is that you could sort-of see the top part of the stockings – CLASSY!!!

I followed the orders and wore these all day and night (except for a brief period when I had to take the right one off for an ultrasound to check for a blood clot in my calf).

Notice that I didn’t say I slept in them!! I wore them all night but there was ZERO sleep involved!!! These things hurt every part of my leg (including my now bruised toes!!). I already have a great deal of bruising and swelling from the surgery but now I have new bruises from the stockings!!! I didn’t unwrap to show it but my entire ankle bone is awful!!These stockings are 30-40 mmHg of pressure. To put that into perspective, most compression socks (or sleeves) that so many of y’all run in or wear after long runs are 20-25 mmHG at the ankle and about 18 mmHg on the calf.

Basically, wearing these was the equivalent of stuffing my size 6-8 body into a size 0!! MISERABLE!!! PAINFUL!! Not sure I can bring myself to put them on again (and I’m supposed to wear them all the time for the next 2-4 weeks!!).

In addition to the awful, pain-inducing stockings – my right calf is very swollen and I can hardly put any weight on it. I called the DR yesterday and she wanted me to go to the hospital for an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech was super nice and said it was fine – I hope so since she spent the entire time telling me all about her divorce, her kids, her boyfriend and his ex and their kids.

On the plus side – I met a super nice prisoner and his guard while I was hanging out at the hospital. Sad that he was all cuffed up since he seemed so nice!

Enough of my whining!!! Here’s a cute picture of Hunter!! The 6th grade orchestra has a field trip today to play at a retirement home here in town (and then lunch at the mall!) so he is all dressed up!!! Isn’t he handsome?!