Tag Archives: wall-sit

Giving Something Up

March 5, 2014 Kim 90 Comments

Today’s 44 was a wall sit with alternating foot raises.

sit - goofy look helps — sit – startled look helps (hands???)

raise right foot (YIKES!! Take the picture!!) — raise right foot
(YIKES!!)

These might be some of the “best” pictures yet if you want to see me look like a total dork. 5:00 am is early and I can’t spend much time worrying about how I look in the pictures!!!

I counted a right lift and a left lift as 1 rep. For fun I timed my wall sit while I did this – 2:35.

I was hoping to get in another 9 miles today but during mile 7 my Achilles started hurting quite a bit so I just finished that one and then did 1.5 nice and easy to try and stretch it out some.

We aren’t Catholic but after doing some research and talking to friends who are Catholic, I’ve learned that anyone can benefit from the act of giving something up for a period of time. I also learned that if you are going to give something up it should be something that will be hard for you so that it really makes a difference.

I picked something from the above list and if you have read my blog for awhile you might know which one of the things up there will be a hard one for me to give up.

I have decided to give up my evening cocktail/wine!!

“An experience of want, however temporary, can help us to appreciate the true abundance in our lives. And a small positive change can have a big impact that lasts beyond the 40 days of Lent.” (Neela Kale)

So, this will be a challenge for me (I really enjoy my happy hour drinks!!) and I think that Chris is pretty sure I won’t really stick to the 40 days but I think it will also be a great experience!!!

Do you give anything up for Lent?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Quad, Shoulders

Wall-Sits, Planks and National Day of Something

January 7, 2014 Kim 70 Comments

Today’s 44 was a front raise but I wanted to make it more “fun” so I did all 44 front raises while doing a wall-sit.

Not sure why I was looking down during the front raise other than I had been holding this pose for awhile waiting for Chris to take the picture – oops!!!

I just used 5 pound dumbbells and that ended up being plenty to be able to do all 44 in a slow controlled manner without swinging my arms!

I pulled out a workout that I haven’t done in awhile – Prevention 3-2-1 Workout. This is a fun way to do a bit of everything. After the warm-up, there are 6 circuits (legs, chest, butt, arms, back and shoulders) each made up of 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength work and 1 minute of core work. The time goes by quickly and even though it’s not super high intensity, it is a good workout.

I’ve been participating in Taylor’s Core & More January Challenge since January 1 (well, I thought I was participating). Everyday I have done the challenge I’ve wondered how it is a core challenge!! Then yesterday I figured out that I’ve been doing it wrong!!!

I have been doing a 45 second wall-sit followed by 20 push-ups. What I should have been doing is a 45 second plank followed by 20 push-ups.

See – I really do know the difference!!!

So, because I want to be doing the challenge correctly I decided to get caught up today!!! I did 3 sets of 1:30 plank holds (for the 6 days that I missed) and then today’s segment of 45 seconds plank + 20 push-ups.

And, just because I find it funny that everyday is “national” something day and apparently today is National Old Rock day, what are your favorite rock songs? (I’m pretty sure the old rock day is literally old rocks like fossils but that’s not as much fun!!)

I don’t know if I can pick a favorite – I do like Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll a lot because way back when Chris and were dating while he was in pilot training, every weekend a group of us would go out to a super fun piano bar and lots of times Chris would end up singing – this was one of the top picks!

(Chris spent a year in Korea when he was around 20 and in active duty. During that time he was part of a band as the lead singer!!!)

What is your favorite classic rock song?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Finding Your Happy Place

April 11, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

For my 43 today, I did a standing crunch combo. I started with my hands behind my head and lifted my right knee to the side with a side crunch – lifted my right knee to the front and twisted my left elbow to it while crunching – kicked my right leg out to the front and reached my left hand to my toe – repeat all 3 moves on the left = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeOiU1pY7gk’]

Besides working my core (and balance), this move was good for my hip flexors!! I’m pretty sure I ended up doing more than 43 because I was talking to Hunter and kept losing count so I would go back to the last number I remembered saying – I figure extra is better anyway!

Today seemed like a good day to spend some time with Chalean (since we’re such good friends, you know!!). I did Turbo Fire – Fire 55EZ. It was a great 55 minutes – high intensity cardio leaving me a sweaty mess – perfect!!

During my workout I realized that I haven’t done a plank or wall-sit challenge in awhile so I decided to get that done.

Wall-Sit: 3:20 (new record for me!)

Plank (extended arms) – 4:15 (also a record!)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z5qpyxRR-A’]

I love the movie Happy Gilmore – his happy place is pretty random but whatever works for you!!

I think that there really is value in the idea of finding your happy place. Sometimes just picturing it in our minds can be calming and remind us that even unpleasant times will pass. Or, in the middle of a really tough workout or run it might be helpful to escape to your happy place.

My happy place looks like this:

with these guys thrown in!

In my real life it is 30 some degrees outside and cloudy but in my happy place it always sunny and warm!!(my happy place definitely includes a fun cocktail!!)

Do you have a happy place? What/where is it?

Happy Thursday!!! I’m going to pretend I’m here today (close version of my happy place!):

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups

Balls + Records = Jelly

March 13, 2013 Kim 12 Comments

YIKES!!! Today’s 43 was rough and brutal and hard!!! I got this move from Jody at Truth2BeingFit. I don’t know how she made it look so easy cause it is anything but!

Start with 3 medicine balls.

Put 1 under each hand and then try (key word – try) and balance both feet on the 3rd ball. Seriously, just holding this position was hard.

The actual move is a push-up!! x 43

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNWRSJJUb0′]

I would rather do the 4-ball push-up any day!!! The narrow feet (on the same ball) makes this move so much harder! I lost count of how many times I fell off!

So, what are you doing sitting here reading – go try this move – I know you want to!!!

Today I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 3. This is another series that Chalean Johnson does and I love her workouts. Always high energy and fun music! Sometimes she gets a little dancey for me – I just add in extra jumps when that happens and it works out perfectly!

I decided to challenge myself today with a plank hold and wall-sit (cause sometimes I’m ~~stupid~~ crazy like that!!).

I like to do planks with my arms fully extended (like might not be exactly the right word – but it is how I usually do them).

not from today but only picture I could find

Since I did these after the boys were at school – there are no pictures from today!! I wanted to find one of me in plank and this was as close as I got.

Plank Time – 3:30

Then I decided to see how long I could last in a wall-sit (cause I figured why not at this point!!).

Wall-Sit Time – 3:00

And now – my arms and legs are jelly!!!

Do you do little self-challenges? Share if you do (I might like to join in on the fun!).

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Super Day Sunday!!!

February 3, 2013 Kim 9 Comments

Yikes!! Today’s 43 was one of those times when I sort-of wished that I was closer to 20!!! The move itself wasn’t too bad – it’s just the act of knocking out 43 that really pushed me!!

I did plank up-downs today. 43 times!!!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtiZCco5xJ4′]

I did my best to keep my body straight even during the up-down part but it was definitely a challenge!!!!

And the rest of the work-out…..Day Off!!!! I’m continuing with my daily wall sits for the month of February – today I did 3 of them for 1 minute each. My quads should be getting stronger by the minute!!!

I keep hearing about some large bowl Super bowl something? Maybe these?

I’m just kidding – I know that today is a huge football game!!! I just don’t get into pro-football much. I’m trying to decide which team to cheer for.

I love this place! Chris and I visited here the first month we were dating!So pretty and so close to Napa and wine!!! Oh, wait – football.

Well, I also like this city:Another gorgeous place! I guess I can’t pick my team based on the beauty of the city or where I have or haven’t been. Hmmmm….