Today for my 44 I did a slight variation on the standard burpee – sumo burpees. The main difference is your feet are in sumo position (out wide) at the beginning of the move and when you jump back up.
I was sucking air big-time at the end of this 44!!!
I pulled out an oldie today – TaeBo – Total Body Fat Blaster. This workout uses the TaeBo bands – It is about an hour of very fast-paced moving – lots of cardio plus some serious resistance training with the bands. My shoulders were screaming about half-way through this workout!!!
While I was struggling with some of the moves this morning I started thinking about the differences between working out with bands and weights.
Bands: lightweight, portable, great for travel, constant tension
Weights: heavy, not portable, gravity will take over if you aren’t careful
Don’t get me wrong – I love lifting weights!!! But in workouts like the TaeBo one that I did today where it is non-stop and fast paced, the bands are a great way to really push your muscles to the point of fatigue (especially your shoulders!!!).
I have no plans to get rid of any of our weights but if you are just starting to build a home-gym and want a way to do some resistance training bands are a great investment. Plus, they don’t take up any space!!!
So – what are your thoughts – bands or weights? Both? Neither?
The 44 today was one of those moves that seems like it’s going to be fairly easy until you start and then you realize that it is a challenge!!! I did a torso rotation with a dumbbell (12 pounds) on the stability ball.
ready to go
On the rotation, the goal is to keep your head and shoulder on the ball.
rotate to the rightrotate left
I counted a right and left rotation as 1 rep. This move is great for your core and also your shoulders and upper back!!! 44 reps were more than enough for me to feel this (for the rest of the day!!).
Today I pulled out a DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – one of my TaeBo workouts – Billy’s Bootcamp, Ultimate BootCamp. This workout is 55 minutes long and it works every inch of your body!!! There is plenty of cardio and plenty of toning using these bands –
TaeBo Bands
The nice (if you want to call it that) thing about these bands is you can add a weight in the handles (1 pound in each). Today I used them without weights and that was plenty of resistance for this workout!!! In fact, I struggled with some of the moves to complete all of the reps!!
Colloquialism – what an odd word. But when you think about the definition of the word it is appropriate because a lot of our sayings come across as odd to other people.
Yesterday I was talking to Jordan about his day and he started making fun of a couple of the things that I say all the time so I thought it would be interesting to see if y’all say the same things or what you say that is different.
My top 2 colloquial sayings:
I have said this for as long as I can remember. It is a natural phrase for me and I always forget that most people here in Kansas (and elsewhere) don’t use it.
When I was in grad school I was sitting outside on a bench one day waiting for a friend so we could go running. Another friend walked past – here is how the conversation went:
Him: Hi, Kim. What are you doing?
Me: I’m fixin’ to go for a run.
Him: You mean you’re getting ready to run?
Me: No – I’m already ready (running clothes on, shoes on, stretched). I’m fixin’ to go.
He just sort of looked at me and walked off – weird!!!
My other common saying –
This phrase makes perfect sense to me but apparently not to most people. I get lots of comments when people here me say this.
I spent 5 years working in the office at the boys elementary school after both boys were in school. When we did monthly fire drills, I was the one who stayed in the office and kept the timer, shut the drill down and then called everyone (over the intercom) back to their classes.
The very first fire drill we had I got on the intercom and said – “All y’all can return to your class rooms now.” When the principal (we are actually good friends) came into the office he looked at me, shook his head and said, “Really?!”
It took me a few minutes to figure out what he was talking about. Then he said – “All Y’all?!”
Ummm…..yes!
So, those are 2 of my common sayings that very few people around me (since I’m not in TX anymore!) say or get.
Do you say fixin’ or all y’all? What are some things you say that earn you weird looks or comments?
Some days I pick my 43 thinking it won’t be so hard and some days I am WRONG!!! Today was one of those days – the move was a version of the old windmill move/stretch. The goal was to work your obliques and a bit of arms/shoulders – Done!
Start with your legs wide, toes slightly pointed out and a weight in your right hand.
start (arms straight if you can)
Reach down with your left hand to the outside of your left foot while reaching straight up with your right hand.
try to touch your toes
(Jordan said he can’t touch his toes – better work on his flexibility!!) After doing 43, or your # of reps, put the weight in your left hand and repeat.
other sideand reach!
I used an 8 pound dumbbell and it was hard (I think my shoulders are a little sore from yesterday’s TaeBo band work!).
This morning it is pretty nice here (although it has gotten cloudy in the last 30 minutes) so I decided to run outside. I only ran 3.5 miles (lots of hills!!) at just over 8:00 minutes/mile – I never really settled into the run today. My breathing was all over the place. Still, it was nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!!
I typically take Sunday off and I know I haven’t the past couple of weeks – starting Wednesday I will be taking a few days off (not from my 43 but the rest of my workouts) so I’m taking advantage of the days until then!!!
Now, I’m heading back outside to pull the weeds that have gotten out of control with all of the rain we’ve had lately – FUN TIMES!!!
The work comes on the way back down to the plank – you have to really hold your core muscles tight to stop yourself so that you are level (no droopy butts here!!).
back to plank
I tried to keep the movements nice and smooth – not super fast – so that I could get max benefit from this exercise. I timed this 43 and it took 2:38 to complete all the reps.
Definitely a move I recommend trying!!!
Then, I pulled out one of my old-school TaeBo DVDs. I did Total Body Fat Blaster and it was HARD. For this workout, you use bands that slip onto each foot. (I took out the 1 pound weights inside of mine and still struggled!)I’ve always enjoyed TaeBo and today was no exception. This workout was 55 minutes of cardio and toning all tied together. My arms are still shaking from all of the tension the bands provide!!
A friend had this on FB the other day and I thought it was too good not to share!!!
Some of the other “facts” I have learned over the years:
You can’t keep your eyes open when you sneeze.
If you do manage to sneeze with your eyes open, your eyeballs will pop out!
If you cross your eyes, they could get stuck in that position.
Almost all dust is actually human skin cells that have been shed.
It is not possible to tickle yourself no matter how ticklish you are.
You can’t hum when your nose is plugged.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
Do you know which of he above “facts” are real and which are myths?
Happy Saturday!!! (don’t you feel smarter or at least happier for reading the silly facts?!)
Today I mixed it up – crazy, I know!!! I did my 43 at the end of my work-out. Not my favorite way to get things done!!! I like to kick things off with the 43 because for a lot of the exercises – 43 seems like a really large number and I like to hit it while I’m fresh!!!!
Anyway, today I did a move from Tae-Bo (I think it is in the Boot Camp series but I can’t actually remember which DVD it is from!). It is a sit-up but when you come up, you split your legs and reach forward.
This actually turned out to be a great 43 to do at the end of a work-out because besides the core work from the sit-up, it has a bit of a stretch!
I started my day with some Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 Ultimate Warrior!!! Great start to any day – especially Fun Friday!!
I typically don’t run 2 days in a row with my history of injuries but today was a short run for a good cause. Rachelle posted about a virtual 1.5 run today for a little boy (Colton) who is fighting Leukemia. The idea is to wear orange (color to support Leukemia) and send a picture. You can click over to her site for more details. I thought it was a great idea so I hoped on my treadmill and did a quick 1.5 miles.
Virtual run for Coltontotally posed picture
Since I worked out early, I had to wait for Jordan to get up to actually take my picture – done running by that point!!!
I’m excited to be checking out a new (to me) place today. I’m going with a friend to The Pink Suitcase. Hmm…I wonder if they carry work-out clothes since that is what I seem to be living in these days! It should be fun – girl’s day out!!!
And – it is supposed to be 50 degrees today!!!! WooHoo!!!
It is about an hour of very fast-paced moving – lots of cardio plus some serious resistance training with the bands. My shoulders were screaming about half-way through this workout!!!
While I was struggling with some of the moves this morning I started thinking about the differences between working out with bands and weights. 
