Butt, Calves, Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Hamstrings

Ways to Stay Entertained on a Car Trip

July 19, 2013 Kim 39 Comments

Today’s 43 was one of those that was much harder than I thought it was going to be when I decided to do it. I used a foam roller –

and did a single leg glute lift.

(BTW – I didn’t really do these barefoot – I just had Jordan take the pictures for me last night because I knew that no one would be up at 5 am this morning!) So, from the bridge position, I just lifted my hips and lowered them – 43 times!!

And, of course I couldn’t just do one leg!!!

Supporting myself with one leg is always a bit of a challenge but supporting myself with one leg on the foam roller was no joke. My calves actually cramped up before I completed all 43 lifts!!!

Today was my 3rd (and final) round of The Lucky – the workout that I’ve been doing this week as part of Taylor’s challenge! This workout was made up of 3 circuits with 3 moves each. To complete a circuit, you do each of the 3 moves for 20 seconds, then 40 seconds, then 1 minute. Finish with 5 final reps of each move and then 1 burnout move of 50 reps.

You count the # of reps every time through and track them. I’m happy to say that I improved each day!!! I wasn’t sure that I would today but – BOOM – nailed it!!!

As of 7:00 AM this morning we are on vacation!! The only downside is to get to the destination (Bradenton Beach, FL – near Tampa) we have 20-24 hours in the car!!! (Chris thought is would be fun to drive this time – guess who voted against that plan?) So, we are driving (and driving and driving and….)!!

Unless you are the driver (which I actually prefer), it is mandatory to have something to do to pass the MANY hours!! We will entertain each other but I also brought a few things to keep myself busy!

We bought this cool little thing called a WiFi Hotspot (we went with the Verizon brand from Best Buy) so that I could have internet access on the road.

It’s pretty cool – just activate it (we just did a 1 month plan), plug it into a USB and – Voila!!! I can still blog!!! My little set-up –

And, yes, I’m in the back seat!! Jordan likes the front and I don’t really care where I sit if I’m not driving!!!

I also have a whole bag full of entertainment – iPad, Nook, several magazines, trivia books and logic puzzles to quiz the boys with!

If Hunter and I get bored, we can watch a movie on my laptop (I just picked up 42 the other day and can’t wait to see it!).

Other forms of car entertainment – Turner style!!

* see how many different state license plates we can find (and yes, I’m keeping a list)
* ABC game (no less than 500 times!)
* the boys like to sleep (or pretend to be asleep)
* take 100s of pictures of each other (documenting the day!)
* music trivia – see who can name the artist of the song first
* play word games – rhyming words, starts with, memory games
* car bingo
* who can find _______ first (things like an RV with a bicycle on the back, a bright yellow pick-up, a horse…..)
* snacks – when the boys are bored they decide it is snack time

I’m sure that we will come up with other fun things (cause, you know, we have plenty of time!!).

What are your favorite ways to stay entertained or to keep the family entertained during a long car trip?

Happy Fun Friday!!! (I’m hoping our day is full of fun on the road!)

Kim

Core, Fitness

Who Is “Somebody”?

July 18, 2013 Kim 43 Comments

Today I used my Bender Ball for my 43.

I put it right behind my lower back and did a crunch – it totally changes the way your abs work!!!

crunch - it's not a huge move! — crunch – it’s not a huge move!

This is a great move because it works you abs but it is also a little stretch for your back.

I decided to do a Turbo Jam workout because working out with Chalean always makes me happy!! I did Cardio Party 3 – 50 minutes of kicks, twists, punches – FUN!!

One day Jordan said – “somebody needs to clean out the fireplace.” My response – yep, you can do it this weekend!!

Last night after dinner Hunter said – “somebody needs to take out the trash.” Chris and I both said – That would be you!!

We have tried really hard to teach our boys that there aren’t certain chores that are mine or Chris’ or even their’s because we are a family and should all work together to keep our home clean and running smoothly! When you see something that needs to be done, DO IT!!!

After the whole trash thing with Hunter last night, I started thinking about other aspects of life. There have been many times that I haven’t stepped up and done something because I think that “somebody” else should do it.

Around the house I’m pretty independent and there is very little that I can’t do (mostly out of necessity since Chris is often gone for extended periods). However, there are many things that I prefer not to do and try to pass off to “somebody.”

* changing lightbulbs – not hard but I don’t like doing it for some reason
* taking out the trash – funny since Hunter tried to pass it off!!
* dusting – I don’t see the point because within hours the there is new dust – “somebody” else, please dust for me!!

I started thinking about other little things in my daily life that I always assume “somebody” else should do when in reality I could do it.

* at the grocery store when most of the carts are outside I could easily roll some inside on my way instead of walking in empty handed
* for weeks we drove past a street sign in our neighborhood that was covered in something (mud or ???) – I could have cleaned it instead of assuming that it was “somebody” else’s job
* sometimes in relationships I tend to think that “somebody” else needs to be the one to make a phone call or plan a get together but really I am that somebody and I should just reach out more!!

Are you waiting for “somebody” or are you the “somebody” that people rely on?

I’m going to work harder on being the “somebody” that other’s might be looking for and on not expecting “somebody” to do things for me!!!

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Quad

Keeping Cool

July 17, 2013 Kim 35 Comments

Today’s 43 was a knee lift to a pivot lunge. I like moves like this that are good strengthening moves but also really challenge my balance!

To do the move: lift your right knee – pivot to the back corner – lunge – push off of the lunging foot – pivot back to front – tap toe and repeat (x 43). And, then because no one wants to be lopsided – switch and do the same on with the left leg.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOvH9owfaY’]

You can pretty much do whatever you want to with your arms – you can see that mine just sort of flail around trying to help me keep my balance!

6 am Boot Camp was the ABC workout again – even though we just did this last week, most of my group was on vacation and missed it so I brought it back today!!! Plus, I like this one!!! It was sort-of rough just because the humidity is out of control so breathing was hard for everyone.

I also did my 2nd round of Taylor’s challenge!! I didn’t collapse onto the floor during it or even after but I wanted to! The whole workout only takes about 30 minutes but it is intense and AWESOME!!!

I’m sure that my next line won’t make me popular but I’m cool with that – I LOVE THE HEAT OF SUMMER!!! I’m one of those people that ~~might~~ complains a ~~little~~ lot during the winter about the cold. And if it snows and ices – don’t get me started!!! But during the summer, I’m completely in my element and happy!!!

However, not everyone shares my point of view!! The boys and I spend lots of time at the swim beach and different pools. This summer they have also spent a lot of time outside playing basketball. During the afternoons they have to sort-of limit how long at a time they can be outside.

Unless…….

there is water involved!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCNHIak4aSs’]

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDmjgDSwLs8′]

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJ1RjY95q8′]

We are classy for sure!!! But the main thing is – 3 hours of basketball, running around and the dry grass got some water without anyone suffering heat stroke!!

I sat in the shade and read blogs, took pictures and enjoyed being outside even though I was sweating because there was zero breeze – a perfect afternoon in our world!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Shoulders, Thighs

Are You a Good Sport?

July 16, 2013 Kim 63 Comments

Today’s 43 was my favorite kind because it was a combo move!!! I did a bicep curl to a shoulder press while staying in a plie position.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng54QgexHDs’]

I love to incorporate lots of muscle groups into one exercise!!! I used 10 pound dumbbells and that was plenty by the time I reached 43.

I decided to pull out one of my 10 Minute Solution DVDs – Ultimate Boot Camp. I did all 5 sections for a great total body workout!!

Yesterday afternoon the boys and I played Monopoly. I love to play board games and the boys have grown up playing games – now that they are older I’m the one asking them to play usually!! (Hunter asked to play yesterday!!!) Jordan ended up dominating the game and Hunter was the first one out – he started getting more and more cranky when he realized that he was fixing to be bankrupt!

From the time the boys were really young (like 3), we have played games. Countless games of
and I was really happy when we moved on to other more exciting games and activities!!

But, from the very beginning – I played the game to win, not to let them win. Chris always said that was mean but I disagree. When we played (even at that young age) – the winner had to say “good game” to everyone else and the loser(s) had to be a good sport.

I felt like it was important for my boys to learn early on that competition is part of life and a good thing but being a good sport is also very important.

I’m not gonna lie – this has been a really hard thing for me to teach because I’m ~~sort-of~~ over the top competitive. That whole saying Yep – that’s me!!!

However, I try really hard to be a good sport and show my boys how to be a good sport.

At the same time, I think that competition is good for us and I have always competed at whatever I do. From early on when I took the boys to play Putt-Putt Golf, we kept score. One day Hunter said – “we like to play with Dad, he doesn’t keep score.” What?! What’s the point? How do you know who the winner is?!

When Jordan was a 1st grader he came home from school one day and said –
If you had fun you won.

I about fell over!! Where did you learn that? It was posted in the gym at school. Oh!!! I don’t necessarily say that myself but I’m trying to at least think it on occasion!!!

So, clearly, as I try to help my boys learn to be good sports, I’m also working on making sure that I’m a good sport!

Are you super competitive? Does that make it hard for you to be a good sport?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Is it about the Journey or the end Destination?

July 15, 2013 Kim 38 Comments

Today’s 43 was the move that I used for G in my ABC Boot Camp – Groaners!!! I think that this move is really called a thruster but I changed the name to make it work for my letters (and there was a bit of groaning involved!!).

Start in plank – jump feet in to hands out wide – jump back to plank.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRU37_50b0c’]

I think the jumping involved in this 43 helped work out some of the residual soreness from my long run the other day!!

Today was 6 am Boot Camp and it was pretty tough!!! We did 3 mini pyramids (I had 4 planned but I didn’t want to go over the 45 minutes!!). Even though I made it up, I’m sort-of dreading repeating it tomorrow at the beach – well, not really but I know that I will be feeling it!!

I’m also participating in a fitness challenge with Taylor @ Lifting Revolution. I don’t do many challenges but I like the way this one is structured – 6 weeks, 6 different workouts (1 per week to be done 3x), a couple of new recipes – it fits in perfectly with the way I like to work out!! Today was the first day and this week’s workout is challenging!! It only took about 30 minutes or so to complete the whole thing but it was intense. I still have 2 more times to repeat it this week – can’t wait!!!

So, what do you think – journey or destination? I think that it varies at different points in life. I know that if you look at all of the inspirational quotes they all say the same thing –

However, I think that there are some times that the destination is the best part!!! Especially when the journey involves thisfor this amount of time and miles!!!But the destination is so worth it when it iswhich means lots of time enjoying my favorite happy place!!

I’m not gonna lie – I am not the most fun person to travel with!! I just want to get there!!! Stops are short, infrequent and only when necessary!!! I’m not one of those people that likes to detour and check out all the sites on the way. I’ve tried to be more like that when traveling and all it does is make me grit my teeth – I just want to keep trucking along until we are at the final destination!!!

Now, there are lots of other areas of life that I’m all about the journey!I think my fitness journey is kind of like the above quote – it’s a journey that will never end because I want to continue to try and improve my fitness level every single day!!

The same could be said about my role as both a wife and a mother – it’s about enjoying the journey!!I like the above quote – because I think that in many areas it is true – the journey is the destination and it should be enjoyed and treasured at every little stop. It’s not about rushing through to get to the end but stopping frequently along the way!!! (as long as we aren’t talking about a mega long car trip!!!)