Tag Archives: obliques

Game Day

June 6, 2013 Kim 30 Comments

Today’s 43 was for my obliques. I did a straight leg sit-up and touched the outside of my toes – right then left counted as 1 rep so it was a total of 86 sit-ups.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHmdt2aOII4′]

This was a nice move to start my workout with!!

Next up – Insanity Asylum – Game Day. I’m not gonna lie – this was HARD!!!! 60 minutes of all sorts of sport themed moves including track & field, tennis, wrestling, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, speed skating, swimming, mountain/rock climbing and ????? I think I left out one or two but I can’t remember. I did what Shaun T said and gave 100% because Team Asylum is a winning team!!! WOW!!!

Then I taught boot camp at the beach – this was fun and the weather was perfect. This is such a great way to start the day – fresh air, friends, sweat, the “beach” – AWESOME!!!

Don’t let the pretty graphic fool you – game day is intense. Funny how it seems easier to go hard core during an actual game, competition or race than just an everyday practice or workout – must be adrenaline!!!

Today, during the Insanity workout, Shaun T talked about the fact that we were a team and we all had to work together and fight to win. It made me start thinking about other workouts and the effort that I put in.

While I don’t think it is possible (or good for your body) to go all out for every single workout, I also think that sometimes we can push ourselves harder than we actually do. I think that the only way we will reach our maximum potential is to push ourselves a little more each time out.

Some days have to be recovery days (obviously) but lots of days we can really stretch our limits so that we can see just how much we are truly capable of.So, whether you are actually competing in a sports event, running a race or just working out in your basement, make at least some of your days GAME DAY!!! You might surprise yourself!!!

Do you push yourself on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis?

Happy Thursday – Go for it today!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Hunter, Hunter, and more Hunter

May 24, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today’s 43 was total core (oblique) work!!! The rest of my body is sore – between the long run yesterday and the burpees the other day (been awhile since I’ve done push-ups!!)so I decided to take it easy today!!!

The set-up for this move is similar to a crunch (on your back, knees bent, feet on floor) except you keep 1 elbow firmly on the ground the entire time. Start with left elbow on the ground at your side and right arm extended straight up – crunch up, reaching arm straight up (elbow on ground).

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

In the video, I only did 4 per side but you know in “real-life” I did 43 per side!!!

No other workout today – yesterday drained me!!!

Hunter has had a lot of events the past couple of days!!!

6th Grade Graduation:

His bright outfit made it easy to find him up on stage!!

getting recognized for the Presidential Gold Award

The kindergarten students and 6th grade students all marched up to the stage together and sang the same song that Hunter’s class sang 7 years ago (for his Kindergarten graduation) – so cute!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uunoP2oTcB8′]

Yesterday at school was Super Sports Day – always a great way to end the school year!!!

one of the many inflatables behind Hunter

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=714XPHocS4Y’]

Hunter isn’t paying any attention to Chris – but some of his friends are all about waving!!!

And finally, last night was the semi-annual cello bash! Hunter takes private lessons from a wonderful cello teacher and every December and May she hosts the cello bash for all of her students. It’s a great event (but long, very long!!!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ00Y0o-ny4′]

The Pink Panther song is my favorite (because I don’t know the Mission Impossible theme as well).

Thanks for letting me share all about Hunter!!!

Any exciting plans for the long weekend?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders

No Resting Here

April 21, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Some days I pick my 43 thinking it won’t be so hard and some days I am WRONG!!! Today was one of those days – the move was a version of the old windmill move/stretch. The goal was to work your obliques and a bit of arms/shoulders – Done!

Start with your legs wide, toes slightly pointed out and a weight in your right hand.

Reach down with your left hand to the outside of your left foot while reaching straight up with your right hand.

(Jordan said he can’t touch his toes – better work on his flexibility!!) After doing 43, or your # of reps, put the weight in your left hand and repeat.

I used an 8 pound dumbbell and it was hard (I think my shoulders are a little sore from yesterday’s TaeBo band work!).

This morning it is pretty nice here (although it has gotten cloudy in the last 30 minutes) so I decided to run outside. I only ran 3.5 miles (lots of hills!!) at just over 8:00 minutes/mile – I never really settled into the run today. My breathing was all over the place. Still, it was nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!!

I typically take Sunday off and I know I haven’t the past couple of weeks – starting Wednesday I will be taking a few days off (not from my 43 but the rest of my workouts) so I’m taking advantage of the days until then!!!

Now, I’m heading back outside to pull the weeds that have gotten out of control with all of the rain we’ve had lately – FUN TIMES!!!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Running, Treadmill

22 Mile Run – Done!! (Isn’t that what you do on your 1/2 B-day?)

March 16, 2013 Kim 7 Comments

My 43 today was a great warm-up for my long run. I did a standing oblique crunch with a knee up to an extended leg.

The whole above series = 1 rep. 43 of these was a great way to fire up my hip flexors and quads in preparation for the big run!

And then I ran!!! For several years, I’ve run my age to celebrate my birthday. Last year I addd in the half birthday celebration run. Of course, the half birthday has to be the # of miles for the upcoming birthday!!!

So, today I ran 22 miles! I ran on my treadmill at 1.0% incline and kept the pace between 8:00 minutes/mile and 7:53 minutes/mile for the first 20 miles. The last 2 miles I increased the speed until I was at a 7:30 minute mile. Total time 2:53:43 (7:54 pace overall) with no stops!!!

The no stops was the best part for me – usually I have to stop to stretch something, tie a shoe, bathroom – something. Not today!!!

I walked an easy 0.5 mile after I finished the run just to get my heart rate down. And then, I foam rolled!

Today I used the ridged one at the front. I just held it in several tight areas for a bit (hips, quads, calves – basically everywhere!!!). I know I should foam roll more often – but at least today I made a smart choice!

Hopefully if I put my new compression socks on for the rest of the day I will be ready for the next big challenge tomorrow!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

What Makes you Happy?

February 13, 2013 Kim 23 Comments

Today for the 43 I pulled out my Turbo Fire band and used it for a great oblique move (also from Turbo Fire!).

I started by standing on the band with my right foot and holding both handles in my right hand.

Then, I did a slow, 3-count side-bend to the left. (The slight forward bend helps to really target your obliques!)

On the 3rd count, reach down as far as you can.

Return to start and repeat 43 (or whatever # of reps you choose) times. Then, of course, you have to switch sides with the band.

umm....start but you don't have to look so mad about it! — umm….start but you don’t have to look so mad about it!

wow!! gotta work on the facial expressions!

I know you didn’t really need all of those pictures but Hunter took them so I figured I might as well use them!! I really need to quit looking so mad during these pictures – maybe we can just call it my focused look!!

You can see from the pictures that I busted out (not completely literally) my compression shorts again. I figured that they would help the residual stiffness in my hips from yesterday’s long run! I know that I’m way behind the gravy train on the compression stuff but after this morning I know I need more!! Compression everything!!! I really NEED to get some socks – I know it would help my Achilles!

I switched up my Les Mills Combat a little today. It was supposed to be HIIT Power but I decided to save that for tomorrow and do the Combat 45 today. Even though the 45 work-out still has some plyo, it is not as much. It was a great cardio work-out but I still feel like it was good for a recovery day!

I think this is a question that we all occasionally think about. At least, I hope I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this!! I think that January and February are sometimes the hardest months of the year. Still a lot of winter left but no major holidays to look forward to or plan for. When I was working, these 2 months weren’t as hard for me but now I’m back to not working and have more time for reflection (or something!).

The past few weeks I have really been thinking a lot about happiness and what really makes me happy.

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Running (usually on my treadmill)

4. Wine!!

5. The beach

I know I could go on and maybe even put some really profound things on here but even with the list – sometimes I feel like I have to work hard to be happy!

I think that somedays I feel like I need to be doing more with my life. I know that I’m a Mom to 2 great boys, a wife to the greatest person I know and I love being both of those thing. But…….

Overall, I’m a pretty happy person. But occasionally I have times that I need to remind myself that it is OK to just be me and do the things I do (or maybe don’t do) – being a surgeon, or chef, or world-class athlete or whatever doesn’t automatically make you happy.

So, what makes you happy? Do you feel happy all the time or do you occasionally have to step back and remind yourself of all the reasons you have to be happy?

Hopefully, we will all have a Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Day With KT