Tag Archives: Insanity Asylum

Guest Post – A Father’s Perspective

June 16, 2013 Kim

Today’s 43 was a move for the abs that I got from Rachelle at Livin the Sweat Life. She did a great ab workout made up of 4 moves (with an awesome video – go check it out!!!). I did the Caterpillar.

Sit with your legs off the ground hands behind you for support and crunch legs in and out.

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

I enjoyed this 43!!! I love to work my abs but this gave the rest of my body a little break!!

Today was the last time (during this cycle, anyway) for Strength from Insanity Asylum. I tried to really push myself to increase the weight and the number of reps today. Glad that I only have 1 workout today!!!

In honor of Father’s Day, I have a guest post today – the best Dad I know – Chris!!!
__________

What an Intro! Kim continues to amaze me everyday when I read what workout(s) she tirelessly completes. I hope all the readers out there understand that Kim will have accomplished a feat rarely achieved or sought (at least by us mortals), by performing a workout with repetitions numbering her age everyday for a year. Hopefully, most believe this to be ~~crazy~~ admirable like me… 🙂

Kim asked if I wanted to make a post on Fathers Day. Of course, I jumped at the chance to participate in her blog (since I seem to ~~conveniently skip~~ miss doing MY age everyday)!

I hope to briefly describe what Fathers day means to me – and I promise not to make anyone PLANK for 5 minutes on a ball while you read!

A few incredible events occurred in my life that changed my outlook and perspective forever. First, marrying a remarkable woman like Kim transposed my priorities while giving me someone I could call my best friend. Next, the birth of our two boys could be considered our two greatest accomplishments!

Although far from being a perfect dad, I reflect upon this quote frequently. I have experienced many proud moments gained from Fatherhood; like hearing the first cry at birth, the first steps walking, riding a bike, catching a ball, blowing out candles, or shaking hands like an adult. Seeing these two young innocent boys turn into men of character that enjoy talking and spending time around us, opening doors for people, helping set the table or wash dishes unsolicited brings a pride, enjoyment, and satisfaction that a Father dreams to experience.

I observe these two happy boys and their daily growth into manhood with humility, knowing that I may be incapable of answering, solving, or helping them through every situation life brings their way. But hopefully, I somehow impart upon them enough necessary skills for critical thinking and treatment of others that guides their future decisions.

I relish the simple moments with each boy – whether its Jordan sneaking up on me and scaring me out of my wits, or seeing Hunter swish a basketball from 16 feet. Through their adolescence, I benefited by reliving my childhood in playing with toys again! While I know at some point I will watch them depart as adults, the joys will never end and I seek solace hoping I gave them a positive example to follow. Even though today is officially Fathers Day, I celebrate every day being a Father to these two boys!

Kim always ends with a question – so I have one as well.

Does anyone have a special memory about their Father they would like to share?

Chris

Happy Sunday and Father’s Day to all the Dads, Grandpas, Step-Dads, Surrogate Dads and special guys!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness

Age Themed Workouts – My Favorite!!!

June 15, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today’s 43 was a fairly simple one (because I knew what was coming up in the rest of my workout!). I used some of my tubing and did double arm rows.Just stand with both feet on the band – bend over with knees slightly bent and row. I choked way down on the band so there would be more resistance.

Up until a year or two ago I rarely, if ever, worked my back – now I try to make sure I work it as much as my legs, arms and core!!!

Today was another day of Insanity Asylum – Speed and Agility. I think this one might be the hardest (until tomorrow when I do a different one!!!). It is 45 minutes and about half of that time is spent in the plank/push-up position doing all sorts of “fun” moves. 3 rounds of progression in & out abs (one of my past 43s) –

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wwAhBLoDw0′]

Plus, progression mountain climbers (same concept as the in & out abs but doing mountain climbers), bear crawls, agility planks……It is brutal!!!

Happy News – One week from today I will complete this round of Insanity Asylum!!!!

I also did a fun little age-themed workout today. Last week, Tamara at Fitknitchick celebrated her birthday. Yesterday she shared an age-themed birthday workout that one of her trainer friends designed for her – this one was sort of a CrossFit style. I decided to play along with her because we all know that I love doing age related reps!!!

The workout consisted of the following moves:

KettleBell Swings x 46 (I used a 20 pound KB and did full range swings)
burpees x 46 (with push-up)
ab crunches x 46
box jumps x 46 (I jumped onto this box – 14″)
push-ups x 46 (brutal after 46 burpees!!!)
reverse lunges x 46 (I did 46 with the right leg and then 46 left)
pull-ups x 46 (mine were assisted pull-ups using a step-stool to help)
plank for 46 seconds (I did mine with my arms extended in push-up position)

Total time to complete this was 18:30. I couldn’t believe how much harder 46 reps were than my normal 43 – I think because in my mind, 43 is just a few more than 40 but 46 is almost 50.

Since the whole age-themed workout is sort-of the concept behind my blog with my goal to do a daily 43 every day for the year that I’m 43, I was super excited to see another workouts set-up using age for the number of reps!! It is a fun way to challenge yourself whether you do it on your birthday or every day!!!

Have you ever done a birthday/age related challenge?

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Push-Ups, Quad

Friday Fun Laughs

June 14, 2013 Kim 37 Comments

Today’s 43 was one of Hunter’s creations – I think sometimes he wants to see how hard he can push me!!!! He does a couple and calls it quits but I have to do 43. Oh, well – I like the challenge!!!

So, the move was a skater with a side push-up with one leg back and one knee bent.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5ZL-ukGm6s’]

Try them – it was a fun move (for about 20)!!! I counted each push-up as 1 so maybe I cheated because I didn’t do 43 each side but I think 43 total was enough with this move!!!

Then it was Boot Camp time. This morning I just did the 6 am in my backyard. (Last Friday I did 6 and 7:15!!!) I’m really happy that the hot weather this week has meant no more wet grass for boot camp – so much nicer!!!

Today’s Insanity Asylum workout was Back to Core. Jordan decided to do this with me instead of just sit and watch (and critique) me. I think it was good for him – he did about 25-30% and was dying. And, I told him this is the “easiest” one in the program. Now he knows that just because watching it is easy, doing the workout is another thing completely. He said he will try some more so that he can build up – Good Plan!!! I try to have fun no matter what I’m doing – some days and some events are a little harder than others to find the fun!!

YIKES!!! Don’t want that – better just laugh out loud!!!

So – I don’t really think anyone is an idiot but this made me laugh!!!

Sponge Bob knows how to laugh – and he laughs often (and annoyingly!!!).

Almost every day – often while running!!! And then I always do the quick check to see if anyone saw me about bite the ground!!!

These things always entertain me (and because I’m sort-of anal I won’t quit looking until I can figure it out!!).

I couldn’t do this without going really slow – and I rarely say things slowly!!! (even then it took a lot of tries!!)

This just made me laugh because I’m usually the one that asks a stupid question like “what are you doing?” when it totally obvious what someone is doing!!!

And, I don’t know why this picture cracked me up so much but it did!! Maybe because it is sort of true.

Happy Fun Friday – I hope you have lots of joy and laughter today!!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

Inspiring and Being Inspired

June 13, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

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 –

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 –

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!!!

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.

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.

Thinking 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

Core, Fitness

Overtime Nearly did me in!!!

June 12, 2013 Kim 32 Comments

Today I did a little core work for my 43. I did a standing side bend right-left then a twist right-left.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8YDw8T8Oqs’]

On these, it didn’t really matter which side went first since they both got equal work during the moves, but I did switch at #22 and go left-right. This was a good 43 – lately I feel like my core needs extra work (maybe cause I’ve been wearing my bikini?!).

6 am Boot Camp was fun today!! And, because it was over 95 yesterday and stayed warm all night long, the grass wasn’t wet – bonus!!!!

Then, it was time for Insanity Asylum – Game Day. This is the one where you do moves/drills/craziness from every sport imaginable for 60 minutes!!! It is hard and during the last 15 minutes when it was time for Rock Climbing I truly thought I wasn’t going to make it – YIKES!!!

Rock Climbing Insanity style:

1 minute of forward moving plank jacks – feet jump in the agility ladder and then out while hands are jumping to (hard to explain in my current state!!! Just know that it is brutal!)
2 minutes of lateral push-ups – move right hand down close to your right side for a push-up then put it back in normal position and repeat on left side for 2 long minutes!!
1 minute of the plank jacks with the added fun of a triceps push-up
2 minutes of single leg lateral push-ups – similar to above but when your right hand is the hand that moves you lift your right leg, 2 on each side then switch – for 2 long minutes

After I finished the madness of Game Day, I still had a little more to do because today also had Overtime on the schedule (and you know I’m doing the whole insane program).

I knew this was going to be a brutal 15 minutes from the very beginning – it was just Shaun T and 2 guys (both military hard bodies) – none of the females from the other workouts did this – WITH GOOD REASON!!!!

There were moves that I’ve never seen before – and I’m happy that I didn’t kill myself trying them!!!

* Mountain Climber with a clap when you switch legs
* Full lunge with back knee down – spring up into the air* Some crazy single leg push-up then you hop in (on the single leg) – hop back and move sideways for the next push-up
* and more “fun” but I can’t even remember them now!!!

All I can say is – I’m glad that I don’t have to do any thing else that requires a lot of strength or energy today (except run kids around, go to swim beach, make dinner, a load of laundry……).

Here is a brief glimpse into Insanity Asylum:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN5FYAREiWE&feature=youtu.be’]

Now – I need to get going on a fun-filled summer day!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Day With KT