Tag Archives: shoulders

Happiness is Contagious!!!

December 18, 2013 Kim 79 Comments

I really want to start working out again but I’m pretty sure that my body isn’t ready so I will just keep doing 44s and pinning the great workouts that so many of y’all are sharing!

Today for my 44 I worked my shoulders with a front rotation. I started with my arms at 90 (8 pound dumbbells – that was plenty for this many reps!).

From the starting position, I just rotated my arms until they were in front of me, palms down and then back up – all in a slow and controlled manner.

The first 18 or so weren’t bad but the rest were rough!! My shoulders are always my weakest muscle and a few days of nothing hasn’t helped them!!!

Do other people’s moods affect your mood? I know they do mine!!!

Yesterday evening I had a showing (at our venue) for a bride and her photographer. This bride has already booked the place for an April wedding and just wanted to plan a few things and have her photographer see the lighting situation.

While we were there, she showed me some of the pictures for her plans (gotta love Pinterest!) and asked my opinions. She also showed me pictures of her dress and it was absolutely stunning!!!

Just spending those few minutes with her and sharing in her happiness and excitement made me happier!! I appreciated her enthusiasm for everything last night and when her friend/photographer arrived she immediately got caught up in the exuberance of the bride to be!!!

It was like a happy dance just sharing a few minutes with this girl (not really a girl but she is much younger than me!!!).

I started thinking about how often we let other’s dictate our mood – sometimes not in a positive way.

I think that happiness does grow when shared and is definitely contagious!!! I really hadn’t been super excited about driving over yesterday afternoon (I always end up BLAH when I’m sick) but I left feeling so much better than I had in days!!!!

I want to be one of those people that exudes happiness and shares the happy germ with others!!!

Do you feel happier after being around people who are happiness carriers?

HAPPY Wednesday!!

Kim

Biceps, Butt, Core, Fitness, Quad, Shoulders

Jordan

August 3, 2013 Kim 31 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a move that worked my entire body!! I used my stability ball and a pair of 12 pound dumbbells and did a squat with a bicep curl to a shoulder press. Here are the steps:

From the starting position, the right leg will squat while the left leg pushes the ball out to the side.

Stand while pulling left leg back in to body – curl weights and press overhead.

By adding the side leg movement, I was able to get my heart rate up while working on my balance (always good for the core!).

Of course, I couldn’t let my left leg be left out!!!

2 sets of 43 – my shoulders were on fire by the time I finished all those presses!!!

Today was the 3rd and final day of the “Stronger by the Minute” workout this week. I’m enjoying this little 6 week challenge series with Taylor because the idea of repeating the same workout 3 times in a week and trying to improve each time is right up my alley!! I love the self-competition!!!

From the first time completing this week’s workout until today, I improved each time on all 3 circuits – 2 of the circuits I was able to improve by over a full round!!!

The third circuit consists of 4 different burpees (all HARD), with 5 reps of each – as many rounds as possible in 6 minutes. 6 minutes doesn’t seem like much until you spend the entire 6 minutes doing burpees!!!! Today I did 56 burpees in that time!!!

Most of the time when you see Jordan, you see his great smile!!!

My firstborn is fixing to be in high school (and he can drive!) and I could not be more proud of him!!! He is a young man who truly cares about everyone around him!!

Things like school talent shows cause him stress because he feels bad for the kids who perform that really aren’t that good. While his buddies or other kids in the audience are snickering he totally empathizes with the person on stage!! He is the same way when we watch any of the singing/talent shows at home – instead of laughing, he feels bad for them!

He goes out of his way to make sure that everyone around him is happy or content. If there are limited chairs somewhere, he is usually the first to offer his chair. When his friends are trying to decide what to do he is content to let them decide – he is agreeable to just about anything.

Even though he isn’t the guy trying to have his way all the time, he is very much his own person. If you know Jordan personally (or have read my blog for awhile) you know that Jordan wears all white every day!! His standard “uniform” consists of white Nike shorts and white Nike T-shirt (plus white Nikes). I just restocked (in a bigger size) his white wardrobe for next year – took numerous stores and some driving but well worth the time!!! I love the fact that he is unique and content to be different!!!

This summer, Jordan has pretty much taken over cleaning up after every meal. Not because we told him he has to – he just likes it!!! Pretty amazing!

I know that I’m a little biased but I think that Jordan is an incredible young man!! It is truly one of the biggest joys of my life to watch him grow up. I know these next 4 years are going to fly by and I intend to treasure every minute that I can with my sweet boy!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Shoulders

GUILT

July 23, 2013 Kim 45 Comments

For my 43 today, I pulled out my bands (the perfect travel equipment!) –

I decided to do a combo move with them to work my shoulders and upper back. I stood on the band and did a right arm shoulder press and a left arm row.

I’m not gonna lie – this move ended up being hard – and the surprising part was that the row was harder than the press!!

And, of course, another set of 43 with my arms switched.

By the end of the two 43 sets my arms were shaking!!!

My workout today was actually really short (just under 15 minutes) but intense!! I’m still participating in Taylor’s 6 week challenge and the workout this week is 1000 reps (700 of which are mountain climbers!!) for time. This is a perfect workout for this week – next time I think I will do it on the beach!!!

Guilt – so many emotions all wrapped up in one word. I think that some of us (like me) have a really hard time letting go of guilt. For as long as I can remember I have lived with guilt. Growing up (especially when I was in high school) it was a constant. And, becoming a mom brought a whole new level of guilt into my world.

I struggle daily with trying to let go of all of the guilt I feel. Most of it these days is all brought on by myself. Chris and the boys never say things to purposefully make me feel guilty – they don’t need to because I make myself feel guilty without any help!!!Many days I feel like I carry guilt around for no reason. I have tried to let a lot of things from my past go and tell myself that I should not feel guilty about things I can’t change. And over the years since becoming a mom, my guilt has actually lessened (not gone completely but much less!) – I spent years feeling like every thing I did was the wrong thing – I was totally clueless about babies and kids and made many mistakes but I think in the big picture everything is really OK.

Some days I feel guilty for things that are actually completely beyond my control – but that doesn’t make me feel any less guilty!!!

Even now when we are having a great time on vacation –(how could you not have a great time when this is the destination?) – being on the beach, with my family and some really great friends – I feel guilty.

My sweet Poppa has been in the hospital since Saturday morning.

I’ve talked to my twin brother and my younger sister who drove down to be with him in the hospital and still don’t know if I should try to get to Texas or just stay here with my family.

Guilt – a constant struggle to decide the right thing to do and then live with the decision!!!

Do you struggle with guilt? How do you overcome it?

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Some Friday Fun

May 3, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

Today’s 43 is a move from Les Mills Body Pump. I did the Mac Raise. This is a shoulder move and we all know that my shoulder’s are my weakest area!!

To do the move you can use dumbbells or plates like these:

I used my 5 pound plates for the move today. The mac raise involves both arms at the same time: 1 arm does a front raise while the other is doing a lateral raise.

From here, slowly lower the weights and switch directions with arms:(look a smile instead of a scowl!!) I counted a right front raise and a left as 1 rep which means to complete my 43 each arm did 86 raises!!

So, it has been 9 days since my surgery and I’m still not at a place where I can workout. Here are a few pictures from this morning (nothing gross – just major bruises):I don’t know if you can tell from the picture but my right calf is still very swollen (and hard) making it painful to put any weight on it.My left ankle is still really bruised and swollen – this actually happened after my 24 hours of torture in the compression stockings!My right thigh is still very bruised and sore (I didn’t show the worst part on the backside).

My Dr was very mis-leading pre-surgery about the recovery. I’ve done a little research (thank you Google!!) and other people have had the same experience with their doctors telling them one thing about this surgery and then having a completely different experience. Oh, well – it’s temporary, right?!

So, yesterday in an effort to get out of my little funk, I hit up You-Tube for some laughs. I thought I would share a few of the entertaining clips I watched:

Ever had a run like this?

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7d77kFLr7U’]

Sometimes you just have to laugh!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc’]

Who knew that treadmills could be so hard to control?

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNPhVVjnoC0′]

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

I Need to Move-it, Move-it!!

April 26, 2013 Kim 20 Comments

For today’s 43 I took inspiration from Evil Cyber. The other day he talked about the military press which is a great move to work your shoulders. My shoulders can always use more work and I needed a move that wouldn’t hurt my legs so it was perfect for today!

I used my Body Pump bar and plates (just 10 pounds on each side).

I actually did the move standing (which is why I went with fairly light weight!).

Don’t mind the lovely legs – still 500 layers of wraps!!

From the start, it is just a simple press up (in front of face).

I made it through 43 but it was rough! It’s amazing how weak I feel after a couple days of inactivity. Hopefully I can start doing more soon – otherwise I’m going to turn into a big gooey blob!!

Earlier this week, Jordan played in Band Fest. (last week it was Hunter in String Fest!) Band Fest is similar – all of the 6th grade band students in the district, 8th grade (3rd hour) band and the HS Jazz band.