Tag Archives: stability ball

Some Workout “Alternatives”

September 6, 2013 Kim 54 Comments

Today’s 43 was hard for me because it was all about the shoulders – Windmills. I used my stability ball again

and a pair of light (5 pound) dumbbells.

Start off by laying your upper body on the ball (face down) with toes on the ground. Alternately move your arms front & back (like a windmill!):

right arm front - left arm back — right arm front – left arm back

I counted a right arm front & a left arm front as 1 rep and this was hard!!!

The good news about this 43 – it was good for my shoulders, of course, but it also really worked my upper back!!

I went to bed planning to run this morning but I woke up tired and sore so I just walked with a 12% incline – 5 miles. And, I got caught up on Project Runway!!!

So, I don’t think it comes as any surprise when I say that I like (actually love) to workout!!! The next couple of weeks I’m cutting back on my normal workouts a little in order to be as rested as possible for my birthday run!!!

But, don’t think I’ve turned into this –

Nope!!!

I’ve found plenty of other ways to keep moving and work up a solid sweat.

One day I spent most of the morning pulling weeds – some serious Lat work involved here!!Plus, lots of squatting – standing – squatting – balancing – etc.!!

And yesterday I spent 5 hours of solid hard-core cleaning!!!!Remember our new business venture? Well, I scrubbed every inch of that place yesterday!!! Baseboards, corners, windows – you name it and I cleaned it! And today my body is sore and stiff from all of the kneeling and “crawling” involved!!!

Today I’m going to move 150+ chairs, schlep some tables around and steam about 25 table cloths – I think that I can count that as another “workout” don’t you?!

Happy Fun Friday, I’m off for another busy day ending in Friday Night Football – WooHoo!!!

Kim

BOSU, Core, Fitness, Push-Ups

September Is Going to be EPIC!!!

September 1, 2013 Kim 32 Comments

Today I started with a plan for my 43 and ended up having to do an extremely modified version!!! I used my BOSU & stability ball for some hard-core push-ups!!

I put my legs on the stability ball and my hands on the upside down BOSU to do push-ups. Not easy because the BOSU wobbles when it is upside down and the stability ball wants to roll every where – good for the core though because you have to work so hard just to maintain your balance.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdmA00gKnfg’]

My original plan was to put just my feet on the stability ball and roll the ball in close so that the push-up was more of a pike position – Um…..that move needs some serious work!!!

I did one of my favorite workouts – Turbo Fire!!! Today I did Fire 45 – 45 minutes of nonstop cardio that is super fun because Chalean keeps the energy high and the music going!

September – so many fun and exciting things coming up this month!!

1. Friday night high school football games – Jordan is in marching band and has his first game in just a few days!!

2. Cross country meets – Hunter is running middle school cross country. The meets are on Saturday mornings, Tuesday afternoons, a Wednesday meet (it varies). He has 6-8 meets in the next month!!!

3. Texas Longhorn football!!! College football is back and I’m hoping that the Longhorns have a better season than they have the past few years.

supporting the Horns even when dressed for church!

They are off to a good start with a 56-7 win last night!!! Hook ’em Horns!!!

4. This is the first month of our new business! This month we have several weddings/receptions booked and I’m going to work on some of my plans to add in more events at our venue!!!

5. In 2 short weeks (just 14 more days!) I will have accomplished 2 huge goals:
365 consecutive daily 43s
365 days with a daily blog post

6. And – IT’S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! 2 weeks from tomorrow I will start in with a new goal and a new challenge – Daily 44s starting with my birthday run – 44 miles!!!!

What is going to be epic in your September?

Happy Sunday & Happy September!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Sleep-In Saturday

August 31, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

Today’s 43 was actually really fun! It involved my stability ball – I put my upper back on the ball with my feet on the floor (sort of a reverse table top), clasped my hands together and started with them overhead, then I did a slow twist to the right, to the left and back to the center for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ2Z_aWJpB0′]

Even though the main target in this move is your core (especially obliques), you will start to feel it in your butt & hamstrings because of holding yourself up!!

When the boys were younger, every Friday night when we tucked them in we would remind them – “Tomorrow is Sleep-in Saturday!!” I’m not sure it really ever worked for them but at least they knew that we (Chris & I) weren’t going to get up as early as we normally do.

Last night when I fell into bed, I was so excited to remind myself that it was sleep-in Saturday.

And that (see above) is pretty much how things went!!! I guess I sort-of slept in since I woke up at 6:25 (instead of my normal 5:00) but I was really hoping for closer to 8:00!!!

Oh well, up and getting stuff done for the day – always a good thing!!! Chris & Hunter left at 7:30 for a gun safety class so they didn’t really sleep-in either.

At least Jordan got the memo!!! He is still snoozing away!!! (all those early mornings for band are taking a toll on him!)

One day I will sleep-in again but not today!!!

Do you have sleep-in Saturday? How late do you sleep when you sleep-in?

Happy “Sleep-in” Saturday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Home Where I Belong!!!

August 25, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today for my 43 I wasn’t feeling very inspired. I decided to try a new sit-up move and I really liked it!!!

I used a stability ball that I held between my feet.I did a sit-up while squeezing the ball with my feet/lower legs – touching my feet as I came up.

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

The nice thing about this move – I felt it in my abs for sure but my inner thighs also got a nice little burn!

Yesterday after the funeral, grave service and a late lunch at the church I hit the road and headed home.

1.5 books on CD (a great way to pass the time), a bag of sunflower seeds (eaten 1 at a time to keep me awake!), 2 Laffy Taffy bars, plenty of water, 1/2 a Diet Coke, a cappuccino (trying to wake up for the last hour),

2 quick stops (for the above junk and gas!!), 8 hours of driving

and I finally made it home!!!

HOME – the best place ever!!!

Thursday, Friday and Saturday felt like a month with all that was packed into them and today I need to get caught up but I really just want to hang out and do nothing!!! (For the record, my BlogLovin feed is up to 348 unread posts – and as hard as it is for me, I think I’m going to have to mark all as read and start fresh tomorrow!!!)

Happy Sunday!!! I’m off to enjoy my boys at HOME!!!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups, Triceps

Welcome Sun – Let’s get Reaquainted

August 10, 2013 Kim 20 Comments

Today I did a push-up for my 43 – but not just a regular push-up!! I used a stability ball

for an added challenge. And it was definitely a challenge!!!

By the time I finished all 43, my arms were shaking and I’m lucky I didn’t bust my face!!! Trying to support yourself on the ball really elevates a push-up!!! Plus, you have to keep your hands fairly close together and end up working your triceps a lot, too.

I also did my 3rd round of this week’s challenge with Taylor. I really enjoyed this week’s workout because it was Tabata – 4 rounds plus a finishing plank set. I love Tabata because it is easy to tell myself that I can go 150% for 20 seconds!!!

We have been home from Florida for about a week and a half and most of those days have been cloudy and either unseasonably cool or extremely muggy. What they haven’t been is SUNNY!!!

I have missed the sun and the beach!!!

This past week has been busy since we are getting ready for school to start on Tuesday – eye appointments, orthodontist appointments, well-checks/physicals, some shopping, band camp for Jordan, hair-cuts, and just normal everyday life activities.

What hasn’t been included is any sun and beach time!!! And I miss it!!! The sun is shining this morning and will hopefully stay out today so that the afternoon can include a little bit of my favorite activity