Open or Closed?

March 10, 2014 Kim 80 Comments

Today’s 44 was a lunge but because I held a dumbbell overhead (15 pounds) I also got some nice core work.

I counted a right and left as 1 rep so it was a total of 88 lunges while holding the 15 pounds overhead!!!

I did The Biggest Loser 8 Minute DVD – this is actually an hour because there are 7 total sections. I like the format – each section is 8 minutes and you do 11 different moves for 30ish seconds followed by a 10 second rest. Plenty of strength work but you will also get your heart rate up!

I’m planning to go outside for a run later today – it is supposed to get into the mid-70s!!! Can’t wait!!!!

Curtains, blinds, shades – whatever window coverings you have – do you open them every day or keep them closed?

With the time change it is still dark outside right now but I have already opened up the house for the day. I love to have natural light and by the time I get back from taking the boys to school it will be light!!!

Lately, driving around, I’ve noticed that lots of people keep their house closed up during the day – every single window is covered.

If our blinds were down, I would miss scenes like this gorgeous sunset from the other night when it was too cold to be outside.

And, much as I’m not a fan of the snow and gray days, I still want to be able to see outside when I’m hibernating!!!

So, are you an open or closed kind of person???

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

BTW – Hunter got 2nd in his competition yesterday!!! (and it wasn’t just 7th grade – it was all middle school) His first cash prize!!!

Fitness, Push-Ups

A Big Day for my “Little” Boy

March 9, 2014 Kim 25 Comments

Today’s 44 was a fun push up move – using 2 small wobble balls and a medicine ball.

I put my hands on the small balls (out sort-of wide) and both feet on 1 medicine ball –

ready - hard to hold this position! — ready – hard to hold this position!

The daily challenge for #happyfitmarch was to do as many push-ups as you could in 2 minutes. I decided to combine my 44 with the challenge. I did a total of 58 push-ups in the 2 minutes!

Today is a day full of cello for Hunter.

He has his Philharmonic Orchestra concert this afternoon. This is a full orchestra made up of mostly middle school kids in Topeka and surrounding areas. Hunter has enjoyed this even though it is a big time commitment on top of his cello lessons, cello group and sports at school.

Tonight is the final for the Topeka Young Musician Awards. Hunter had to submit a video to enter this contest. He is one of four 7th grade stringed instruments competing in his category. (I’m not sure how many submitted videos but only 4 advanced to tonight’s performance.)

This will be Hunter’s first solo in front of a large group and I know he is nervous but he will do great. He has practiced and is ready!

(Hunter’s submission video.)

Good luck, Hunter!!! I know that you will be awesome!!!

Happy Sunday!

Kim

Fitness, Running, Thighs, Treadmill

Smiles on a Saturday

March 8, 2014 Kim 34 Comments

Today’s 44 was great for working my hips/outer thighs – I should do this move several times a week!! I used my little green tubing again and got into a semi-squat then did a step out move.

I counted a right and left step as 1 rep and my thighs were burning for sure!!!!

Today was another running day. The daily challenge for #HappyFitMarch was to run a mile and compare it to last Saturday’s mile.

Last Saturday I ran my first mile (out of 5) in 7:23. Today I ended up doing a 10K.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel running this morning because yesterday I did a total of 14 miles – thankfully my legs felt strong today!!!

Saturday is a good day for smiling!!!

creep Talking Tom looking cat — creepy Talking Tom looking cat

The pictures of animals smiling crack me up!!!

I think that some days it is easy to get dragged down instead of being the one lifting people up!!

Are you smiling yet??

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running

My New Happy Hour

March 7, 2014 Kim 66 Comments

Today’s 44 was similar to a move that Jody shared on Instagram recently. She did an oblique crunch on the stability ball – doing all reps to the same side before switching.

I changed up the move some and don’t look nearly as graceful as Jody but…..

You can sort of tell that I did more of a reach and I alternated sides. I did count a right and left as 1 rep so it was actually 88 crunches to complete the 44.

Today is more running – nice and easy to make sure that my Achilles is OK after the pain the other day. (chronic injury – have to baby it sometime!!) I’m trying to keep my mileage up because this month Taylor has a fun March challenge. The challenge is to get at least 31 miles of walking or running BUT if you already do that then it was to pick a number that would be a good challenge.

My goal for March is 150 miles of running. That isn’t much for a lot of people but for me that is a very high mileage month!!!

So……last night while making dinner, I also made this –

2 days in, did I already fail on giving up my Happy Hour???

Nope!!! Because that is actually….

It’s just Crystal Light in a fun glass!!

Part of why I enjoy my evening cocktail is because I love my fun glasses – I have a collection of Martini glasses all around my kitchen soffit and they are just fun to use. I decided that I can still use the glasses – just with a different type of drink.

And, the beauty of my Crystal Lighttini is that it is only 5 calories!!!

So, I can still have fun drinks and give up wine/cocktails – it’s a WIN!!!

Happy Friday!!

Kim

FYI – this is NOT a sponsored post. I just happened to have Crystal Light in my pantry and decided to make some for “happy hour.”

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

March 6, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 was inspired by the daily challenge for HappyFitMarch – set a new bridge PR.

Well, I don’t think I had a previous PR for bridge (not sure I’ve ever timed it) but I decided to do do alternating leg lifts for the 44 while I was holding bridge.

I counted a right & left as 1 rep – fun way to hold bridge for awhile!!!

I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – part of the 10 Minute Solution series – Tone Trouble Zones. This DVD came with a band –

I like to use the band/tubing for extra resistance and this workout was a good one especially for my upper back! I did all 5 of the 10 minute sections including the 10 minute stretch. I’ve mentioned a few times that I don’t always take the time to stretch but 10 minutes isn’t too bad and this was actually a nice treat today.

The summer that my parents were divorced, I lived with my grandparents. Every morning I watched The Facts of Life and wished that I could live with the girls at a boarding school!!!

I like the theme song – “You take the good, you take the bad…..” Such a very true thing in life every day.

Tuesday, I had to take some bad –

I went to our venue to clean and set up for an event and walked in to see the river floating through our place. After I figured out the problem and took care of it, I mopped up the water then went down to check out the creepy basement. Also flooded – water was still dripping down from the ceiling. Not my favorite way to start a day but thankfully it has been taken care of and last night I was over there and the floors don’t seem to be damaged from all the water.

Yesterday morning I had another appointment with the DR who did my vein surgery last April. I have 2 places (my left ankle and my right inner thigh) that have hurt pretty much every single day since last April when I had the initial procedure done.

This DR said it shouldn’t be hurting anymore but that she thinks it is all fine (I have lumps in both of those places that I can feel and they are STILL bruised). She said if it still hurts in about 6 months she will do some checking because it could have gotten into my muscles.

I’m not sure how I feel about waiting 6 more months since it has been 11 months already for something that was supposed to be “no big deal” and healed quickly. I think that I will give it about 2 months and then look into getting a 2nd opinion if it isn’t better!!!

Some weeks, the bad seems to outweigh the good but I know that every week is different and even the bad isn’t that bad in the big picture!!!

And, to end on a happier note, check out our weather forecast –