Today’s 44 started off nice and easy but the last 10 or so were rough!!! I used a resistance band –
Double the band under and sit on it in V-sit –
I stayed in this position and did a shoulder press –
Like I said, this started off fine but from about 30 on I struggled!!!
This week has been a bit intense so I thought some of the old-time Sunday cartoons would be a nice change of pace!
OK – maybe they weren’t that funny but we can all do with a good laugh!!!
Happy Sunday!!!
Kim
Today I did a 44 with a little bit of everything – balance work, core, glutes, biceps and triceps.
I used my wobble disc – 
and did a half squat –
While staying in this position I did bicep/tricep arms – alternating each arm –
I used 8 pound dumbbells and counted a bicep-tricep for each arm as 1 rep = my arms felt this for sure. (Especially since I did my 75 sec plank followed by 40 push-ups for the January core challenge right after this.)
I also ran again!!! Today I wanted to push the pace a little since I’ve been doing a lot of slower runs. I did 7 miles in 43:27 (6:12 pace) and then another 1.3 miles as my cool down.
Yesterday afternoon we learned that a family we know (one of Jordan’s good friends) lost a loved one suddenly on Thursday night. A police officer came to their house to tell them that their oldest son/brother had been in a car crash and did not make it (he was 24).
As a mom I have a hard time putting myself in that position and my heart breaks for the entire family.
I know that many people today are running in honor of Meg whose death should not have happened and is tragic on every level.
I am honored to dedicate my run this morning for her.
This morning we are going to a memorial service for some friends of ours (2 high school girls) whose dad lost his battle with cancer. I know that they would love to hug their dad just one more time.
Losing someone is always hard whether you had time to prepare because it was due to illness or the sudden unexpected tragedies that happen all around us. Living with regret is even worse.
Today make sure that you don’t have a reason to regret anything – enjoy every second and show your loved ones how very much they mean to you!!!
Happy Saturday!
Kim
Today for the 44 I did donkey kicks. You start in plank (although after starting to kick I never went back to plank) and kick your feet up in the air.
This is one of those moves that it takes a couple of reps to get into the rhythm. Even though the demo just shows slow ones, I mixed it up and did 5 slow and then 5 quick until I completed all 44.
I did another new Biggest Loser DVD today – Calorie Knockout. Overall it was a good workout. The first segment was with Anna Kournikova and she led it sort-of like she led her team the season she was on The Biggest Loser (not that well!!!). It was supposed to be 15 minutes and at 12 she said we were done – WHAT?!
Thankfully the next 2 segments were really good and very intense – one with Bob and the other with Dolvett!
Since it’s Friday I thought it would be fun if we had happy hour and all y’all are invited!!
What will you bring?
And more importantly what are you happy about?
I’m probably going to bring some wine (Moscato) because I LIKE WINE!!! And I might also bring some chips and guacamole because that sounds good today!!! (Feel free to bring a protein shake if that is more your style!!)
I’m happy that this weekend is a 3 day weekend for all of us – Chris is off on Monday and the boys don’t have school!!! 
Actually Chris has a 4 day weekend since he is off today – glad I only have 2 meetings this morning and the rest of the day free!!!
I’m happy that this weekend is supposed to be warm again – 63 is the predicted high for Sunday!! I will definitely take that in January!!
I’m happy that I know someone who is at least thinking about running the 50 mile race with me in May!!! I hope it works out, Carmen!!!
I’m also happy that in the last year I have made so many great bloggy friends – I appreciate all of y’all who stop in and read my ramblings – I enjoy getting to know you and also love to see people that I already know over here!!!
Happy Friday!!!
Kim
Today’s 44 came from Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) and her Weekly Wednesday Workout. The move was a butt bench raise – looks fairly simple but after a few you will definitely feel it.
Lay on your back with your feet on a bench at about 90 degrees –
Squeeze and lift your butt off the ground –
The last 10-15 were hard – my butt and hamstrings were burning!!!
Today was also another running day – 1.5% incline – 8 miles in 62:47 + 1.5 easy cool down miles. After almost 30 years of running I’ve finally learned that slowing down and just logging the miles is a better choice if I want to run more often and higher mileage!!!
Workout Options: How do you choose?
There are so many different workout options available and all of them are a little different. How do you choose what to do?!
Workout videos are always an option!! I love using DVDs especially at 5:00 am (or for years 4:30 am) because I can get a great workout without having to think a lot. Funny that I can move around and push my body early in the morning but it takes my mind a bit longer to get going.
Pinterest is a great source of workouts or a perfect place to store all the great ones that you find through blogs or other places. My workout board grows every single day!!
There are always options like treadmills (LOVE) and ellipticals (HATE)!! And if you go to a real gym, not just my basement, you have so many other great options!!!
Another option is the many classes available. I think that DVDs are similar except you don’t get the social benefit and for some people a class can be far more motivating because you have the encouragement of an instructor and the other participants.
Or, you could just wing it. This option doesn’t work for me (it goes back to the early morning thing and having to think!!!) but might be great for others to just show up and make something up as they go.
Of course, there is always the completely natural – walk or RUN outside!!!!!
What other workout options are there? What is your favorite?
Happy Thursday!!!
Kim
Today was another resistance band move for the 44. The move is a twist and designed to work your core but because you have to hold the band up in front of you it also is a great shoulder burner!!!
Oh – I counted a full rotation (right-left-right) as 1 rep.
Because I’m trying to work through some of my workout DVDs that I don’t do very often – I pulled out one today that I haven’t done in years.
Shelly McDonald – Caribbean Workout – Abs, Buns & Thighs
This one is funny because it’s made up of 3 segments (I did all 3 for just over an hour long workout) but you can tell that each segment was a 30 minute TV workout at one point (obvious when they had a cut to commercial!). It is more old school aerobics (lots of grapevine, step touch, the pony….) but it is all worth it because of the views!!
It is filmed on location so I could sort-of pretend that I was on the beach enjoying views like this – 
But now it’s back to reality and 19 degree temps outside!!! Oh, well it was nice for an hour!!!
First – thank you for so many kind words and shared experiences/situations to yesterday’s post about friendships!!!
Chris’ response yesterday was that I can’t let those failed friendships control me because it is a 2-way street and when the other party doesn’t make any effort to maintain or reconcile a friendship then there is nothing I can do.
The overwhelming response yesterday was the fact that effort should be made on both parts and I agree 100%!!
It is never fun to be the one making all of the effort in a relationship!!! I know that sometimes things just have to be let go – doesn’t ever make it easy though!!!
Anyway……
Even without knowing the entire back story I felt like many of you understood the situation perfectly – a lot of you because you have had a similar experience for which I’m very sorry because I know it is hard!!!
Happy Wednesday!!!
Kim