Tag Archives: running

Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Squats, Treadmill

So Many Kinds of Love

February 14, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

Today started early (although not as early as I had planned since I could not sleep last night!!!) because I’m off to the school to help do inventory in the library!!

Of course, I still did my daily 43!!! Jordan helped out yesterday afternoon and let me take a couple of pictures of him.

I did an Iron Squat! Start by holding a medicine ball in both hands (I used a 9 pound ball).

Squat down until your elbows touch your knees (or quads!).

squat - touch elbows to knees - butt back! — squat – touch elbows to knees – butt back!

Stand, squeeze your butt as you do, and push the ball overhead.

squeeze butt to stand & push ball overhead

Repeat! 43 for me.

After finishing that I was going to do HIIT Power but I wasn’t really feeling it so I did something I’m horrible about doing – I ran – nice and easy!!! I just ran for a total of 33 minutes and really tried to relax and enjoy it instead of feel the need to push hard. (I have learned a lot by reading so many running blogs – feeling the need to run hard all the time is probably why I can’t run every day – DUH!!!)

I’m sure that this will sound bad but I’m really not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day! For starters – I only have 1 true Valentine. My boys don’t have any but they always have school parties!!! I just think it’s a funny holiday – I guess the whole point is to remember to show love.

I started thinking about all the different kinds of

There is the love of material things. I’m always saying I loveor

But those are just shoes!!!

There is the love of places:

and we all know I love

I also love pretty sunrises (or sunsets):

(It was a little cloudy earlier but you can see some of the colors showing through!)

The love of food:

(Chris left these for me this morning cause he knows every once in a while nothing else will do!!!)

Then, there is the love we have for people! I love my grandparents for so many reasons!This was several years ago. (My Poppa is 98 now!! And, my Mema died 2 years ago.)

I love my boys with every fiber in me!!!

(This was last summer in Texas – silly boys!)

And then, I have my one true love – Chris, my Valentine!!!!(I really need more pictures of him on here!!!)

Happy Valentine’s Thursday!

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

BOSU, Fitness, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

150th Day = 150 Minutes of Running!!!

February 12, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

Today I decided to use my BOSU again for the 43. This time, I combined it with my stability ball to have double the ~~torture~~ benefit!!!The set-up was a bit tricky – legs on stability ball and support yourself with your arms on the BOSU. I had a hard time extending my legs all the way (without rolling off!!) so I kept a slight bend in them. If Once you manage to get in position, then the true fun begins – push-ups!!!! 43 hard push-ups!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E95OU0xrfQI’]

I know that it looks like these would be easy since my legs are bent – almost like doing push-ups on your knees, right? NOT the case!! This was hard!!! But…gotta push myself if I’m ever going to get those one-arm push-ups done. 2nd push-up move this week!!!

Today is my 150th day of 43s and blogging so I wanted to do something to celebrate!!

My idea of celebrating? Running for 150 minutes!

I kept the incline at 1.0% and the pace between 7.5mph and 8.0mph. (average speed ended up being 7.73mph or 7.47, I think)

Between the glare and the sweat marks it’s a little hard to see but the total distance was 19.41 miles. My timer rolls over at 100 (that’s why it looks like only 50 minutes).

A lot of y’all look so cute when you run (and after!). I just look like a nasty mess!

After 150 min - nice! — After 150 min – nice!

So, now I’m off to soak my tired legs so they will be up for whatever tomorrow might bring!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Oh, yeah – 12th day of February = 12x 1 minute wall sits – DONE!!!

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Kale Recipes, Anyone???

February 7, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 was all about cardio. I did a right shuffle (4 shuffles) – touched my right hand to my right foot then reversed direction for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMCtlTJIl7s’]

Thanks, Hunter, for doing this demo (even without shoes!) – wish the lighting had been better. (I’m pretty sure that is due to user error!!!)

It was fun to do a simple, cardio based 43 for a change.

After the 43, I tried the Plank Ab-Burner that the Fitnessista posted yesterday. If you haven’t been over to her site and checked it out you should – your core will thank you (later!!!). It is only a 4-minute routine (good thing, too!) but it will challenge you the entire time!!!

For the rest of my workout on this rainy day in Kansas,

I hopped on my treadmill and did some incline work. I kept the speed down (6.5 miles in 60:30) but the incline at 10% for mile 1, 12% mile 2, 15% mile 3, then 12% for miles 4-6. YIKES!!! I think I need to get in more hills!!!

Enough work-out talk!!! Onto food – namely Kale. Last night, for the first time ever, I made some kale. This is the final product (after we had all taken a serving because I forget to get a picture before):

I’m not sure if it will make a return appearance at our table or not. I think I need more ideas for making it (or just to perfect the one I tried).

I keep reading about kale and all the benefits from it so I bought some and thought I would try to make kale chips. First off, I have no idea what it means to massage the kale!!! I washed it really well and tore it into bite size pieces. I tried to dry it but I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that very well.

Then I spread (more like piled) it on a large stone baking sheet, sprinkled (more like poured) some olive oil on it and sprinkled with season salt. I think this is where I really messed up – it looked like such a huge amount that I probably put way too much oil and salt.

Who knew that it would cook down to almost nothing? (not me for sure!!!) It didn’t get as crispy as I thought it would (I’m guessing the oil & not drying it enough had something to do with that).

The verdict: Hunter said it was a bit strong (I think he meant too salty!!!), Jordan said it was OK, and Chris didn’t really comment (which means not his favorite but he doesn’t like to say negative things about my cooking – he’s super smart!!!). I liked it fine but I think I need help if I’m going to try it again!

I googled some of the benefits of kale and found out the number 1 benefit is it can keep you looking attractive!!!! Another benefit is anti-aging!

So I think I better practice up on my kale techniques!!!

Any recipes or suggestions would be welcome!!!

Happy Thursday! In fact

Kim

Butt, Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Monday Morning Blues

February 4, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

For my 43 today, I took a move that works your butt and by using my BOSU like this

turned into a true challenge!!! Trying to stay balanced really amped up the difficulty level!

I did a “hydrant” kick. Start on all 4s:

Push one leg straight up with a 90 degree bend in your knee.

From this lovely position, move your leg across your other leg and touch the knee to the floor.

Return to 90, drop the knee straight down and repeat until you reach desired # of reps – 43 for me. Of course, I can’t walk around unbalanced (any more than I already am!) so I did a second set of 43 with my other leg. My butt was burning and my core got a great work-out!!!

Today was another day of Les Mills Combat – Combat 30. Since it was a short work-out (30 minutes) I decided to do more today. So I ran!!!

For some reason after I dropped both boys off at school this morning, I was in a bit of a funk. Not sure why – we had a great weekend, enjoyed the game with friends last night (and I didn’t care about the outcome) – just a bit blue…

So, I did what any blue frog would do – RUN!!!

I decided to really push myself and see how far I could run in 43:00 minutes. I set the incline to 1.5%, started at an 8:00 minute pace (7.5) and increased 0.1 every 45 seconds. Outcome: 43:00 minutes = 7.3 miles!!! (sub 6:00 pace overall).

I think I outran my funk!!! (or I’m just too tired to know any different!!)

Now, since I put off grocery shopping and other errand running over the weekend, I’m fixing to head to the dreaded

Good times for sure!!!

Happy Monday (hope you aren’t fighting off the blues, too)!!!

Kim

4th day of February = 4x 1 minute wall sits – DONE!!!

Day With KT