Happy 4th of July

July 4, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today’s 43 matches the theme of the day – star jumps to celebrate Independence Day!!!

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

This was a quick 43 but I was feeling it by the end. For some reason, these jumps always get my heart rate sky high really quickly!!!

And, not because it is a holiday, but because I think I need it – today is a DAY OFF!!!

We love 4th of July!!! I don’t know how fireworks are where you live, but here, you can buy and shoot off fireworks for the entire week leading up to the 4th. And – we take advantage of the week!!! Most evenings we are outside making fire on the driveway!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUK2ukYmZck’]

I think that sometimes we take our freedom for granted but today is a good day to remember how fortunate we really are!

I’m thankful for all that happened so many years ago so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have in our country today!!!

Our day will be spent hanging out and this evening we have friends coming over for our annual 4th of July party – plenty of good food, fireworks on the driveway, wrapped up with the display on the lake (best viewed from the boat!!).

Whatever your plans for the day – I hope it is a day full of fun, food, family, friends!!!

One final seen from earlier this week – plenty more will be fired off tonight – can’t wait!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F53IXW5Locc’]

Happy Thursday & Happy 4th of July!!!

Kim

Biceps, Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Running, Shoulders

Music and Running

July 3, 2013 Kim 33 Comments

Today’s 43 was pretty much good for my entire body!!! I did a clean & press with a dead-lift. I used my Body Pump bar with 10 pound plates on each side (I had 15 pounds/side but realized after 3 reps that I would never be able to make all 43 with proper form at that weight!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QoK3fDshhs’]

I would like to really increase my weight on these but that shoulder press kills me!!!

Today’s Boot Camp was fun – I set up a circuit with 18 stations and all sorts of equipment (medicine ball, stability ball, step, jump rope, agility ladder). We did 50 seconds and then had 10 seconds to move to the next. We went around the entire circuit 2x and the 2nd time was supposed to be FULL effort since everyone knew the moves then!!! I love short little bursts like this because it makes the time go quickly!!!

After boot camp, I decided to take advantage of the incredible weather that we are still enjoying (65 at 7:00) and go for a run! I ran 5.67 (I still can’t believe that I stopped at such a random # but I was at my driveway and ready to walk!!!) in 47:23 which is 8:21 pace. Considering the issues I’ve had the past couple of months with running – I was very happy with this run (and actually felt pretty good the entire time). Now, if I could just figure out how to get rid of some of the hills!!! (seems like way more steep up-hills than down hills – weird!!)

Anyone who has read my blog for very long knows that I love running on my treadmill – it paces me, I can control the hills (or lack of hills), I can watch all my favorite DVRed Reality TV shows and I keep myself totally entertained by playing games with the speed while I run.

However, I’m trying to transition at least some of my runs back outside in preparation for my 50 miler in October!!

One thing that has helped lately is the nice weather!!! And the scenery around here isn’t too bad either – I follow the lake a lot of times. It’s nice to see plenty of other people out walking (often with dogs), running and biking!!!

But – the biggest help is MUSIC!!! I tried using my iPhone but the long cord for the headphones always drove me crazy!!

Then I bought these:

This is actually a Sony mp3 headphone and it is awesome!! It came with 3 different sizes of earpieces and the small ones fit perfectly in my ears (without hurting them – a small miracle!!) and they don’t slide around at all. The only downside I’ve found is that when I sweat (a LOT when I run), having the earpieces in my ears on top of the sweat makes my ears feel all stopped up but now that I’ve used these a couple of times it seems to be getting better.

I love this little device!!! Having some tunes while I run helps keep me entertained and sometimes the songs even motivate me a little. Like today – the song that came on during the last 1/2 mile (I just have my play list on shuffle!) was old school – Salt n Pepa – Push It!!! (college day memories!!)

Now I’m not stupid (I know what the song is about) – but today I used the words to “push it” harder and finish my run with a sprint!!

And, of course, there are plenty of songs that come on that I feel the need to sing along to! Probably not a good thing since my ears are semi-stopped up from sweat and who knows how loud I end up singing and it’s a given that I don’t sing in tune!! I just figure it is adding to the workout challenge because it is pretty hard to run and sing!!!

Some of the tunes that I enjoyed (and anyone within hearing distance) today while running:

Rockin’ the Beer Gut
Redneck Woman (Gretchen Wilson)
Play that Funky Music (Wild Cherry)
It’s Tricky (Run DMC)
If I had $1,000,000 (Barenaked Ladies)
Sin Wagon (Dixie Chicks)
Single Ladies (Beyonce)
Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)
and of course, Push It (Salt n Pepa)

See why I feel the need to sing?!

I think that the Sony mp3 might be a good giveaway for me to do later this summer!!! (look for it around the time school starts – mid August here!)

What are your favorite running tunes?

You can tell that I’m pretty old school – I don’t think any of my favorites are very recent – many are from previous decades!!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Blogging: How Much Time Does it Really Take?

July 2, 2013 Kim 52 Comments

Today’s 43 was all about working my abs!!! I did a single leg climb.

Start by laying on your back with your left knee bent (the closer your foot is to your butt the harder) and your right leg extended (knees even). Crunch up and reach for your toes. If you can grab your toes – Awesome!!! If you have to “walk up your leg” – still good.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldhk1HE6bRw’]

You can see in the demo that I tried to get some straight touches and then I did some where I used my leg to “climb” up. After I did 43 with my right leg extended, I switched legs and did another set of 43. (and my abs are already a bit sore!)

I did a Reebok workout DVD (Bootcamp style) this morning. It was a good workout – just a mix of toning and cardio without being super intense – perfect before Beach Boot Camp.

At 7:15, Jordan and I went to the beach for boot camp. We did the workout with 7 mini workouts inside it (from yesterday). I really like this one. I told my boot campers that these were good if they wanted a short burst of activity – just pick one of the 5 minute drills and do it!

When I first started my blog (September 2012), I really had no idea what I was doing or getting into. Now, 10 months later, I have a little better grip on things except the time factor!!! There are days that I feel like I spend hours and hours blogging – between writing my posts, reading many incredible blogs every day and leaving comments on some, replying to comments on my blog – I sometimes feel like blogging has taken over my life!

I’ve grown to really enjoy blogging!!! But sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of the other social media!Not gonna lie – I don’t even know what some of that stuff is – Ping, blippy, digg, (and many others)?????

Somedays when I’m going through my list, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I love reading many great blogs and I’ve learned so many things through all of these blogs. I also feel like I’ve “met” some really great people/bloggers!!

I know that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Pinterest (+ many, many others) are all great online sources but I feel like I’m barely keeping up just on the blog end!

I don’t want my kids to think that I pick the computer over them and I also want to set a good example for them (I don’t want them on the computer, XBox, iPad….. all day either).

I told Jordan the other day when I was just “reading a few more blogs” that I really didn’t know when I started blogging that it would take so much time. But, I also enjoy blogging and if I’m going to continue, I want to do the best job I can. I think that the time I invest in reading other’s blogs and commenting helps make my own blog better.

At what point does it become “too much time” spent blogging?
Does anyone else ever struggle with this?

I’m pretty sure that if Chris came home and the house really was super clean, he might wonder what the deal was!!

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Running, Shoulders

Sometimes Technology Is Scary!

July 1, 2013 Kim 50 Comments

Today I did a move from Insanity Asylum for my 43. I used my super cool agility ladder

I like it more now that I'm not doing Insanity!! — I like it more now that I’m not doing Insanity!!

and did a moving plank with alternate shoulder taps. Down the length of the ladder and back = 1 rep. Before today, I had never done more than 6 in a row of these so 43 was brutal!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOasmK0Nquc’]

Besides the fact that I was in plank forever, I’m pretty sure I will have bruises on my shoulders from slapping them so many times!!! I don’t know why I thought that this would be a good 43 – it was fine for about 10 reps and then it was not fun anymore!!!

Now that we are back from our quick TX trip, I am back to teaching my early morning Boot Camps. Today we did a workout based on the idea of a WOD (from CrossFit) – except we did 7 different ones – for 5 minutes each! It was AWESOME!!! The 45 minutes went very quickly!

I decided to go for a run after boot camp because it was so nice out (about 62). This was probably the best run I’ve had in awhile!!! I was shooting for 8 minute miles – 3.5 miles in 28:10 (pretty close to pace!!) + 0.5 mile cool down. Considering that the entire run was full of hills, I feel good about this run – FINALLY!!!

I love lots of things about modern technology – iPhones, laptops, iPads, digital cameras, Skype, texting……

But, there are a few issues about all of the above that sort of bother me.

1. Visiting face-to-face is almost becoming a thing of the past. One of the best parts of my trip to TX was the time I spent just hanging out with my Poppa. I left my phone in my purse and just enjoyed the time with him without any distractions. It was AWESOME!!!

2. We are dependent on our phones!!I know that I’m not the only one who has left my house and then turned around to go back because I forgot my phone!!

3. We can interact with anyone anywhere at anytime. This is the thing that, while I enjoy all of my interactions with other bloggers all over the country (and a couple of other countries) – can be the most scary. The reason this scares me is that I’m not the only one in our family who has access to all of the modern technology and the ability to interact with others.

My boys play games (Minecraft!!!) either on the computer or the XBox and I guess there are chat/instant message boards that anyone else playing the game at the same time can join in and see.These little chat boards don’t bother me too much but hooking up with different people and skyping them – totally creeps me out. (not the face-time skype, just the messaging kind)

I told my boys that just because someone says they are a 15 year-old girl doesn’t mean they really are. And, when someone starts sending you creepy messages, it is never a good thing.

When I was their age, I knew the people that I went to school with and saw in person – that was it. Now, you can “know” lots of people that you will never see in person and that can be a good thing or a really scary thing!

Has anyone ever had a bad experience with a cyber “friend”?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Biceps, Butt, Fitness, Triceps

Building up Our Memory Banks

June 30, 2013 Kim 20 Comments

Today’s 43 was inspired by one of my Turbo Fire workouts from the past week. I did a speed bag move on the right and then kicked with my left leg. Of course, after finishing 43, I had to switch sides and do another set with the speed bag on my left and a right kick. (imaginary speed bag!!)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SrYWJ1pm3E’]

I wore my weighted gloves to add a little to the speed bag challenge – I think they only weight a pound each but at least it was something! This was a fun 43!!!

I feel like I haven’t done much weight training lately so I decided to do Les Mills Pump. I did Pump and Burn which is one of the shorter workouts (just over 30 minutes). Probably a good choice since I finished about 30 minutes ago and my arms are still shaking!!! I think there’s a good chance that I will be sore tomorrow!!

The past week, the boys and I have spent almost every minute together during our trip to TX while Chris was on his own trip for work. I started thinking about all the things we have done and how much we have laughed together – a lot!!! Knowing that my boys are having fun and that we can all laugh together makes me HAPPY!!!

I watch the boys and know that when they are grown and no longer live with us they will have 1000s of happy memories from the time spent at home and with their family!!!

Whether we are spending hours together in a car, playing one of the 100s of games that we have played over the years (Monopoly, Life, Uno, Skip-Bo, Head Bandz……..), sharing a meal together

or just hanging out – I want the boys to keep storing up these fun/happy memories!!!

Last night we added more memories!! A week of firework fun has begun!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Rp7azuDgs’]

So, even though sometimes I have to give up things that I would like to do – FitBloggin’ conference – in the big picture, the things that matter are these everyday fun times that I get to be part of with my boys!!!

There are huge chunks of my growing up years that I have completely blocked from my memory and I want to make sure that my boys have full memory banks of awesome family times!!!