Tag Archives: cleaning

Back, Biceps, Butt, Core, Fitness, Treadmill

Something Is Better than Nothing

November 22, 2014 Kim 31 Comments

Basically this week has been one of very minimal workouts. But…I still did a 45 everyday!!!

Sunday 11/16 – 45 low duck walks.

So, this is a move I actually did while we were cleaning the apartment – the layer of filth was deep and after I scrubbed all the walls I duck walked the entire perimeter of the apartment cleaning the baseboards and floor line. (this ended up being way more than 45 duck walk steps!!!)

Can you see the dirt on the baseboard?!

Monday 11/17 – 45 roll-ups with one leg straight and one bent.

left leg out - ready to go — left leg out – ready to go

(keeping your hands under your back helps you remember to keep your back pressed to the floor!!)

This was a new (to me) move and I liked it!!!

Because I new that this was one of my last chances, for a few days, I tried to run. Didn’t happen. I walked 4.5 miles with a 9% incline after running 2 miles super slow.

Tuesday 11/18 – 45 single arm reverse curls to shoulder press while standing on upside down wobble balls.

right arm - reverse curl (curl with palm down) — right arm – reverse curl (curl with palm down)

I did all 45 with my right arm then switched and started over.

I had to work my arms since I knew it would be the last time for a few weeks!!!

I walked 6.5 miles with a 10% incline – fun times for sure!!!

Wednesday 11/19 – 45 raises (upper and lower) while on stomach.

lift and hole 3 count — lift and hold 3 count

I don’t work my back enough but I really liked this move!!!

Thursday 11/20 – 45 inner thigh lifts with foot touch (non-lifting foot on wobble ball).

ready to work the right leg and balance on the left

lift right leg - touch foot with left hand — lift right leg – touch foot with left hand

This move went quickly. I had to do 45 on each leg of course!

lift foot up - touch with right hand — lift foot up – touch with right hand

Friday 11/21 – 45 flutter kicks while on back (right – left = 1 rep).

This move went quickly and is a great way to work the core.

Saturday 11/22 – 45 leg extensions with the figure 8 band.

And, I had to work my left leg!! (I held the band in my right arm still because when I tried it in my left it rubbed right over my stitches.

I’m hoping to add in a bit more next week – I hate not working out!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Biceps, Core, Fitness, Lunges, Plank, Running, Treadmill

Almost Time to Bring out the Trees!!!

November 25, 2013 Kim 84 Comments

Today I did another one of Allie’s moves from her Trifecta Arm video – she called this one “pick up the baby.” I called it HARD!!!!

Start in a plank with dumbbells (I used 10 pounds) – step right foot in, stand and lunge with a bicep curl – step right foot back to plank – repeat on left side = 1 rep.

44 of these and I nearly called my workout for the day done!!! (just kidding – sort of!)

I did Jillian Michaels Hard Body – Level 2. Umm….this was the first time I’ve done this part and it was a great workout! Lots of plyo moves with weights, some balance challenges and some core work – awesome!!!

I decided to get in a quick run – last week I had a great week of long and slow but every once in awhile I like to push my speed a little. I did 4 miles at 1.5% incline in 24:27 then 0.6 miles easy to cool down.

Today is deep clean day – baseboards, corners, under furniture – I can hardly wait!!! (well, that might be exaggerating a bit!!)

But, it’s for a good cause –

Some of my favorite people are coming later this week to spend Thanksgiving with us!!! And that is something I truly am excited about!!!

And then I can turn my super clean house into a Christmas wonderland!!! I’ve made myself hold off on decorating this year until after Thanksgiving and I feel like I’m missing out on trees and lights but it will be worth it soon!!!

I love having Christmas decorations all over the house!!! Christmas trees in every room and Santas galore – it is awesome!!!

Have you decorated for Christmas or do you wait until after Thanksgiving?

Happy Monday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Fixin’ to do Something Really Hard – Help!!!

September 29, 2013 Kim 41 Comments

Today I did a fairly simple 44 – a crunch with my elbows glued to the ground the entire time. Try it – it really changes the way you work your abs!!!

start - elbows on the ground — start – elbows on the ground

crunch up - fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground) — crunch up – fists tap thighs (elbows stay pressed into ground)

You can see that it is a small crunch but you have to hold tight with your abs!!!

It might seem like I haven’t been working out much but that is because I have been getting activity through other methods. Thursday I spent 7 hours cleaning (an apartment & our venue), setting up for a wedding (moving 140 chairs x2), and ironing (20+ large tablecloths) – that entire time was spent standing and moving and lifting and bending!!!

Yesterday I spent 9 hours painting one of the apartments we have that is now vacant. Squatting, bending, climbing up and down a ladder – it was a workout for sure. I figure these long days of solid activity and standing are good for my overall endurance when it comes to my 50.

I wrote a post in April about asking for help – is it a strength or a weakness? For me, it is one of the hardest things in the world to do.

Paint 9 hours? no problem
Drive across country by myself? easy
Run 50 miles? I think I got it
Ask for help? ummm…….

I don’t like to ask anyone for help – ever!!! Not the boys, not friends, not even Chris! I’m not sure why it is so hard for me to ask – I’m pretty sure it goes back to when I was young!

However, I’m at a point where I have to bite the bullet and ask.

I don’t know how to make the logistics of the 50 mile weekend work without help!!! The race is 100 miles from here (through the Flint Hills in Cassody, KS) and with the drive each way, check in, running…..Chris and I will be gone for pretty much a 24 hour period (with ZERO sleep for either of us).

I had originally planned to leave the boys home but the more I think about it the more stress that causes me (Jordan is only 14 – pretty sure there are some kind of laws about that!!!). They have no desire (or need) to be up all night just because I’m crazy!!!

There aren’t any hotels in the town we will be in because I thought about that option, too.

And, we have a wedding changeover that night – at pretty much the same time I start running! Because we are a small staff – pretty much of 1 – we don’t have anyone else trained to set-up. And, you know I haven’t asked anyone to help!!

So today, I’m going to have to suck it up and ask for help!!! (after I spend many more hours painting and cleaning!!) Or, maybe I will put it off another day – I’m sure if I keep waiting it will get easier, right?!

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Shoulders, Treadmill

Some Workout “Alternatives”

September 6, 2013 Kim 54 Comments

Today’s 43 was hard for me because it was all about the shoulders – Windmills. I used my stability ball again

and a pair of light (5 pound) dumbbells.

Start off by laying your upper body on the ball (face down) with toes on the ground. Alternately move your arms front & back (like a windmill!):

right arm front - left arm back — right arm front – left arm back

I counted a right arm front & a left arm front as 1 rep and this was hard!!!

The good news about this 43 – it was good for my shoulders, of course, but it also really worked my upper back!!

I went to bed planning to run this morning but I woke up tired and sore so I just walked with a 12% incline – 5 miles. And, I got caught up on Project Runway!!!

So, I don’t think it comes as any surprise when I say that I like (actually love) to workout!!! The next couple of weeks I’m cutting back on my normal workouts a little in order to be as rested as possible for my birthday run!!!

But, don’t think I’ve turned into this –

Nope!!!

I’ve found plenty of other ways to keep moving and work up a solid sweat.

One day I spent most of the morning pulling weeds – some serious Lat work involved here!!Plus, lots of squatting – standing – squatting – balancing – etc.!!

And yesterday I spent 5 hours of solid hard-core cleaning!!!!Remember our new business venture? Well, I scrubbed every inch of that place yesterday!!! Baseboards, corners, windows – you name it and I cleaned it! And today my body is sore and stiff from all of the kneeling and “crawling” involved!!!

Today I’m going to move 150+ chairs, schlep some tables around and steam about 25 table cloths – I think that I can count that as another “workout” don’t you?!

Happy Fun Friday, I’m off for another busy day ending in Friday Night Football – WooHoo!!!

Kim

Biceps, Boxing, Butt, Chest, Core, Fitness

Texas Longhorns Win the Alamo Bowl!!!!

December 30, 2012 Kim 4 Comments

Hook ’em Horns!!!! Way to end the year with a big win!

The 43 today was another combo move – you know I love combos!!! It was a power fly. I started on my back and then lifted my hips (I kept my hips up the entire time it took to complete the 43). Each time I did a fly with my arms, I did a knee pull to my chest (alternating my knees). I counted a right knee pull and a left knee pull as one rep so I actually did 86 chest flys!!! Good thing I stuck with 10 pound dumbbells!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU0HKGyUx30′]

I had to keep giving myself a little pep talk – I said at 23 I would take a short break but I didn’t!! I said 33 would be the short rest – NO!!! I made all 43 (86) without taking a break!!!

Today was day 5 of the 12 Days of Fitness – added in 5 frog crunches!

I am totally loving Hunter’s new punching bag/speed bag combo!! I have decided it is a great substitute for me while I can’t run – I get a great cardio work-out with it and my arms are like jello after I’m done!!! A total win!!!

Today I did 50 right jabs, 50 left jabs, 500 right-left punches x 5 sets. I didn’t take any breaks and it took 19 minutes. Total of 3000 punches – 1500 with each arm and my arms are still shaking!!! I also worked on the speed bag for about 2.5 minutes – I still don’t have great timing – hopefully it will get better! I love the way I feel my triceps working when I hit the speed bag. Who knows – maybe I will have a new career soon!

It could be fun! I wonder if the boys would come watch or be embarrassed? Hmmm…..

Hunter has added another Rubik Cube to his collection – the 2 x 2 cube. I didn’t even know there was such a thing until recently!!! This one came yesterday afternoon in the mail (I had ordered these specialty ones and they were a bit late for Christmas – oh, well – extended Christmas for Hunter!!!)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjhnqezYnA’] About 1minute to solve!

Last night it was great to watch the Longhorns win! They haven’t played up to their potential the last year or two – hopefully Mac Brown is right and 2013 will be their year!!!