Today for my 44 I did a move using my agility ladder – squat-hop-squat. This move is fun because squats are always “fun” but also because of the cardio benefit and the agility work from the ladder.
I counted a rep as a squat-hop-squat each way (so you end where you start).
Then I did the Insanity the Asylum vol.2 workout that I think is the hardest (at least so far) – Upper Elite. The number of reps in this workout are killer – plus all of the push-ups!!! Once again, I had to drop to my knees for some of the push-ups – sort of frustrating but I figure it is better to use good form and full range of motion than to stay on my toes. Plus, all the girls on the DVD end up on their knees so I don’t feel as lame!!!
Yesterday wasn’t a great day! By 10 (AM) I was pretty much over the entire day and the next hour only got worse.
So, I did what pretty much anyone would do in that type of situation. I hopped on my treadmill and pounded out a fast 5 miles!!!
If I can’t be on the beach then I’m pretty happy here!!
That helped some but mostly I was glad when the day ended especially because about an hour before I went to bed my tooth (maybe it’s multiple teeth – can’t tell) started hurting a LOT again!!! Even with some pain meds, the aching kept me awake past 1:00am – not cool since my alarm goes off at 5:00!!!
I guess I’m finally going to have to break down and call my dentist – I really thought that my ignoring tactic was going to work out.
Here’s to a better day all around!
Happy Tuesday!!! I hope that no matter what your Monday was like you have an incredible day!
The 44 today might sound easy but…..It was a falling push-up. You do the move from your knees and fall forward into a triceps push-up. Then push back to the starting position.
I tried not to round my back so much on the push-up part but not very successfully!
After a couple days break, it was another day of Insanity the Asylum vol.2. Today was X-Trainer. This is the one with a solid 4 minutes of push-ups and plank holds – super fun!! I actually like this workout quite a bit because it is 50 minutes of everything – speed, agility, strength – and every single muscle is involved!!!
Did you know that Wednesday it will be just 2 weeks until Christmas?
Guess how much of my Christmas shopping I have done?!
Actually, other than decorating, I haven’t done a single thing to plan for Christmas!!! Usually we have our family picture done, our cards printed and our newsletter ready to go by now. I think we are going to cheat on the family picture and use one from this summer –
this picture makes my heart happy!!!
Oh – summer time memories!!!
Jordan had an English project to do over the weekend and he was actually very excited to work on it. He had to make a movie trailer for The Odyssey.
It is really good – I should get Jordan to help me jazz up my videos!!! I don’t know how he knows how to do all of that stuff!
Enough rambling – time to get on with this Monday!
Are you ready for Christmas or do you feel behind like me?
Today’s 44 was a great way to work your hip flexors and butt while getting a triceps workout.
In the tricep dip position on the floor, pull one knee in to your chest –
readyextend leg and dip
After doing 44 with one leg, it is necessary to switch legs and repeat (DUH!)!! The downside is your arms don’t get any break!!! 88 total dips!
ready on side 2extend and dip
So, Chris actually took the pictures for me last night (see the fuzzy socks?) but I did the 44 this morning. However, the first time through I did them wrong – I was just reclining on my elbows and thinking it was a super easy move. When I uploaded my pictures I realized my mistake so I had to do them all (both sides) again – my butt and hip flexors really got a workout!!!
I know lots of people who would rather spend hours with a group of little kids than middle school kids. However in my previous life (before kids so 15 years ago) I was a middle school science teacher and a coach (volleyball, basketball and track).
I love the 11-14 year old range of kids – they are still on the cusp of wanting to please adults but also needing to venture off – very teachable!!!
And – they are also capable of teaching us (adults) many things if we are willing to be receptive to them.
Yesterday while “enjoying” my time in a gym surrounded by adolescents (mostly boys!), I observed several things that I thought were worth sharing.
A little background on the tournament – this was a varsity level tournament so it was mostly 8th graders and many of these boys have been wrestling on club teams for 5-7 years. (Hunter was 1 of only a few 7th graders from our school who went.)
1. One of the boys on our team lost his 2nd match and was upset. As an 8th grader (13 or 14 years old) it is so hard to let anyone see you cry – he was trying to fight it and brush off the tears so no one would notice. Another one of the 8th grade boys was sitting close to him on the bleachers. He didn’t say a word – just slid over and put his arm around him for just a second before moving back to his spot.
I thought it was the kindest gesture he could have made! He showed he cared but he didn’t make a big deal about it. Most importantly – he didn’t make the other kid feel bad for the tears!!!
Hunter getting ready to start
2. When Hunter lost (rather quickly because he got pinned) in his 2nd match, his opponent took the time to talk to him for several minutes. This was a boy from another school who had never met Hunter. On the way home I asked Hunter what they were talking about. He said the boy was offering up a couple of pointers and things for Hunter to try in future matches.
Wow!! That kid could have made fun of Hunter for getting pinned so quickly but instead he was kind and offered up some help!!!
waiting for his turn
3. Team support is alive and well!!! Hunter could have left anytime after his 2nd match because he was done for the day. However, he wanted to stay and watch his teammates – and these boys really did watch and cheer on the other guys from their team!
Even though wrestling isn’t my favorite, I’m all about supporting your team, so we stayed and watched (well, I watched when someone from our school was up but mostly read my Nook!).
4. I was a litte worried about how Hunter would react after his 2nd match – he actually got pinned in both of his matches yesterday. However, he was completely fine when he came over and sat down. At first I thought his attitude was kind of lax and that he should at least be a little upset.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that he knew going in that he was going to be up against boys who were older and had been competing much longer than he has (just over a month for him!) and that the day would be a great learning experience for him – he went in planning to do his best and to learn as much as he could during the whole experience.
Hunter didn’t win any matches yesterday but he still came out a winner because of his attitude and willingness to learn!!
So, the next time you’re surrounded by a group of loud, noisy (maybe stinky) pre-teens and teens, remember – they have plenty to teach you if you let them!!!
Favorite age group to be around – babies, preschooler, elementary kids, middle school, high school, college or adults – What is your pick?
For my 44 today I did a move that worked just about every part of my body!!!
A single leg squat –
squat on right leg
into warrior 3 –
warrior 3 (with arms down not out)
then a row.
row
44 of these were HARD!! My right leg was shaking pretty much after 3!!! Then, I got to switch and start all over on the left leg!
squat
warrior 3
And, in case you care – Hunter did the pictures last night since no one would be able to this morning!!! (Chris has drill this weekend, Hunter had to leave at 6 with Chris to get to school, Jordan is sleeping.) I didn’t feel the need to put on my shoes – pink fuzzy socks are fine for pictures!!!
The reason Hunter had to be at the school so early – another ALL DAY wrestling tournament! Also the reason I’m up early!!! Good thing I love Hunter so much because I don’t love wrestling that much (at all!).
Another thing I don’t love? Cold weather!!!!
Nothing would make me happier than to spend the day in my sweats inside with the Christmas lights – good thing I love Hunter so much!!!
So – I need to get a move on so I can drive an hour away to spend the day in the gym with a lot of sweaty middle school kids – good thing I love Hunter so much!!!
I thought I would share a few things that have entertained me recently.
Today I used my one of my bands for my 44 and did a slow bicycle crunch. Using the band and going through the moves slowly made this a great move for my abs and also a nice bicep workout!!
I counted a right side crunch and a left side crunch as 1 rep so it was really 88 crunches.
The workout for Insanity the Asylum vol.2 was the Championship plus Sudden Overtime (Fit Test). Not gonna lie – I was dreading this one!!! But – it wasn’t horrible! It was about an hour and during the last 10 minutes you do the fit test part – as many rounds as possible during 3 minutes.
I actually think this workout was a little easier than the Game Day one that was part of the first Insanity the Asylum!!!
All day yesterday I had a dull ache in my tooth/gums on the left side of my mouth. I ignored it because that’s what I do!!!
Then last night at about 11:30 I woke up (I had probably been sleeping about an hour) in pain!!!
The entire left side of my mouth hurt (not just a little) and even my left ear and my throat. I propped myself up and tried reading thinking maybe I would fall back asleep because ignoring things makes them go away or something!!!
Finally around 1:30 I couldn’t handle it any more so I went in search of something to take.Thankfully we had some hydrocodone from a previous injury or surgery (don’t know and didn’t care – just needed some relief!!) and I took one. It finally kicked in around 2:15 – less than 3 hours before my alarm would be going off – nice!! As long as I stayed propped up, the pain was back to just a manageable/ignorable level.
At 5:00 when I got up, it was just a dull ache (like yesterday) so I figured there was no reason to put off the fun of Insanity!!!
My dilemma is what to do – I don’t even think our dentist works on Fridays but I don’t want to experience another night like last night – Oy!!!
What would you do? Ignore it and hope it just goes away (that could totally happen, right?!)?
Yesterday wasn’t a great day! By 10 (AM) I was pretty much over the entire day and the next hour only got worse.
I guess I’m finally going to have to break down and call my dentist – I really thought that my ignoring tactic was going to work out.
