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

Fitness, Triceps

Rainy Day Randomness

March 10, 2013 Kim 11 Comments

I had a great circuit planned for my 43 today but I woke up not feeling great so I changed the plan and made my 43 a little less challenging (no jumping today!!!).

I decided to do triceps dips but make them more difficult by putting my feet on a stability ball.

start - full extension — start – full extension

Keeping my feet on the ball was difficult enough but then I did 43 dips – my arms were shaking!!

down - butt close to stool — down – butt close to stool

Putting my feet on the ball really did change the move from the way I normally do dips – fun to try new moves!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct2UMRwnvNs’]

You can tell in the video that it is hard to keep your body straight and the ball in place (or at least it was hard for me)!!

And, who knew that this stool could be such a great work-out tool?!

After I finished, Jordan started messing around with my stability ball – check out his mad balancing skills:

Not gonna lie – I tried this after he did it – I could have been seriously injured!!! It’s not nearly as easy as he is making it look!

It rained all day yesterday and today is supposed to be more of the same with some snow mixed in (good thing it is warm enough that the snow won’t stick!!).

Here is a view of our rainy day entertainment:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1RK7MiUVhQ’]

Hunter just keeps getting faster and faster on the Rubik cube (all types!) and now he is combining his brain power with a little ab work – LOVE it!!!

Last night, Jordan was with some friends so it was just Hunter home with us for awhile. After dinner we decided to watch a movie together.This was a great movie!! It was a little sad at times but I loved the overall story (and the little girl was so cute!!). Movies based on true stories are usually some of my favorites. Of course, Hunter said that he prefers Matt Damon in the Bourne movies over this one. Really??!!

Well, I think I have rambled enough. Gonna spend the day relaxing and enjoying the rain/snow and the fact that I don’t have to go out in it!!

Happy Sunday!

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

Core, Fitness, Plank, Shoulders, Treadmill

Fun Friday for Sure!!!

March 8, 2013 Kim 27 Comments

I used my treadmill again for my 43 today!! I took one of the moves that Charlotte (The Great Fitness Experiment) demonstrated on the treadmill and modified it to make it work on my treadmill.

The move is a walking plank (hands on the treadmill – feet on the floor or a box) with the treadmill at 1 mph. She did it off the back of the treadmill but I don’t have room behind mine so I did it in the reverse by going off the front of the treadmill!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np0DfvhyuZQ’]

(I don’t know why it is so dark – but you get the idea!!) I counted a right hand and left hand as 1 rep so I moved my hands 86 times to get the 43. And, just for fun, I did 2 sets!! Thanks for a great idea, Charlotte!!!

To protect my hands, I wore a pair of lifting gloves:

The rest of my work-out was…..big surprise….Les Mills Combat – Combat 45. Lots of jumping moves in this one!!!

Definitely Fun Friday today!!! The boys don’t have school (teacher work day), Chris is off, I’m having a mammogram and bone density scan (oh, wait – not sure that fits with the theme!!!) – It’s gonna be a great day!!!

And……..I PASSED!!!!! Once again, I’m an ACE certified personal trainer.

I know it’s blurry, but can you tell it says PASS?! I’m just happy that today I don’t have to study!!!

I’m off to let the fun begin!

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Lunges

Let’s Do This!!!

March 7, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today’s 43 incorporated both lower and upper body so it also got my heart rate up – Bonus!!! I did a side lunge with a row.

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

Because I’m not the most coordinated individual, I had to really focus on keeping my elbows in tight as I pulled my shoulder blades back and at the same time, keep one leg extended and really sit back in my butt – that’s a lot to remember!! So if a few reps aren’t perfect form, please overlook!!

I actually did 86 reps since I counted a right lunge-row combo and a left lunge-row combo as 1. I love to try to incorporate as many muscle groups as possible so this was a great 43!!

The rest of my work-out involved Les Mills Combat with Combat 60 Live – The Ultimate Warrior!!! (I only have about a week left and I will be done with the program – then I will just add in the workouts whenever. I always try to go through a program “as prescribed” the first time I do it and then I mix the workouts in with my other routines later.)

Check out my new shoes!! The other day Stuft Mama did a post about these shoes because she received a pair right before Reebok did the big launch. I thought they were so cool that I hit up the Reebok website and ordered a pair and 5 days later Fed Ex rang my doorbell and…LOVE them!!

These are the new Reebok DMX Sky shoes and they are so cool. I love pink but they have some other really cool color combinations, too. Can’t wait to see how they handle the treadmill!

Even though today isn’t a running day for me, I wanted to wear them just a little and break them in a bit before my next run!!

At 1:00 this afternoon, I will probably look at least as frazzled as the above picture. I’m just hoping that all of the studying/cramming I’ve done this week is enough. When I was younger I don’t recall having such a hard time learning stuff – Either I’ve blocked that part of my life or my memory is fading…..

Oh well, I’m as ready as I’m going to be for my test. I actually slept most of the night last night (which is huge!!) and I’ve gotten in a work-out!!! Just going to stay calm and bubble sheet my way to a certification!! (except bubble sheets are also a thing of the past since the test is now computerized!)

I already told Chris that when I get home (test site is about an hour away) I will be ready for an evening at The Blue Moose (it’s been several weeks since Thirsty Thursday).