Tag Archives: Zumba

Choices and Why I Work out First thing

June 21, 2013 Kim 37 Comments

Today I tried a new (to me) move for my 43 – sumo dead-lifts. I’ve seen these in a lot of other workouts but just never tried them because I really love regular dead-lifts. I liked these OK but still prefer the standard method!!

To do the sumo lifts, I used 15 pound dumbbells and started with my legs wider than hip distance, toes turned out.

From here, I did slow (2-count down & 2-count up) dead lift.

I couldn’t go down as far as a regular dead-lift because of the angle of my legs.

I could feel it in my glutes but not my hamstrings as much as a straight leg dead lift. I did like the move – this is the kind of thing that makes a fairly easy 43!!

Today was double Boot Camp – 6 am backyard BC and 7:15 am beach BC!!! Because I’m the only ~~crazy~~ one who did both, it was the same workout each time. I wanted everyone to get a great workout because I’m going to be gone next week and I’m pretty sure today’s boot camp accomplished that!!! We did a pyramid – up and down – fun stuff!!!

I still need to do the Insanity Asylum Fit Test to see if I improved from before I started the program but I’m going to save it for tomorrow instead of doing it after 2 rounds of boot camp – seems like a much better idea!!!

All day long we are faced with choices. Some are little and simple – what to eat for breakfast, what to wear (not always that simple, but….), go to the beach or the pool…..Other choices can be harder – get up early or sleep in, buy a new top or ~~3 new tops~~ not, quit working, start a new job……..

One of the choices that I made years ago was to workout first thing in the morning (even when it means getting up at the butt crack of dawn)!!For me that works well with my life because then no matter what comes up during the day, I don’t have to worry about when or if I’m going to be able to workout.

Yesterday, for example, a friend sent me a text me in the morning and asked if Chris and I wanted to meet her and husband atfor dinner and drinks. Well, I had planned to go to Zumba cause it’s sort-of addicting or something!!!

However, it was and a chance to catch up with some friends – plus I had already made the choice to get my workout done in the morning and Zumba is more of just a social outing (active for sure!) so I made the choice to spend some time with Chris and some friends!!!

And because of the choices I made earlier in the day I enjoyed the evening guilt-free!!!Things come up and life happens – sometimes fun stuff and other times just normal everyday stuff and we will always have choices to make. There are times that I wish I had made better or different choices but yesterday I was happy with my choices!!!

Choices – what will you do today?

Happy Fun Friday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Jumping, Kicking, Squatting all Night Long

June 18, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

Today for my 43, I did a plank with some extra stability work. I started in elbow plank, pulled my right knee into my chest then extended my right leg into a leg raise. Then, I did the same thing with my left leg. I counted a right leg and left leg move as 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma7agAXug6w’]

I should have timed my plank!!! This took awhile to complete since it was 43 knee pulls/leg raises per side!

I did Insanity Asylum – Vertical Plyo before heading to the swim beach to teach Boot Camp. I only have a few days left of Insanity – WooHoo!!! Today I actually enjoyed the plyo workout more than I have other days – maybe because I knew it was my last time doing it for awhile!!

Boot Camp at the beach always makes me happy – the lake is peaceful early in the mornings. Today we did Tabata boot camp and it was so much harder in the sand than it was yesterday morning in the garage!! The sand gave us some bonus toning work!! Plus, with all of the jumping and kicking – I pretty much took a shower in sand!!! Good Times!!

Lately, every time I wake up during the night (it’s always a lot of times!!!) – I’ve been dreaming about jumping and kicking and squatting. It’s not always me that’s jumping – sometimes I’m watching people (or maybe animals) jump – but there is always action and movement in the form of jumping and bouncing!!!All night long – jump, squat, kick…..I don’t know if it’s because I go to bed thinking about the next day’s boot camp or Insanity workout or even just trying to decide what my 43 will be or what the deal is but I’m ready for some different themed dreams!! Sometimes I feel like I might be a ~~little~~ obsessed with all things fitness related – that doesn’t mean I want to dream about it every night!!!See – everyone’s jumping and moving – just like in my dreams!!!!And, everyone is running through the list of proper form and technique – over and over. I guess if this little guy is doing it then it isn’t that bad!!But all the nighttime jumping is wearing me out!!! I need a night where I dream about and maybe if I dream hard enough I will wake up and find myself actually relaxing in this gorgeous setting instead of jumping and kicking and squatting and doing burpees!!!!!

And the best part of these dreams? Along with jumping there is music from my new workout craze – Zumba!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzAQ1XZH-j8′]

Yep – I hear that song a lot in my dreams – while jumping!!!!

Anyone else have dreams where you wake up exhausted from all the action in the dream?

Happy Tuesday – here’s to relaxing dreams for all tonight!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

Inspiring and Being Inspired

June 13, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I took another move from Evil Cyber and adapted it a bit to make it my 43. He did reverse barbell curls but I decided to do the same reverse curls with dumbbells. This works your forearms more than your biceps so it is a great way to work a different muscle!! (one I rarely even think about)

It is the same set-up as a bicep curl except your palms face down so that on the up part of the curl they are facing away from your body –

43 of these weren’t too hard – the last 10 I struggled a little. (I used 10 pound dumbbells.)

And another day of working out = another day of Insanity Asylum!!! Today it was Vertical Plyo – jumps, jumps and more jumps!!! I can tell that I’ve made some improvements because at the end of the 40 minutes of ~~torture~~ plyo the last move is a lateral jump. You stand next to the super versatile agility ladder –

and do a side jump over it!!! The first time I did this workout I failed at every attempt! (I fold 1 rung of the ladder over so it is only 3 rungs to jump for this move.) Today I cleared the ladder (3 rungs) 13 times (you do the move for 1 minute)!!!!

Today was also beach bootcamp – we did a fun “surprise move” type workout – it was nice because it was very much self-paced. And, good news – lots more JUMPING!!!

The other day at 5:30 am I was having a hard time deciding what to do for my 43. Odd, because I have lists (spreadsheets actually because I’m a nerd and love to make spreadsheets!!!) that I’ve made with all my ideas and I keep adding to them so I have lots of choices. The problem is if I don’t have a plan when I get up ~~at the butt crack of dawn~~ so early, I am at a complete lack of inspiration.

I can exercise and perform moves early but trying to be creative and think of something early in the morning is never going to happen in my world.

So this lack of inspiration in the mornings has caused me to start thinking about where I get my inspiration – for working out or even just life in general. And, I realized that I have lots of people that inspire me and lots of places that I get ideas from.

My boys inspire me a lot – they have come up with some very unique moves for me to try for some of my 43s this year (not all are actually doable but still….). I love the fact that they like to help and be part of this goal I have. They also inspire me to make play and enjoying life part of my day.
Chris inspires me – not necessarily about my workouts but always about how to be a better, kinder, more patient, more caring person. I try to emulate him when I talk to people (listen more, talk less) – I still have a long way to go on this one but I’m trying.
Bloggers have inspired me in 100s of ways during the 9 months since I’ve started my blogging journey. I’ve gotten many workout ideas from so many different people. Training tips (running and otherwise), ideas for equipment/workout gear/running stuff and more recipes than I will ever be able to try!!! Plus, the sense of community that I’ve found inspires me to keep blogging!!

There are other things/people that inspire me – way to many to list.

Thinking of all the ways that I’m inspired made me question how, or even if, I inspire anyone. That one is a lot harder. I like to think that I inspire my boys to try their best no matter what they are doing – school work, musical instruments, running, working out, playing games…

But – am I living my life in a way that actually inspires others? I hope so!!

Who/what inspires you?

Happy Thursday!!!

(I’m going to my 3rd Zumba class tonight – watch it, soon I’ll be making a Zumba video!! Just kidding about the video – that would be torture for all involved!)

Kim

Back, Biceps, Core, Fitness, Quad, Triceps

Zumba – A Few Thoughts

June 5, 2013 Kim 57 Comments

For my 43 this morning, I did a running row. This move worked many parts of my body – back, biceps, triceps, quads and core!!!

Start by standing on your left leg with your left arm extended in front, right knee up and your right arm pulled back –

(I used a 5 pound dumbbell in my right hand.) From the start position, hinge forward from the waist and push right leg straight back while extending your right arm –

Repeat this move in a nice fluid motion – I did have a few balance checks before I reached 43. And of course, after I finished the right side, I had to get my left side.

I like combo moves because I feel like I get so much out of them!!!

I taught a 6 am boot camp class and then it was time for Insanity Asylum – Vertical Plyo. This one might be my least favorite because it has SO MUCH jumping!!! But, I will keep doing it and maybe one day it will be easier!! I decided to go ahead and double up the Insanity workouts today so I also did Relief. My new favorite – 25 minutes of stretching!!! This definitely felt good after the past few days of workouts!!!

So, last night I finally got up the nerve to try Zumba. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned on here, but I have less than zero rhythm!!! And, my hips don’t roll, sway, swivel or any of the other moves that tend to be part of Zumba.

But, I tried it!!! Pretty sure I looked sort of like this for the entire hour – I placed myself over to one side of the room (fortunately I was near 3 ladies that were very fun and NICE) and kept my eyes on the instructor (a friend of mine who happens to ROCK at Zumba!!) the entire time.

During some of the hip moves I just sort of did my own thing because I do not have near enough coordination for hip rolls.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM4_T0FzbAs&list=PL798DD5698EFD74F4′]

Um….not so much here!!!

And, there was a lot of this – I can only imagine what the people on the treadmills (they can see into the room) think while we are doing this?!

Oh, and if you have never done Zumba, it is different from other aerobic type classes in that there is very little cuing. I had to really pay attention cause I did not want to be the only one thrusting my pelvic while everyone else was sambaing or mambaing or whatever those steps are called!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBq5J3Xph8k’]

So, even though I didn’t know the routine and couldn’t move the way some people can, I thought it was a fun workout!! The hour went quickly and I worked up a good sweat! I’m trying to force myself to occasionally get out of my comfort zone and try new things – and this definitely counts!!!

I am planning to go back next week – gotta give it a few tries!!!!

Have you tried Zumba? What are your thoughts?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim