Tag Archives: Rows

Back, Cardio, Chest, Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Squats

Happy Anniversary to the Love of my Life!!!!

May 25, 2013 Kim 22 Comments

Today’s 43 was brutal in every way!! I did Man-Makers!! Heard of them? Get a set of dumbbells (I used 15 pounds) and get ready!!

Put the dumbbells on the ground about a foot apart. Jump down to plank placing hands on DBs and do a push-up (you know, like a burpee). Then do alternate arm rows (while still in plank!!). Jump up into a low squat and bring weight to your shoulder. Stand, using your legs for power and push arms straight overhead. That was 1 rep!!! Repeat (43x if you are doing my version!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmcosP5QWo0′]

After I finished that ~~torture~~ 43, I decided to go out for a run to shake out the last bit of soreness in my legs from Thursday’s long run. I finally used my new Garmin on a run!!! I just ran 3 miles in 26:00 + 0.5 miles walking to cool down!! It is already muggy and humid today!!!

Chris and I are celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss today!!! So, I think it’s a good time to share some of our story.

We met in August of 1995 at Whalers Bay in Lubbock, TX. (yep – we met at a bar!!!) Chris was with 3 other guys and I was with a group of people. My roommate that summer was a hostess there and had seen Chris in before. She purposely seated me next to him and his friends. Chris and his buddies all had large notebooks with them (the Dash 1) and were “studying”.

I started talking to Chris and asked him, “Are you a pilot?” His response, “No, but I want to be.” (he was in pilot training at the time)

I drank Rum & Coke that night (more than a few) all paid for by Chris and his pals, and because of that Chris’ buddies called me “rum & coke” for months after we met!!

At some point that night, Chris and I made plans to go out over the weekend. He called me the next day and asked if I had a chance to go out of town would I do it. I figured he was standing me up. Actually, he invited me to go to Austin to hook up with some friends of his and go to a Live concert.

We went to the concert, did 6th Street up rightgot a little sleep and drove back to Lubbock (Oh – it is 7 hours each way). Yep, we met in a bar, our first date was over 7 hours from were we lived – pretty sure we broke a lot of “dating rules” but it all worked out and look at us now!!! And we didn’t go as crazy as some people – the SLS Dating Site scene isn’t for us – but we did break a few conventions here and there!

Chris told me later that he knew on the way to Austin that I was the person he wanted to marry!!! The Monday after our first date he sent these to me at work!!

We dated the rest of the year (my first year as a teacher – 6th grade Science) while Chris was in pilot training. Most of our dates were like this:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8wFBUF1ZWY’]

Well, maybe not exactly, but we did spend lots of time with the other guys (and their wives or girlfriends) in pilot training at a great piano bar called Off Broadway and karaoke happened often – good thing Chris can sing!!!

We were engaged all of 8 weeks!!! Not because we “had” to get married! Chris graduated from pilot training on May 24 and we got married the day after – we figured it would save his family a trip to TX (from Kansas).

at 2 and on the day of Pilot Training Graduation

The frame says – From long ago and far away…Love brought us to our wedding day.

It was a busy but incredible weekend!!! Chris sang to me at our wedding (a complete surprise to everyone, especially me!!)

Beautiful in my Eyes by Joshua Kadison (now know as “our song”)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRKqxSZeq4s’]

Obviously that isn’t him singing but it could be!!! (If you’ve never heard the song, it is definitely worth listening to!!)

Our wedding was Saturday and on Monday, Chris had to go to Altus, OK for his next training phase. I still had a week to finish school. So, we started our married life the way it would frequently be – the life of a military pilot and spouse!!!

The night I got to Altus, we ate at the O Club (Officer’s Club) – right when we walked in we heard our song so of course we danced cause that’s what you do!!!

I can’t even count how many times we have gotten up in the middle of dinner or while cleaning the kitchen to dance to our song (because I had my ipod playing on random)!!! The boys ~~love it~~ just roll their eyes and ignore us!!!

Happy Anniversary, Chris – you will always be the love of my life!!!

Do you and your spouse/significant other have a song? Do you drop everything and dance when you hear it?

Happy Saturday!!! I’m off to spend the day with my true love!!!

Kim

Back, Biceps, Core, Fitness

A Mom’s Reflections

May 12, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today I used my Turbo Fire band for my 43 –

I did a combo move consisting of a seated row, bicep curl and reverse crunch.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unyz49-LDgA’]

I liked this 43 a lot!!! I leaned back enough that I was working my core the entire time. During the rows I tried to really squeeze my shoulder blades together so I could feel it deep in my upper back. The reverse crunch was just a slow move back with my upper body (without ever resting my back on the ground) and a slow trip back up. This was a great way to work a variety of different muscle groups!!!

There are so many stages to this journey of motherhood and, for me, each stage has been better than the one before it. Here are some of my thoughts/memories of motherhood:

* I spent years (junior high, high school, college, grad school, and a couple years after) saying that I was NEVER going to have kids. It wasn’t until after Chris and I were married that I decided I really did want to have children – I guess it just took being married to the perfect guy!!!

* From the minute I found out that I was pregnant with Jordan, I was in love with him! (and again a couple years later when I found out I was pregnant with Hunter!)

* The baby stage was hard for me! I hadn’t spent much time around babies and they made me a bit nervous. Thankfully, Chris was very calm and relaxed and knew exactly what to do!!

* Toddlers – what a fun stage!! I made MANY mistakes and went to bed beating myself up for my lack of patience many nights but those sweet boys just loved me anyway!!!

When Hunter was about 20 months old and Jordan was barely over 4, the boys were playing in a sandbox. Hunter had a little pocket on his shirt which he filled with sand. He wanted it out so being the “uber smart mom” that I am, I picked him up and dumped him upside down. Jordan said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Hunter of course ended up screaming and with sand in his mouth, nose, eyes. Of course, the other mom’s (yep, this was in front of a group) were all appalled and thought I was a total buffoon!!!

We made it through without anyone being scarred for life on that one!!

* Preschool years were a major time of learning (on my part!!). Jordan was always pretty easy-going and we didn’t really go through the terrible 2s or 3s. On the other hand, when Hunter was 3 I wasn’t sure that we were both going to make it through whole!!! Thankfully, we did and now I can look back on those days and laugh (or at least not cry)!!!

* I was not the type of mom who cried when either of my boys started kindergarten. However, the first day I dropped Jordan off at the middle school (7th grade) I thought I was going to have to be medicated. That was a rough day for me!!! Thankfully, he loved it!! (I don’t know what I’m going to do in August when he starts HS and Hunter goes to middle school!!)

* When my boys were little, people always told me that it only gets harder to be a mom as your kids get older. For me, that hasn’t been the case!! Every stage we have come to I have enjoyed more than the previous ones and my life has gotten so much easier!!

* Today I can truly say that I wouldn’t change a thing about the past 14.5 years since I became a mom – even the millions of mistakes and rough times – because they have all led me to where I am today!!!

Surrounded by my 2 handsome boys – the ones who still call me MOM!!! (Jordan and pictures is always a treat!!!) I feel truly blessed!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, moms-to-be, grandmas, step-moms, etc!!!

Kim

Back, Fitness

How do you Define Yourself?

April 29, 2013 Kim 48 Comments

For my 43 today I did a bent over lateral raise/row combo. Even though it is still fairly basic, I’m happy that I incorporated multiple muscle groups today!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skjovy9l43I’]

I just used 5 pound dumbbells for the 43 – I usually try to go heavier on rows but lateral raises are challenging for me so I picked a weight that I could complete them all without just swinging my arms like a crazy woman!!!

I’m still not working out – hopefully later this week I will be able to ease back in!!!

Since I’ve had a ~~some~~ hours of free time the past few days I’ve done a lot of thinking about things. One of the subjects I’ve thought about is how I define myself. There are lots of words I could use:

wife
mom
runner
athlete
sister
twin
teacher
coach
reader
wine drinker
friend

At every stage of my life, I have had different words that seem applicable. The summer I was

my parents got a divorce and my mom and the 4 of us kids moved to Abilene, TX. 8th grade had been a rough year for me (3 different middle schools) and moving to a new place for 9th grade was no easier. I was very quiet and shy (hard to believe now!!). I went through most of high school being referred to as Tim’s sister:

Thankfully, I also started running in HS and actually turned out to be pretty good at it so I was also a cross country and long distance runner in high school!

I went to college separate from Tim so all of a sudden I had a new identity. However, I quickly formed a very close friendship with Lara. Other then the fact that I ran cross country and track and she didn’t, we were together all of the time. People didn’t call me Kim or her Lara we were:

Kim and Lara

Lara and Kim

Also, I had long hair that I kept curly with a spiral perm – classy!!. I always pulled it back in a ponytail using these clips:

So I also earned the name – Bowhead.

I went to grad school in southern Alabama and spent a year being called Kim from Texas!!

After grad school, I spent 2 years coaching cross country and track at the same University where I had run. During that time I’m not sure I had a true definition of myself – because I was single and a coach lots of people assumed things about me that weren’t true. Those are the years that I realized that even workout wear could be cute and accessorized!

I spent a year teaching and also met Chris (he was in pilot training in TX at the time) – I was either Miss Griffin (umm – that is my mom) or Chris’s girlfriend.

After we got married, we moved to Kansas and because I wasn’t from here and Chris was – I spent the year as Chris’ wife.

We moved back to TX for a couple of years and I taught and coached again. This time I was Mrs. Turner or Coach Turner – loved my new name/identity!!!

Then we had Jordan and my definition of myself changed again – I became Jordan’s mom and later Hunter’s mom. Since I spent about 9 years as a SAHM I struggled a lot with my identity.

I became involved in numerous activities and tried to figure out exactly how I fit into all of the different areas of life. It was difficult at times because I didn’t have a “real” job to help define me.

After both boys were in school full-time, I took a job at their school working in the office – my new identity became secretary. I think the 5 years I spent in that job helped me realize that a job isn’t what defines you – you have to figure that out on your on!!

I did the job of a secretary but there is so much more that makes up who I am including all of the experiences and jobs that I had up to that point.

Now, I am once again a SAHM but there are so many other parts of me!

I’m a blogger – http://day-with-kt.com/

I’m still a runner!! I’m also a weight-lifting, daily activity getting fitness buff!

I’m a personal trainer –

I’m a wife:

I’m a mom:

I’m a sister:

I’m a huge reader:

I’m a wine and martini drinker:

I’m a beach lover:I’m a Texan!I’m a friend:

Above all of the titles and roles in my life, I can truly say that I’m a happy, strong, independent woman! And, tomorrow or next week, parts of my definition of myself might change once again – it is ever evolving as I continue on my journey through life!!!

How do you define yourself?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Lunges

Let’s Do This!!!

March 7, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today’s 43 incorporated both lower and upper body so it also got my heart rate up – Bonus!!! I did a side lunge with a row.

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

Because I’m not the most coordinated individual, I had to really focus on keeping my elbows in tight as I pulled my shoulder blades back and at the same time, keep one leg extended and really sit back in my butt – that’s a lot to remember!! So if a few reps aren’t perfect form, please overlook!!

I actually did 86 reps since I counted a right lunge-row combo and a left lunge-row combo as 1. I love to try to incorporate as many muscle groups as possible so this was a great 43!!

The rest of my work-out involved Les Mills Combat with Combat 60 Live – The Ultimate Warrior!!! (I only have about a week left and I will be done with the program – then I will just add in the workouts whenever. I always try to go through a program “as prescribed” the first time I do it and then I mix the workouts in with my other routines later.)

Check out my new shoes!! The other day Stuft Mama did a post about these shoes because she received a pair right before Reebok did the big launch. I thought they were so cool that I hit up the Reebok website and ordered a pair and 5 days later Fed Ex rang my doorbell and…LOVE them!!

These are the new Reebok DMX Sky shoes and they are so cool. I love pink but they have some other really cool color combinations, too. Can’t wait to see how they handle the treadmill!

Even though today isn’t a running day for me, I wanted to wear them just a little and break them in a bit before my next run!!

At 1:00 this afternoon, I will probably look at least as frazzled as the above picture. I’m just hoping that all of the studying/cramming I’ve done this week is enough. When I was younger I don’t recall having such a hard time learning stuff – Either I’ve blocked that part of my life or my memory is fading…..

Oh well, I’m as ready as I’m going to be for my test. I actually slept most of the night last night (which is huge!!) and I’ve gotten in a work-out!!! Just going to stay calm and bubble sheet my way to a certification!! (except bubble sheets are also a thing of the past since the test is now computerized!)

I already told Chris that when I get home (test site is about an hour away) I will be ready for an evening at The Blue Moose (it’s been several weeks since Thirsty Thursday).

The only thing that would make it even better – Thirsty Thursday at the beach!!! Soon enough!!!

Happy Thursday!!! Let’s Do This!!!

Kim

Back, Boxing, Fitness, Hamstrings

“It’s a Bad Idea”

December 28, 2012 Kim 2 Comments

Today I did another combo move for the 43. I did a single-leg dead lift with a reverse grip row. This one took awhile because I like to do dead lifts at a slow, controlled pace and I had to do 2 sets of 43 to get both legs taken care of equally!!

You can see that I have a slight bend in my base leg – I would rather do that than end up rounding my back and hurting myself.

I liked this 43 – I prefer moves that work multiple muscle groups and this one got my hamstrings and back really well!!!

I did Day 3 of the 12 Days of Fitness – this is really a fun idea!

I also used Hunter’s new punching bag again today.

I love this thing!!! I did a solid 22 minutes on the punching bag – 3 sets of 50 single arm jabs (each side) and 500 alternating punches plus a set of 100 single arm jabs (each side) and then 1000 alternating punches. Then I did about 3 minutes with the speed bag – I need to work on my timing for sure!!

I’m hoping that all of the punching will increase my shoulder strength – plus it has to be good for my core!!! :Delighted:

My original plan for today was to hop on the elliptical. I ~~sort-of~~ really hate that machine but I decided it would be a good cardio alternative while I can’t run. I said something about it last night to Chris and he was adamantly against it. He thinks that I’m going to have to be out of running even longer than 8 weeks because of my complete disregard of the Doc’s rules. He feels the need to keep reminding me that it’s not just about not running – I’m supposed to be completely non-weight bearing (crutches). Blah, blah, blah…….I know he’s right but I’m still not going to quit all working out!!! I figured nixing the elliptical was a good compromise!

I think I mentioned before that Hunter is very good at solving this little puzzle:

Well, yesterday afternoon he got a new challenge handed to him.

4 x 4 cubeRubik Revenge — 4 x 4 cube
Rubik Revenge

By the time he went to bed last night he had pretty much figured out how to solve it – he just needed to perfect the technique and “get quicker”.

Here he is this morning with both of them solved (although he is still trying to decide on the “best” method for the 4 x 4). Genius!!!

Jordan doesn’t have any interest in trying to solve it. He just waits for Hunter to solve it and then acts like he did it!!! Then, he messes it up again!!! Silly!

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Day With KT