Because this is the state of my legs (again) this morning –
the wraps
I just went with a simple 44 today. I did a stretch instead of a true exercise – forward bends to a toe touch. Super easy but it was actually a nice move for my hamstrings – I should probably do that a bit more!!!
Other than my core challenge with Taylor (1 minute plank and 30 push-ups this week), I ended up taking an unplanned day off.
So, yesterday I had a Drs appointment that I thought was just a follow-up. Remember in November I had LOTS of injections in my veins? Well, I had a 2 month “check-up.”
I went in thinking I would probably be there about 5 minutes or so (didn’t even have my Nook with me!!).
The DR looked at my legs and the couple of places that still hurt (all the time) and said, “Yep, there are still some pieces (of veins, I guess) there that we need to get.”
Next thing I know they start setting things up –
(don’t be fooled that there are just 4 syringes – she added a couple more but she can do multiple injections with each one!!)
I had a moment of panic!!! I told the DR and nurse that I wasn’t really expecting shots and wasn’t mentally prepared.
The response, “Maybe just as well.” Nice!
She used a stronger solution this time and YIKES!!! Probably good that I hadn’t known because it was painful!!!
So, a couple of unplanned “easy” days (glad I got in a good run yesterday morning!!) and then hopefully I can be done with all of this!!! (unless I get another surprise at the March appointment!)
Do you like to know when stuff like this is coming up so you can prepare mentally or would you rather just show up and find out at the last minute?
Today for my 44 I did rocking squat – it was every bit as awkward as it sounds!!
Start in a squat position –
startrock onto toes
rock back onto heels
More than anything this is a nice way to warm-up your shins and calves – and get a little burn from holding the squat!!!
And, it was another happy day on the treadmill!!! I did 8 miles at a fairly steady pace – just a few seconds under an hour or right at 7:30 pace and then another 1.15 miles super easy. I’m hoping to have more running days this year – trying to be smart about it though because I have a history of stress fractures. (in 10 years I’ve had 3 or 4 in my right foot and 1 in each hip)
Somehow I have a 15 year old and an almost 13 year old and neither one of them have ever been to the circus!!!
What?! How did this happen?
And, to make things even worse, neither Chris nor the boys have ever been to a rodeo!!!
I feel like they have been sheltered and are missing out in a big way!!
Of course, then Chris reminded me that they have been skiing, to lots of beaches and for 5 straight summers we went to Hawaii starting when Hunter was 4 and Jordan 6. (The Hawaii gig was because we got to fly Space A, free, on the tanker – and I think it is time for another trip!!!)
But still, the circus is like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – it is part of growing up!!!
Jordan said, “I’m not going to a circus. I don’t want to see clowns juggling swords with creepy faces.” OY!!!
Maybe I will take them to a cattle auction!! None of them (Chris or the boys) have ever been to one of those either and I think everyone should experience the thrill of a cattle auction!!! (I used to go with my grandparents – good times!!!)
Have you been to the circus? A rodeo? What about a cattle auction?
What is one place you think all kids should experience at least once?
Today’s 44 was a front raise but I wanted to make it more “fun” so I did all 44 front raises while doing a wall-sit.
readyand raise
Not sure why I was looking down during the front raise other than I had been holding this pose for awhile waiting for Chris to take the picture – oops!!!
I just used 5 pound dumbbells and that ended up being plenty to be able to do all 44 in a slow controlled manner without swinging my arms!
I pulled out a workout that I haven’t done in awhile – Prevention 3-2-1 Workout. This is a fun way to do a bit of everything. After the warm-up, there are 6 circuits (legs, chest, butt, arms, back and shoulders) each made up of 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength work and 1 minute of core work. The time goes by quickly and even though it’s not super high intensity, it is a good workout.
I’ve been participating in Taylor’sCore & More January Challenge since January 1 (well, I thought I was participating). Everyday I have done the challenge I’ve wondered how it is a core challenge!! Then yesterday I figured out that I’ve been doing it wrong!!!
I have been doing a 45 second wall-sit followed by 20 push-ups. What I should have been doing is a 45 second plank followed by 20 push-ups.
wall sitplank
See – I really do know the difference!!!
So, because I want to be doing the challenge correctly I decided to get caught up today!!! I did 3 sets of 1:30 plank holds (for the 6 days that I missed) and then today’s segment of 45 seconds plank + 20 push-ups.
And, just because I find it funny that everyday is “national” something day and apparently today is National Old Rock day, what are your favorite rock songs? (I’m pretty sure the old rock day is literally old rocks like fossils but that’s not as much fun!!)
I don’t know if I can pick a favorite – I do like Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll a lot because way back when Chris and were dating while he was in pilot training, every weekend a group of us would go out to a super fun piano bar and lots of times Chris would end up singing – this was one of the top picks!
(Chris spent a year in Korea when he was around 20 and in active duty. During that time he was part of a band as the lead singer!!!)
Today for my 44 I used my step(s) and did some decline plank jacks!
The set-up with the steps –
I put my feet on the taller of the 2 (it is 8″) and my hands on the other (6″).
sorry another mirror shot
I “jacked” my feet off and on x 44. This was a fun way to do a plank hold and get my heart rate up!!!
feet off
Hard to take pictures while holding a 1 arm plank but you get the idea!!!
I’m trying to increase my mileage (without being too crazy!) so I ran again today. Just putting in miles – trying to learn to run slow (I tend to get impatient) and not so hard because I know that is the best way to be able to run more often (for me!).
My secret –
I keep reading about body image and people who want to make changes in their diets and exercise habits to change their bodies (which is completely fine!).
But, I can say in all honesty that I really do like my body just the way it is.
And, you know what? It has nothing to do with having a six pack – I know I have one somewhere, I just keep it safely covered up. It has nothing to do with a perfect butt – mine will never be the super cute shape. Basically there isn’t any of me that is perfect.
And when you really think about it, we all have a different definition of the “perfect” body anyway. Some people think that perfect is super skinny, some like curves and some (me) prefer strong!!!
I love my body because it is strong and healthy and lets me do the things I love.
I ask it to let me run 5 fast miles and my legs manage to pick up the pace and kick it into gear. Some days I really push by body and ask it to run more than 40 miles and it will usually somehow find a way to get it done.
There are days that I think there is no possible way I will be able to accomplish everything I need to but somehow my body finds a way to make it happen.
I love my body because it allowed me to have 2 babies who are now closer to men than babies!!!
There are still nights where I look in the mirror before bed and think, “time to make a change.” (I know that Chris is nodding his head right now because he is the one who hears that on occasion!!!)
But on most days – I love the body that I’ve been given and that I have worked hard to make as strong and healthy as possible!!!
Do you love your body for the things it allows you to do every single day?
Happy Monday!!! HaHappy Monday!!! It was supposed to be back to school but they cancelled all of the area schools last night due to extreme cold, blowing snow and icy roads. So, the boys can help me finish putting up the Christmas stuff!!! (I know they are excited!)
Today’s 44 took one of my favorite moves (burpees) and added in one of my least favorite (jumping lunges) for a great challenge!!!
The move – a burpee (don’t forget he push-up!) jump up and immediately do 2 lunge jumps.
(FYI – the burpees in the demo actually make # 45, 46 & 47!)
Last night Hunter was trying to give me some more ideas for my 44s and he suggested a burpee with a tuck jump. I told him I did those this summer on the beach in Florida!!! He didn’t believe me so I had to find the video to prove it!!!
While we were looking at YouTube, we came across this video –
44 (must be fate!) of the best burpee exercises ever!!! I can’t wait to try more of these!!!
I decided that this bitterly cold and snowy Sunday would be the perfect day to share some sunshine!!!!
I know there are supposed to be rules to these things but I pretty much suck at following them!! I decided to start by answering Mona’s questions and then go from there.
1. If the internet suddenly disappeared and you couldn’t blog anymore, what would you choose as a “release” for your writing and creativity?
Well, I don’t know that I am super creative in my writing anyway – I would probably just spend the extra time on my treadmill!!!
2. What’s a perfect Saturday morning to you? I would say it is a day that I sleep in but that doesn’t really happen. I do like the mornings when I don’t have to set an alarm and jump out of bed first thing. I would take my time getting up, do my workout, have Chris and both boys home and not have to spend the day running all over the place or doing any errands – in other words LAZY!!
3. Where do you see yourself and your blog in 3 years from now? I will be 47 so I guess if I can stick with it that long, I will be doing daily 47s!!! As for blogging, I hope to have met in person some of the incredible people that I have met online!!!
4. Is your family supportive of your blogging? Yes, they are 100% supportive. Chris reads my post every single day (and usually texts me after to make a comment of some sort so I know he read it). The boys don’t seem to mind being part of my blog on many occasions and are more than willing to help me out with pictures/videos!!
5. What’s you fav quick, easy and delicious dinner recipe? (this one made me laugh – if you haven’t read Mona’s blog, you really should check it out!!!)
My favorite easy meal is going to involve the crock-pot for sure!!! Hard to pick just one! I’m going to go with French Dip because it is so easy!!!
Put a frozen roast in the crock pot. Mix 2 c water, 1/2 c soy sauce (we use low-sodium), a bay leaf, some garlic powder, a few peppercorns, rosemary & thyme (just sprinkle some in). Cook on low all day. Shred. Serve on Kaiser rolls with swiss cheese and use the juice to dip.
6. Where is your favorite place to write? This could read where is your favorite place to ___________? No matter what is in the blank, my answer is the same!!! THE BEACH!!!
7. If you had to start your blog all over, what changes would you make?
I think that I would have started commenting on other blogs sooner. I was a complete newbie in the blog world and didn’t have a clue what I was doing for months!!!
What would you keep? This one is easy – I would keep all of the bloggy friends I have made because they (y’all) are the best part of blogging!!
8. Vacation…with or without kids? With!! When the boys were younger I liked it when Chris and I could get away by ourselves. Now, the boys are fun to have on vacation and that is part of the experience. I’m hoping that even when they leave the nest they will still take vacations with us and one day that their spouses and kids will come, too!!
9. What’s your best advice for overcoming writer’s block? Since I’m not really a writer, I don’t truly deal with this!!! I just make up some random stuff and move on!
And, like I said at the beginning – I’m not good at these the traditional way. So I’m not making up 9 or 10 or 12 new questions and tag people – I can’t tag people because I think it supposed to be just a few and I would want to tag at least 100 people!!!
Instead – I will make up one question.
How do you spread sunshine? What is the temperature where you are?
So I lied and asked 2 questions!!! We are actually at 10 degrees with about 4-5 inches of snow so I guess I can’t complain (but I will!) compared to all y’all even further north!
So, yesterday I had a Drs appointment that I thought was just a follow-up. Remember in November I had LOTS of injections in my veins? Well, I had a 2 month “check-up.”
(don’t be fooled that there are just 4 syringes – she added a couple more but she can do multiple injections with each one!!)
So, a couple of unplanned “easy” days (glad I got in a good run yesterday morning!!) and then hopefully I can be done with all of this!!! (unless I get another surprise at the March appointment!)
