Tag Archives: challenge

Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

I’m Not Ready to Say Good-Bye

August 22, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I used my wobble ball (not really a ball – more of a disk I guess) –

I tried to stay balanced (tried!!) and did some shoulder work.

I started with a lateral raise –

From there, I lowered my arms back to the start –

Then I raised my arms to the front –

I tried to keep all of the movements slow and controlled. Even with just 5 pound dumbbells, my shoulders were burning by the time I finished all 43 and the wobble ball really increased the challenge since I had to fight to maintain my balance.

I also did my 2nd round of this week’s challenge with Taylor – Wake Me Up – and trust me, this workout will wake you up!!!

I decided to get in a quick 3 mile run on the treadmill because I might have to cut some workouts in the next couple of days. I ran at 1.5% incline – 7:05, 5:45, 5:03 and then cooled down with 0.5 miles.

Yesterday morning I received a phone call that I did not want to get. Tim (my twin) called to tell me that Poppa had passed away.

He was sitting in his chair on the porch at the ranch – one of his favorite places to start the day – yesterday morning and my aunt walked out to check on him and he was gone.

I’m happy that he was home and spent his final minutes enjoying the view that he loved so much!

But – I wasn’t ready for this good-bye!!! I wanted to have one more visit.

I wanted one more Bear Hug because Poppa is the one who taught me how to give Bear Hugs!!!

I wanted one more chance to tell him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I very selfishly want more time with my grandpa (Poppa)!!!

I know that at 98+ I was fortunate to have had as much time with him as I have but that doesn’t make it easier to say good-bye.

Today I will drive to Texas and prepare myself for the final good-bye knowing that Poppa has been reunited with Mema (my amazing Grandma) and that they are once again happy together!!!

Take a minute today to give someone you love a Bear Hug and tell them how much you love them!!!

Kim

Chest, Fitness, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

Train your Brain

August 20, 2013 Kim 61 Comments

Today for my 43 I did incline push-ups. (probably not the best choice because I had already done lots of push-ups in my challenge workout but….)

Pretty basic today but push-ups are always good!!!!

This is the 6th (and final) week of Taylor’s challenge – and it is a good one for sure!!! I still have 2 more chances to try and lower my time!!!

I decided to run today – my Achilles has been sore for a long time now and I’m trying to make sure that it doesn’t get worse while still training. Anyway, I ran on my treadmill today – 1.5% incline – 6 miles 35:31. I did a progression type run – increasing my time every 30 seconds – a fun way to make the time go quickly and push myself at the same time.

Yesterday I read several articles and posts about the benefits of exercise on your brain. I’ve also read a lot of things about the importance of training your brain. And, since it is back to school (or close) I thought it would be fun to have some brain challenges today!!!

1. o t t f f – What are the next 3 letters in the sequence?

2. d n o s – What are the next 3 letters in this sequence?

3. What’s lighter than a feather but even the strongest person in the world can only hold it for a few minutes?

4. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?

5. I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?

6. What goes around the world but stays in a corner?

7. The man who invented it doesn’t want it. The man who bought it doesn’t need it. The man who needs it doesn’t know it. What is it?

8. What English word has three consecutive double letters?

9. Say my name and I disappear. What am I?

Can you solve these? Feel free to share a riddle – I love trying to figure them out!!!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

PS – answers tomorrow!!

Butt, Fitness, Thighs

Sunshine Award

August 17, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a move that was inspired by the only Barre workout I’ve done – Cathe Friedrich’s Barre DVD. I used my “bar” –

I did a 2-part leg lift.

First, I lifted my leg to the back –

I brought my leg down (without swinging it!!!) and without touching the floor I lifted it out to the side. I continued lifting back and side in a slow controlled manner until I finished all 43 reps.

And, because I don’t want my left leg to feel left out, I had to do 43 more with the left leg.

I have been working on adding extra moves to strengthen my hips lately since I’m running more often and more miles right now – hoping to stay injury free at least for the next couple of months!!!!

I also did my 3rd round of Taylor’s challenge for the week – The Race Is On. I’m not gonna lie – this week’s workout was tough!!! Even though it took less than 15 minutes, it was very intense and hard-core! My time on Monday for the entire workout was 15:46 and today I did it in 12:55!!! No breaks, no rest – just high intensity for almost 13 minutes!!

Heather @ Run Like a G! nominated me for the Sunshine Award.

Because I’m super lame, I asked her if it would be OK if I answered the questions without doing the rest of the award requirements (picking 10 other people to answer questions from me). She said it would be fine – thanks, Heather for nominating me and letting me be a 1/2 participant!!!

Questions from Heather:

1. What is your favorite thing about running?
I love how strong and free I feel when I run. Some runs are good and others not so much but I always feel alive after completing a run. And, my calves almost always look like I’m wearing heels!!!

2. What FRIENDS character are you more like?
I’m probably the most like Monica – I am very type A and sometimes fairly obsessive!!!

3. If money wasn’t an option, what country/island/place would you explore for a week?
Australia – my number one place that I want to visit and haven’t yet!!!

4. Bodybuilding – yay or nay?
Not for me just because I don’t have the discipline required (especially as far as the nutrition goes!). But I love seeing how others can transform their bodies through hard-work and discipline.

5. What do you LOVE about your body?
I’m happy with my body 95% of the time – mostly because I love how strong it is. I know that I can push myself harder now than I did 5 years ago and that makes me HAPPY!!!

6. Tell me your favorite season and give two reasons why it is your favorite season.
Summer – always!!! I love the heat and days spent at the pool or beach with my family. I also love the slower pace that we enjoy during the summer when we aren’t tied down with a school schedule.

7. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes! My husband and I met on a Tuesday night (at a bar). I didn’t see him again until the following Saturday when he picked me up and we drove 7 hours (each way) to go to a concert. He told me several months later that he knew on the way to Austin (for the concert) that I was the person he was going to marry.

8. If you could have an exotic animal as a pet, which would you choose?
I’m not a huge pet person but I would probably go with some type of snake – maybe a dwarf boa.

9. Have you read Harry Potter?
No. My oldest son (14 now) read all the books the summer after he finished 2nd grade!!! I have only seen the first 4 movies – I enjoyed them but sort of lost interest.

10. What is your favorite cereal?
Ohs – no milk!!!

I would nominate all the blogs I read for a Sunshine Award so I’m not doing that part. Feel free to pick any (or all) of the questions and share your answer(s).

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

You Need Soap!

August 12, 2013 Kim 49 Comments

Today for my 43 I tried a move that Kat @ Sneakers and Fingerpaints did as part of her core challenge for the month. The move is called a Squirm and it is a great move to really work your entire core!!!

Start on your back with knees bent, contract your abs and crunch up – hold the crunch and alternate reaching your hands to your feet (you will be squirming!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQERK6UDdog’]

I counted a right and left reach as 1 so it took a little while to complete all 43. My obliques got a great workout and since I had my abs contracted the entire time, my whole core was feeling the move by the end!!!

Today was boot camp in the garage thanks to thunderstorms!!! We did one of my favorites – Tabata Bootcamp. I love how effective this workout is – short bursts at maximum intensity!!!

I also started week 5 of Taylor’s challenge. This week’s workout is intense!!! It is called – The Race Is On and it is a definite challenge!!! I love the workouts that Taylor has included in this challenge – most are under 20 minutes and don’t require any equipment (or very little!). They are great as an entire workout or as a supplement for the rest of my workout!!

So, earlier this summer when the boys and I took our trip to Texas, Jordan caught me off-guard with one of his comments.

There was some traffic at one point and I’m sure that there must have been some crazy drivers doing stupid things and I might have said a cuss word or two. Well, Jordan is very anti-cussing and he looked over at me and said – “You need soap!”

I looked at him –

and then just busted out laughing!! Ever since then, it has been a bit of a joke – any time Jordan hears a bad word (no matter who says it) he looks at me and says “soap“.

So, the other night, Jordan took his shower and then came into the living room with Chris and I. We were watching the very end of some show and Jordan just started ringing the drink bell repeatedly!!!

It was pretty annoying because it was right by my ear. I was trying to be nice – but after about 5 minutes of the annoying bell I said something to the effect that I was going to throw the damn bell in the trash if he didn’t stop. Next thing I know, Jordan pulls a bar of soap out of his pocket and sets it by the bell (and he has this huge grin on his face!).

Chris and I both just about fell out of our chairs laughing!!! Jordan was so proud – he knew that he could break me and he was ready!!!!

I really do try not to cuss around the boys a lot but sometimes…..At least I don’t really get my mouth washed out with soap! Growing up I did plenty of times (and I didn’t even cuss then!!) and it was always with the worst soap ever!!

Nasty and gritty – not fun!! I have never washed my boys mouth out with soap because I have awful memories of having it done to me.

Do you have a “word” police in your home? Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

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

Day With KT