Tag Archives: evilcyber

Inspiring and Being Inspired

Today I took another move from Evil Cyber and adapted it a bit to make it my 43.  He did  reverse barbell curls but I decided to do the same reverse curls with dumbbells.  This works your forearms more than your biceps so it is a great way to work a different muscle!! (one I rarely even think about)

It is the same set-up as a bicep curl except your palms face down so that on the up part of the curl they are facing away from your body – 

start
start
curl
curl

43 of these weren’t too hard – the last 10 I struggled a little.  (I used 10 pound dumbbells.)

And another day of working out = another day of Insanity Asylum!!!  Today it was Vertical Plyo – jumps, jumps and more jumps!!!  I can tell that I’ve made some improvements because at the end of the 40 minutes of torture plyo the last move is a lateral jump.  You stand next to the super versatile agility ladder – 

sort of tired of this ladder!!!
sort of tired of this ladder!!!

and do a side jump over it!!!  The first time I did this workout I failed at every attempt!  (I fold 1 rung of the ladder over so it is only 3 rungs to jump for this move.)  Today I cleared the ladder (3 rungs) 13 times (you do the move for 1 minute)!!!!

Today was also beach bootcamp – we did a fun “surprise move” type workout – it was nice because it was very much self-paced.  And, good news – lots more JUMPING!!! 

Screen shot 2013-06-13 at 8.54.50 AM

The other day at 5:30 am I was having a hard time deciding what to do for my 43.  Odd, because I have lists (spreadsheets actually because I’m a nerd and love to make spreadsheets!!!) that I’ve made with all my  ideas and I keep adding to them so I have lots of choices.  The problem is if I don’t have a plan when I get up at the butt crack of dawn so early, I am at a complete lack of inspiration.   

I can exercise and perform moves early but trying to be creative and think of something early in the morning is never going to happen in my world.  Screen shot 2013-06-13 at 8.53.10 AM

So this lack of inspiration in the mornings has caused me to start thinking about where I get my inspiration – for working out or even just life in general.  And, I realized that I have lots of people that inspire me and lots of places that I get ideas from.

  • My boys inspire me a lot – they have come up with some very unique moves for me to try for some of my 43s this year (not all are actually doable but still….).  I love the fact that they like to help and be part of this goal I have.  They also inspire me to make play and enjoying life part of my day.
  • Chris inspires me – not necessarily about my workouts but always about how to be a better, kinder, more patient, more caring person.  I try to emulate him when I talk to people (listen more, talk less) – I still have a long way to go on this one but I’m trying.
  • Bloggers have inspired me in 100s of ways during the 9 months since I’ve started my blogging journey.  I’ve gotten many workout ideas from so many different people.  Training tips (running and otherwise), ideas for equipment/workout gear/running stuff and more recipes than I will ever be able to try!!!  Plus, the sense of community that I’ve found inspires me to keep blogging!!

There are other things/people that inspire me –  way to many to list.

Screen shot 2013-06-13 at 8.52.43 AMThinking of all the ways that I’m inspired made me question how, or even if,  I inspire anyone.  That one is a lot harder.  I like to think that I inspire my boys to try their best no matter what they are doing – school work, musical instruments, running, working out, playing games…

But – am I living my life in a way that actually inspires others?  I hope so!!

Who/what inspires you?

Happy Thursday!!!  

(I’m going to my 3rd Zumba class tonight – watch it, soon I’ll be making a Zumba video!!  Just kidding about the video – that would be torture for all involved!)

Kim

5 Things I Have Learned this Week

Today I did a concentration curl for my 43.  (to learn more about the main muscle actually worked in a concentration curl – not the bicep – read evilcyber’s post)

Let’s just view the move in pictures:

right arm (only time in this position)
right arm (only time in this position)
curl up
curl up
just down to here (holding this position makes you have to work at the top and bottom of the move!)
just down to here (holding this position makes you have to work at the top and bottom of the move!)

Of course, after I did 43 with my right arm, I still had another set of 43 with my left!

Left arm
Left arm
and up
and up
Lower - works best if you check out your muscle!!
Lower – works best if you check out your muscle!!

I liked this 43.  I started with a 15 pound dumbbell but quickly dropped down to 12 pounds so that I could use good form.  I couldn’t push my elbow against my leg very hard (at all really – bruises, you know) so I just have it resting next to my leg.

So, in honor of Teacher Appreciation week (or just because I felt like it!!) I decided to share a few things I’ve learned in the past week.

  1. Doctors do not always inform you about all possible outcomes of various procedures.
  2. As much as I enjoy reality TV, I like it much better when I watch it while on the treadmill!
  3. 10-month old babies are fun but lots of work (been awhile since my boys were that little).
  4. Sadly, I’m probably the opposite of a Sherpa.  This was a new word for me so I guess this sort-of counts as learning 2 things!!!  Check out Lindsay at Cotter Crunch – she is the living definition of a Sherpa!!!
  5. Plug-ins on Word Press blogs don’t always work!!  Lately I’ve been having lots of issues with my CommentLuv – it works for awhile and then quits.  Sorry that you aren’t always able to leave your most recent post.  I’m not high tech enough to fix it!!

Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 8.31.17 AM

 

I better get a move on since I haven’t even showered and Chris is waiting on me for a quick little road trip today!!  (My legs might not be elevated but they will be resting in the car!!)

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim