Tag Archives: stability ball

Making it Count in March

March 1, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

Today’s 43 was inspired by a post I read the other day over at evilcyber. The idea is to make sure that you are strong enough to do squats safely before doing them. Simple squat test – stand without using your hands to push you up.

I decided to use that simple move to do a squat & hold move with my stability ball. I started by sitting on the ball (I kept my hands behind my head for a little added challenge)

from here, I stood but only part-way , so that I was in a semi-squat.

I held the partial squat for a 2-count and then lowered down just enough to barely touch the ball before repeating. 43 of those and my quads were burning!!!

Today I was back with Les Mills Combat for Combat 60 Live – Ultimate Warrior. Like I said the other day, I think this one might be my favorite!!! Then I did some Jillian Michaels – 6 Weeks to a Six Pack, Level 2. Not gonna lie, I thought about just doing the circuit through one time but I gutted it out for the whole thing and I’m glad I did (now that I’m finished!!).

I’m happy that March is here and February is done for another year!! I feel like I always start March on the count-down:

how many days till spring break
how many days till NCAA basketball tournament time (my favorite!!)
how many days till spring
how many days till Easter
how many days till summer

But, in keeping with my goal for 2013 (live in the moment), I don’t want to spend March counting down the days this year. I’m going to spend it making sure that each day, each moment counts.

Jillian Michaels said (in the DVD that I just finished sweating to), “If you’re going to spend your time doing this work-out, Make it Count!!!”

I think that statement can (and should) apply to all areas of life (not just fitness) – make it count!!!

So, my plan is to make every minute of March count!! I think that will include:

finding the positive in every day
less complaining
being spontaneous
working towards a goal (for what to do with my life now that I don’t work full-time)

Because it is March and March Madness is quickly approaching I figured a basketball quote would be very applicable: You only have one shot – make it count!!!

How will you Make March Count?

Happy Fun Friday!!

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!!!

Fitness, Running, Thighs, Treadmill

Wednesday – Take 2

January 30, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

Another day, another 43!!! Today I used a stability ball and did leg circles. Don’t be fooled into thinking this was a fluff move – it was NOT!!!

I did 43 front circles and then 43 back circles with the same leg. My hip was dying!!!! After a quick stretch, I switched sides and repeated 2 sets of 43.

don't let the smile fool you - this hurt! — don’t let the smile fool you – this hurt!

I sort-of played around with my foot position and found that when I flexed my foot it really increased the burn in my hip/thigh – WooHoo!!!

After the 43 today I had to spend about 3 minutes stretching out my hips before I could move on to my work-out! Running day!!!! (Treadmill because it was 5:30am, dark, cold and snowy!)

I did 9 miles in 58:50 at a 1.5% incline. Then I did 2 more miles at an easy pace to cool down. The running is feeling good – my hip feels pretty good. My left achilles is very sore but I have had problems with it for years and starting back into hard running again I sort of except it to hurt. Lots of stretching!!!

Monday it was 75 degrees and sunny and gorgeous. Today it is 20 something, dreary and looks like this Crazy how different the weather can be in such a short amount of time!!!

I guess I was a day ahead of myself yesterday morning when I wrote my blog – I ended with “Happy Wednesday!” Oops – I don’t know why I felt the need to skip Tuesday – usually a pretty good day – oh, well. Today will be a do-over Wednesday!!!

I know that we aren’t the healthiest eaters around – we do pretty good but we also like pasta, lots of meat, bread, probably don’t always get enough veggies. But fruit…..I like to have it daily:

OK – that might be a tad extreme since I actually still eat (meat and carbs!!!) but it made me laugh!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Butt, Chest, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

Dumbbells & Balls & Combat & Treadmills – Oh My!!!

January 15, 2013 Kim 11 Comments

For my 43 today, I did a move similar to one that I saw on the Biggest Loser last week!!! It is one of those great exercises that uses lots of different muscle groups!! (my favorite kind of exercise!)

Start with your upper back/head on a stability ball and dumbbells in your hands (I used 8 pounds today). Do a chest press – stand – do a shoulder press- lay back down on ball and repeat.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dszS-yLSQ0′]

Loved this exercise – will definitely do it again!!!

After I took Hunter to school, I came back to the still sick Jordan and did the rest of my work-out. Today was HIIT Power with Les Mills Combat. This work-out is only 30 minutes but it is intense!!! (It also has 40ish burpees with push-ups and squat jumps or tuck jumps!!!) Fun times!!!

After I finished the Combat work-out I wanted to test my hip on the treadmill. I only ran 3 miles (+ 1 mile cool-down) but I felt good and pushed the last mile (even though I’m not supposed to!!!). Total for 3 miles – 20:34 – WooHoo!!! Happiness!!!

I can’t wait to start increasing my mileage!!!

Can you tell I’m enjoying my morning off? I got to sleep past 5:00 am and spend a little extra time working out – Yippee!!! I am just working afternoons for a couple of days so that the person who I have been working for can ease back in to her job (and I can ease on out).

I don’t know about where y’all live/work but here the flu and other illnesses are OUT OF CONTROL!!! Yesterday at the school I have been working at there were over 60 kids home sick (plus at least 10 staff members) That is about 15% of the school – YUCK!!!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness

Ball Butt Blaster & Banning Bright Bulbs

January 12, 2013 Kim 3 Comments

Today, like the past 120 days or so, started with a daily 43. For today’s move, I used a stability ball. I started face-down with my fingers and toes touching the ground.

Then I bent my left leg to 90 degrees and flexed my foot.

Now for the real work – squeeze your butt and push your foot up to the ceiling.

I did 43 with each leg and my butt was definitely burning!!!

The rest of my work-out was back to Les Mills Combat. Today I did the Combat 30 again. I am really enjoying the Combat program with the Les Mills crew – always a great work-out and the time flies by!!

I don’t know about everyone (or really anyone for that matter) but I have ~~a few~~ ~~several~~ LOTS of sleep issues! One of them is I like it to be dark!!!

Well, some nights this never seems to happen. We have a big window, way up high, in our bedroom:

Some nights lots of light comes through this window – if someone drives in the cul-de-sac in the middle of the night (or parks with headlights on) – I see the light! Some nights the moon is just wrong in the sky and shines straight in. I think I need a remote controlled blind system for that window or something!!

Another source of light in our bedroom some nights (last night – all night long!!!):

Bright (I have no idea who those people are - default picture 7+ years later!) — Bright (I have no idea who those people are – default picture 7+ years later!)

This clock has 4 levels of brightness and at night it should be on the dimmest:

However, this is Chris’ clock (not mine!!!) and therefore on his night stand. Last night it was like a flood light shining in our room all night long.That is a lot of light for someone who wants/needs pitch blackness to sleep!!! This morning I told Chris that if he left it on bright again at night I was going to kick it and then throw it!!! His perfectly rested response, “Why didn’t you just wake me up and ask me to turn it off?” Where is the fun in that? I much prefer kicking and throwing things after I gripe about them!!!! Duh!!!!