Last Day in Paradise

July 29, 2013 Kim 40 Comments

Today I used my band again for my 43. I did a bicep curl while in a V-sit position.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3KdK7gLSFM’]

I love moves like this because not only am I working my biceps but also my entire core so it is a double bonus!!

And since this is our last day here in Florida, I took advantage of the beach for another hot, steamy run!! 4 miles – 32:33 + 0.5 miles cool down – I actually ran the last 2 miles much faster than the first 2 but I was really having to work hard – the humidity just sucks the energy out of me!!!

Today is our last day before we start the LONG drive home and I plan to enjoy every second of it!!! For me that means plenty of time on the beach doing my favorite thing:

For the boys, it probably means more time hanging out with their buddies (the Page boys) playing games on their phones/iPads:

Notice how Chris is right there in the mix with them?! The other day I walked in from the beach and the little video below is what I saw! Crazy!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tebgl-EEi3Y’]

Last night we got some great sunset pictures on the beach.

I love all the variety in the colors. All of those pictures were taken in a 20-30 minute window but they are all so different!

Fun with friends!!

So, I’m off to enjoy my version of paradise!

same type shot - different day — same type of shot – different day

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Squats

Life Isn’t Always Sunshine but I Love it Anyway

July 28, 2013 Kim 43 Comments

Today’s 43 was one that I’ve never tried but need to do more often. It was a front wall squat. I need lots more practice because I can’t go down very far without toppling over.

Start with your toes against the wall –

(you can barely see me – the bright light worked against the picture but too late now!!)

Slide down into a squat keeping your knees and hands against (or near) the wall –

You can tell from the picture (barely) that I couldn’t even get down to 90 degrees – so a good 43 but one that definitely needs work! I liked the fact that performing this type of squat added in a balance challenge!

And, because we actually slept in a little, I decided to keep my workout inside because the humidity is killing me when I run here. I did Turbo Fire – Sculpt 30. This was a great workout today since I haven’t gotten much strength work this week!! You use the Turbo Fire band

for a full body strength workout!!

For the past week, it has been easy to love life – because we’ve been at the beach (2 more days!!!)! And, I’m pretty sure that by now it is a well established fact that the beach is my true HAPPY PLACE!!!

However, in my “real life” back home in Kansas, life isn’t always sunny!! There are days that look a lot like this –

And, some days are just kind of drippy!However, I can finally say that no matter what the weather and other circumstances that come along – I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

That hasn’t always been the case! In high school, I think I just existed. I loved running track and I enjoyed school but the rest of it was just something to be survived.

College was 4 years of fun even though I worked hard to maintain a track and academic scholarship and then added in a job my senior year. But, I still wasn’t completely at peace with myself.

I spent a number of years trying to find happiness through other people instead of looking for it inside of myself.

I thought that the people I surrounded myself and hung out with controlled my happiness.

I even struggled when we had kids – I thought that being a Mom should make me happy all the time – that kids meant sunshine 100% of the time!!!

So, it has taken 43 years to finally get to the point where I am completely content during the sunny times and the not so sunny times.

And, as long as I know that there is always time at the beach to look forward to, my life is full of sunshine!!

Do you love your life in all types of weather or just during the sunny/happy times?

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

A Retirement Tribute

July 27, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today for my 43 I worked my abs (silly since the rest of my workout was very ab/core heavy!!). I used my band –

With the band – I did a bicycle counting a right twist and a left twist as 1 rep. The resistance of the band adds a nice little extra to the standard bicycle crunch.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZZS5XrQhEw’]

After that, I did my 3rd round of the Climbing Everest challenge (from Taylor @ Lifting Revolution). Today instead of doing 1000 total reps, I did 1500. Instead of 7 sets of 100 mountain climbers, I did 7 sets of 150. And the 6 other moves that are normally 50, I made 75. Yikes – that really made this a difficult workout!!

Tuesday – 1000 reps – 14:13
Thursday – 1000 reps – 12:23
Saturday – 1500 reps – 19:13

Yesterday was not a beach day – we had much better things today!!

The main reason that we picked Bradenton Beach, FL for our vacation this year was because some of our long-time friends recently moved here and yesterday was DP’s retirement from the Air Force.

We first met the Page family when Chris and DP were in pilot training together in Lubbock, TX. They started off flying the T-37 Tweet –

The next plane that they both flew was the T-1. They were both planning to be “heavy” pilots (not fighter pilots).

After Pilot Training, the Pages moved to Oklahoma and DP flew the E-3 AWACS –

Later in his career, he flew the RC-135 (an air refueler – Chris flies the KC-135) –

For 22 years, DP has served our country! He has been deployed numerous times and has been involved in 1000s of missions both during war-time and peace-time.

The retirement was a great time to honor DP and for him to share about the family and friends that have supported he and his family during his career.

Throughout DP’s incredible military career, his wife (Erica) has been the most supportive military wife possible. She has survived numerous deployments, moves all over the place (even other countries), raised their 2 boys (often as a single mom) and done it all without ever complaining!!!

The Page family is a true example of a family that has given themselves 100% to our country!!!

Plus, they are just amazing people!! They are the kind of friends that if you need something (anything) you call them! We have taken several trips to Hawaii with them, visited their home and hosted them in our home – every time we are together is always a fun experience and plenty of great memories are created. (It helps that their 2 boys and our 2 are close in age and all get along!)

Congratulations DP & Erica!! We are proud to be your friends and love all of the times we have shared together!!! We’re looking forward to tons of new memories (on the beach!!)!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Lunges, Quad

Sleep: It’s Optional

July 26, 2013 Kim 52 Comments

Today’s 43 was an angle lunge. That is exactly what it sounds like – a lunge at an angle.

Start with feet together –

Lunge right leg to the right front angle –

right lunge – don’t forget to close your eyes

Quickly step right foot back and then lunge left leg to the left front angle –

I counted a right and left lunge as 1 rep so it was 43 lunges per leg. By moving quickly back and forth, I also got my heart rate up while doing these!

I thought about running but with the sand workouts lately, my Achilles is really sore so I will wait on that. Instead I did Les Mills Combat – Combat 45 – one of my all time favorite workouts!!!

So, I had already decided before we came on vacation that I was going to give myself permission to sleep in while we were here. At home I’m always up ~~at the butt crack of dawn~~ by 5:15 (often earlier) so I came here planning to really make up for lost sleep.

However, since we have been in Florida I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten even less sleep than I do at home!!

At home I have
However, since we’ve been here that has gone out the window (literally since we are outside all the time!)!!

It has been fun to be up past 10 pm (yep we are old and in bed by 10 almost every night!)!! We have set out on the deck and listened to the waves while catching up with friends – it has been awesome!!

The only problem is that I haven’t really been able to sleep in that much – by 7 we are usually up and going! Add that to the fact that I spend several hours in the middle of the night awake –

So, I have just decided that sleep is completely optional!!!

But who needs sleep when I can see this?

Even without much sleep being at the beach is very relaxing! My true happy place!!

Where is your happy place?
Do you sleep better or worse on vacation?

Happy Friday!

Kim

Cardio, Chest, Core, Fitness, Push-Ups, Shoulders

Packed Sand or Loose Sand for Working Out?

July 25, 2013 Kim 41 Comments

Today I did my 43 on the beach! It was hard!! I did a burpee with a tuck jump (although my tucks are not very high!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCSfRRoiuA4′]

It is HARD to jump up high in the sand!! This was a 43 that pretty much worked my entire body.

I also did my 2nd round of this week’s workout with Taylor’s challenge. I’m pretty sure that I’m doing the wrong workout this week but I decided to just stick with it because it is perfect for vacation – the one part that requires weights I can use my bands. This is the workout that has 1000 total reps (700 are mountain climbers!). Tuesday it took 14:13 and today I crushed my time – 12:23!!

And, because we are on vacation and I’m trying to maximize time, that was the extent of my work out!! Not gonna lie – working out for less than 30 minutes is not my normal and I’m trying really hard to be OK with the fact that if I go all-out for a short amount of time (HIIT) then I don’t need to work out for hours. Still working on the whole guilt thing!!

Burning Question:

In my 43 video today, you can see that I worked out in the loose heavy sand. I think it’s much more difficult to perform moves that require any jumping in the loose sand. However, when I was doing the burpees this morning, I had someone tell me that I should do them on the packed sand to really get the full benefit.

So – what do you think? More benefits from trudging through the loose sand or the packed sand?

And – you know I have to post some more beach pictures!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQgDZ13AERI’]

Chris and the boys playing in the water – Chris and Hunter said the waves were big enough that it was a workout. Jordan said it wasn’t even close to a workout – maybe because he has been doing boot camp with me all summer!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Day With KT

Last Day in Paradise

Life Isn’t Always Sunshine but I Love it Anyway

A Retirement Tribute

Sleep: It’s Optional

Packed Sand or Loose Sand for Working Out?

Fitness – Food – Fun