Today’s 44 started off nice and easy but the last 10 or so were rough!!! I used a resistance band –
Double the band under and sit on it in V-sit –
I stayed in this position and did a shoulder press –
Like I said, this started off fine but from about 30 on I struggled!!!
This week has been a bit intense so I thought some of the old-time Sunday cartoons would be a nice change of pace!
OK – maybe they weren’t that funny but we can all do with a good laugh!!!
Happy Sunday!!!
Kim
Today I did 44 alternate leg extensions while in a V-sit. (Actually it was 88 because I counted a right extension and a left extension as 1 rep.)
By the time I finished these, my abs were burning and I got a pretty good workout for my hip flexors!!!
And I did my final run before Saturday night!!!
After the overly personal post from yesterday (thanks for all of your incredibly kind words!!!), I thought today it would be nice just to have a fun post about my favorite state!!!
I’m pretty sure I’ve made no secret of the fact that even though we live in Kansas, I’m from TEXAS!!!
Here are some Texas facts that you may or may not have heard before:
1. Texas is home to 3 of the 10 largest cities in the United States. (6 of the top 20)
4 Houston
7 San Antonio
9 Dallas
11 Austin
16 Ft. Worth
19 El Paso
2. The Republic of Texas was an independent nation from 1836-1845. 
3. Texas has more than 600 miles of coastline.
4. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, TX in 1885. And, for the record, there is no period Dr.
5. You can eat at a different barbecue place every day of the year without visiting the same place twice!!
6. When Texas was annexed in 1845, it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.
7. Each year Amarillo hosts the World’s Largest Calf Fry Cook-Off. “Calf fries” are bull testicles. (I’ve never eaten these and have no plans to anytime soon!)
8. The Dallas State Fair Park is home to the largest Ferris wheel (the Texas Star) in the Western Hemisphere. 
9. The highest temperature ever recorded in Texas was 120° F in Seymour on August 12, 1936. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -23° F at Tulia in 1899 and at Seminole on February 8, 1933.
10. The world’s largest (and oldest) rattlesnake roundup is held every March in Sweetwater, Texas.
I spent many summers in Sweetwater with my grandparents at the Girl Scout Camp where they were the Rangers. And, I have come across rattlesnakes on plenty of occasions!!!
11. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
12. The armadillo is the official state mammal.
13. More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.
14. Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles, Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas.
15. High school football is a way of life.
The movie is pretty close to the real deal. Fun fact – that movie was in my old stomping ground – the schools in the movie were all part of my high school district!!
What’s a fun fact about your state?
Happy Monday!!!
Kim
Today’s 43 was a bicep curl while in a V-sit. (I know that I’ve had a few 43s in a row that work my abs/core but that is because I’m resting my legs!!!)
I tried to hold my entire body still except my arms from the elbow down. Because of the core work involved here – I only used 8 pound dumbbells – I was afraid if I went heavier that I would start swinging my arms and end up hurting something like my back!!
I liked this move since I got some upper body work, core work and even my hip flexors got a little work while I held my legs up.
And, as hard as it is for me to take days off from working out, I’m giving myself another day off today. I know that after running 31 miles on Friday my body needs it!! Of course, I have Jordan who keeps saying – it would have been more impressive if you had done Insanity on the day you ran 5 hours! Today he is giving me grief for not doing Insanity or “at least do some Tae-Bo!” Silly boy!!!
When I was in 2nd grade, we had a big music production at my school and I actually had a solo (crazy since I can’t really sing!). I was Snoopy and sang the song Happiness Is. There is one section of the song that I have always remembered:
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime, too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you!
So much truth to those last 2 lines – happiness can be anything!!!
Family
Locations
Having friends over – for dinner, drinks or just to sit and visit!! No pictures – I try not to put pictures of people on here unless I have asked if they mind (which I always forget to do!!).
Shoes – I know it’s materialistic but I LOVE shoes!! All types of shoes!! And shoes in a well organized closet = pure happiness!!!
One day Chris said my closet looked like a shoe store – NICE!!!
Books and Reading – I’ve mentioned my cookbook obsession before, but I also love to read. Having a Nook makes me HAPPY!! So many books all in one little spot!!!
Wine – I love a glass of wine or other cocktail!!!
Music – music and happiness are a perfect pair!!
Reality TV – pure entertainment!!!
Running and working out!!!
There are so many things that make me happy – some big and some little – but like the song says – happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you!!!
What makes you happy?
Happy Sunday!!!
Kim
Today’s 43 was another one for my core. I did a V-sit crunch.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGZsdypMM_M’]
I feel like the past 2 weeks my abs have really been neglected!! This was a good 43 – my legs (hip flexors mainly) were tired by the time I completed all 43.
I’m going to vent (meaning I’m going to rant and let out all of my frustrations) about yesterday and then I’m going to try to move on!
Yesterday morning I called my DR (again). My right calf is still very swollen, hard and painful and my left ankle has joined in on the fun! Since the doctor had assured me (every single time I asked her) that I would be running by now (almost 2 weeks after surgery) and I can barely walk I need some answers!
When the nurse called back I said:
She was super nice and assured me that I wasn’t a being a pain and that I was right to call. They wanted to see me but I would have to see a different DR (mine was unavailable). The DR I met also does the same type surgeries.
So, when the DR came in the room and looked at my legs he said – well, yep.
He then proceeded to explain that vein stripping used to be comparable to medieval torture devices.
He went into considerable detail about how it used to be with removing the vein and the bleeding involved – blah, blah, blah (I’m going to spare you the gorey details!).
But, thanks to modern technology, the technique has become much improved – MOST OF THE TIME!
Even with the newer method of vein stripping (removal of greater saphenous vein – in left leg), ligation (veins tied off ) and phlebectomy (removal of superficial veins through small slit-like incisions in skin – reason I have little cuts all over my legs) some people still have the same recovery problems that the older surgery caused.
By recovery problems he was referring to the massive amounts of bruising, swelling and hard lump-like spots in my legs. (and pain)
He went on to say that this only happens a very small percent of the time – and that it hadn’t happened to any of his patients to date.
All well and good but – How come no one told me that before I had this done???
Of course, I asked exactly what that means in terms of recovery time – he said it could be as long as 6 weeks of keeping my legs elevated as much as possible and just minimal walking around to keep the blood flowing!
Remember, I asked my DR numerous times on both of the visits I had with her before surgery – How long will I have to take off running? Every time she said probably about a week. Not once did she think to mention that – Oh, by the way, occasionally (rarely) people have complications and it can be up to 6 weeks!!!
So, I had to cancel the sub-jobs that I had for this week and resign myself to a few more weeks of relatively little activity.
There might have been a few tears
and maybe a few curse words (not at the doctor’s office!)
and there was definitely a margarita to drink!!
Would I have done the surgery if I knew there was a chance (however slim) that the recovery could be very long and painful instead of just the week that I was expecting? I don’t know but I feel like I should have been informed so that if when it happened I would be prepared – both physically and mentally.
So now I’m going to suck it up and do what I have to do from this point on to heal. I know that whining and complaining isn’t going to help anything but I had to get it all off my chest!!!
I know that in the big picture, this is nothing. It could be so much worse.
So, I’m going to enjoy the sunshine – my big outing for the day is to cover 1st grade recess so that the teacher’s can have a longer lunch and well-deserved break for Teacher Appreciation – and stop complaining!
Happy Tuesday!!!
Kim
5 straight days of 5:00 AM alarm – YUCK!!! But it’s Fun Friday!!!! And, no alarm for the next 2 days!
Today for the 43 I worked my core and my upper back! I did a Kayaker move: Position yourself in a V-Sit (legs extended if possible) and hold that for the entire time. Holding a body bar (mine only weighs about 5 pounds), row – pull the bar toward you and squeeze your shoulder blades then extend your arms and push the bar straight in front of you.
The row wasn’t too bad but holding the V-Sit for the entire time….made it through all 43 even though I was shaking by the end!!!
This picture is just because those 2 are so very silly!!! I’m not exactly sure what Jordan was doing in the background of these pictures but Hunter seemed to think it was funny!!! Look – he is still keeping his legs up while he laughs – double core bonus!!!
After the 43 I did Les Mills Combat – HIIT Plyo. High intensity for 30 minutes!!! I really liked this one even though it meant more burpees!! (I’m not sure why I hate those so much but I keep doing them because I know they are good for me!)
I had a little more time so I pulled out one of my 10 Minute Solution DVDs – Blast Off Belly Fat. I did 2 sections – Belly Fat Blaster and Ab Ripper. The first section was all standing core work – awesome!!! The second one was a mix of standing, crunches and plank work! I like these little 10 minute programs because they are nonstop for the entire 10!
Today in the library we are doing inventory – every single book will be scanned by the end of the day!!! Gonna be fun, fun, fun!!!
Sponge Bob – I’m pretty sure that my boys (Chris included) can quote every line of every episode!!! Awesome, huh?!
A friend had this quote on Facebook and I borrowed it because it is exactly me!!
This quote pretty much sums things up – all of the challenges I do are to try and improve myself not to show-off or compete with anyone else.
Some library humor in honor of the day ahead!
Happy Fun Friday!!!
Kim