Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Squats

Time for a Fun Friday!!!

December 20, 2013 Kim 56 Comments

Today I did a challenging 44 (finally!!!) and it was rough!!!

I got down in the monkey squat position (squat with feet together, hands by feet)

get ready to be in this position awhile!

and, while staying in that position, did alternating back lunges (right-left = 1 rep).

My quads were on FIRE!!! Check out the photo bomb – Hunter made a video downstairs but due to issues (mine, YouTube – who knows?!) I couldn’t get it loaded so we did pictures upstairs really quickly!!

I think that I will be back to working out again this weekend – it has been a roughish week but…..

Today is Fun Friday!!!

1. Last day of school for 2 weeks!!! For Hunter (middle school) today is basically a pud day – movies and a whole lot of nothing!! For Jordan (high school) he has to get through 3 more finals to finish his first semester as a high school student!!

2. Hunter performed in the Christmas cello bash last night!! The whole reason it is a cell0 bash and not just a concert – it is long!! Last night was only 2 hours but the spring one is usually 3+!!!

I tried to upload a video but I’m having technical difficulties this morning!!!

3. I guess the roads are icy this morning! Wait, this is supposed to be Fun Friday!!! Chris text to say his early morning drive (before 6:00 am) was full of black ice! Lovely!

4. I have a fun meeting set up for this morning!!! Back in the summer a new bridal boutique opened here in Topeka. It is called Happily Ever After and the owner came from Kansas City (a much bigger city) – she has all kinds of great ideas. We are meeting this morning to talk about working together on some package deals for brides – it should be fun!!

5. I have one errand to make today and then I’m done shopping for Christmas (except grocery shopping – haven’t even started menu planning!!!)!!!

6. Other than my teeth hurting (still – 2 weeks now!), I feel better than I have in a week!!! I can think about working out without feeling sick!

What’s fun in your Friday?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups

The Holidays can be a Hard and Lonely Time

December 19, 2013 Kim 66 Comments

Push-ups!!! It’s been a long week of very little activity and avoiding movements that make me move my head but today I did a variation of one of my favorite moves for the 44!!!

I used a foam roller –

to do push-ups. (not sure why it looks like I have a huge bald circle???)

This was a bit rough today but 44 push-ups always makes me feel semi-strong!!!

Looking around, there are so many people who struggle during this time of year. Society “tells you” that you should be Merry and Bright but sometimes that is hard for a number of reasons.

There are so many people who are hurting right now for a variety of reasons. I think that one of the main reasons that people struggle through the holiday season is loneliness!

Even with all of the commotion going on everywhere you turn right now, there are many people who feel completely isolated.

For some, it is just because they are separated from family by distance and due to work, time, finances or numerous other factors they can’t be with the ones they are closest to.There are also many people that don’t really have family to be with during the holidays. Even though they may have great friends, sometimes it is awkward to join someone else’s family on a holiday.

Since Chris and I have been married, we have spent many Christmases without any family. Many years it is just the 4 of us – sometimes we have friends over and other times we hang out together.

This year we decided to start a new tradition and hopefully reach out to some of those who are lonely and feeling left out during this time of year.

I know that we can’t make things perfect for people but I hope that we can at least help a few people who might not have anyone to celebrate with spend a few hours enjoying themselves!

I hope that this becomes a new yearly tradition and a way to spend time with friends both old and new!!!

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Happiness is Contagious!!!

December 18, 2013 Kim 79 Comments

I really want to start working out again but I’m pretty sure that my body isn’t ready so I will just keep doing 44s and pinning the great workouts that so many of y’all are sharing!

Today for my 44 I worked my shoulders with a front rotation. I started with my arms at 90 (8 pound dumbbells – that was plenty for this many reps!).

From the starting position, I just rotated my arms until they were in front of me, palms down and then back up – all in a slow and controlled manner.

The first 18 or so weren’t bad but the rest were rough!! My shoulders are always my weakest muscle and a few days of nothing hasn’t helped them!!!

Do other people’s moods affect your mood? I know they do mine!!!

Yesterday evening I had a showing (at our venue) for a bride and her photographer. This bride has already booked the place for an April wedding and just wanted to plan a few things and have her photographer see the lighting situation.

While we were there, she showed me some of the pictures for her plans (gotta love Pinterest!) and asked my opinions. She also showed me pictures of her dress and it was absolutely stunning!!!

Just spending those few minutes with her and sharing in her happiness and excitement made me happier!! I appreciated her enthusiasm for everything last night and when her friend/photographer arrived she immediately got caught up in the exuberance of the bride to be!!!

It was like a happy dance just sharing a few minutes with this girl (not really a girl but she is much younger than me!!!).

I started thinking about how often we let other’s dictate our mood – sometimes not in a positive way.

I think that happiness does grow when shared and is definitely contagious!!! I really hadn’t been super excited about driving over yesterday afternoon (I always end up BLAH when I’m sick) but I left feeling so much better than I had in days!!!!

I want to be one of those people that exudes happiness and shares the happy germ with others!!!

Do you feel happier after being around people who are happiness carriers?

HAPPY Wednesday!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

Christmas Memories

December 17, 2013 Kim 75 Comments

Today I pulled out my band for the 44.

I stood on it and did alternating cross body bicep curls. (No pictures because I haven’t been getting up at 5:00 for Chris to take the pictures before he goes to work and the boys aren’t really into taking pictures first thing in the morning – but I found a video of someone else doing exactly what I did!!)

Do you want to know something sad?! I don’t really remember that much about a lot of the Christmases from when I was growing up!! I remember a few small things but for the most part – nothing. And, I don’t have any pictures!!

I do remember one Christmas though. I was in 8th grade (a brutal year – I went to 3 different schools!!!) and we lived in Rantoul, Illinois. My dad was deployed to Korea for a year so it was just my mom and all 4 of us kids.

One day a couple of weeks before Christmas we received a really large box –

It was from my Mema and Poppa who lived in Texas and were sad that we couldn’t come down for Christmas. They mailed our gifts early.

About 2 days before Christmas, we got an much bigger and better surprise – Mema and Poppa came to spend Christmas with us!!!! Talk about a happy thing (I’m pretty sure I’ve said before – all my happiest memories involve my grandparents)!!!!

The box didn’t have our presents – it contained a large handmade, wooden church that someone had made for Sam & Mandi (the were 1st & 2nd graders) –

(not the real thing – remember no pictures!)

I have no idea what presents I got that year or what we ate or anything other than the fact that the best part of Christmas was being with my grandparents!!!!

Now that I have kids of my own – I try to help them build up Christmas memories. I hope that their memories will be less about the gifts and more about the special times that we share together!!! (And, of course, there are pictures to help jog the memory!!!)

What is your best Christmas or Hanukkah or any other memory?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Calves, Fitness

Does Simple Count?

December 16, 2013 Kim 75 Comments

Today I went with another easy move for my 44. I used one of my plate weights (25 pounds) and did a seated/weighted calf raise. And, a selfie in the mirror to start the day!

So, the past couple of days I have been trying to pick the easiest moves possible (and ones that don’t require much movement) so that I can still do a daily 44. This morning I started wondering – “Does it really count?”

I’m not sweating, hardly moving so can I call it part of my daily moves? I even thought about skipping it completely this morning but I know myself and at some point today I would have done something and then thrown together a post because I have issues!!!

Most days I’m all about going full speed ahead!!! I want to do moves that challenge me in every way possible and sweat and then sweat some more!!!

However, there are those rare instances (like now) when I actually get sick and just the thought of jumping or running or moving quickly makes my head spin even more.

So to make myself feel better (and so that I can still meet my goal!!!) – I say that as long as I do something, no matter how simple, it does count!!!