Thank you to everyone who entered in my CLICK giveaway! I will announce the winner in tomorrow’s post.
Tuesday started pretty much like Monday. I got some work done early and then once my husband got home I headed to the gym.
He said he would run there and meet me.
Did I mention how badly I just want to be able to run again?
Today’s workout was much like yesterday.
I started with 20 minutes on the Arc Trainer after a warm up around the track.
I kept it a little easier today and kept the resistance pretty low. The main goal was just to sweat.
After I finished I walked for an easy 30 minutes around the track.
I am starting to see a repeat in my workouts. I am getting tired of them, but my options are limited.
I just keep trying to keep eye on the prize and keep pushing forward.
After I finished my cardio for the day I headed to do a little strength training.
I don’t know if I have mentioned it on the blog before, but I have TERRIBLE balance. I am probably one of the clumsiest people you will meet.
I found a great exercise that not only works on my glutes but also helps my balance.
You only need one item:
A Bosu ball.
The exercise is very simple. You turn the ball upside down and slowly balance yourself on top of the ball.
Once you are on top you slowly and carefully do a normal squat.
I did three sets of 15. To make it a little more difficult I held a 15 lb medicine ball, you could also use a kettle bell or barbell.
It will take some practice at first, but once you get the hang of it is a great switch up to a typical squat.
Oh, and guess who came home last night.
Our precious Zoe! I was so excited to see her! We finally have the entire family home!
Do you have good balance? Do you do any exercises to work on it?
I have excellent balance (as well as a very good internal compass … lucky me 🙂 ). My poor wife … not good balance, which is pretty much why her ankles are both pretty much shot at this point 🙁 her PT has her doing a bit on the Bosu ball this past week and she already rolled her ankle again once … ugh!
PT already had her on the Bosu ball!? Wow that sounds like a quick jump! Bosu balls are hard especially when you are coming back from an ankle injury!
I love bosu ball squats! They are really good for balance. Two other things that I do for balance and ankle/knee stability are 1. standing on 1 leg for a minute at a time 2. one leg squats!
One leg squats!? I am not even sure I could manage that – but I’ll give it a shot sometime! 🙂 Thanks for the recommendations!
I bet Zoe was a walking wag when she came home! I have a Bosu ball on my wishlist for Santa and this sounds like a great way to help with core stability. If Santa delivers I’ll be adding this to my routine, pretty sure I’m on the Nice List this year 🙂
She was going nuts! She was at a good friends house who has much more room than we do so she probably enjoyed herself a little too much!
Ooh what a great gift to ask Santa for! Sounds like you should FOR SURE get it!
Ah balancing on the bosu is so hard. I don’t go to a gym right now but used to use it all the time for squats, pushups, and planks!
Yes it is definitely a hard task! Takes some practicing 🙂 Those are some of my favorite gym activities as well.
New reader here and happy to have found your blog 🙂 I need to start incorporating the Bosu ball into my routine, but I’m nursing two very angry IT bands.
Oooh IT bands can be the worst! I have had a couple angry ones myself in the past! Just keep nursing it and it will get better 🙂
Thanks for reading my lil’ blog! 🙂
My balance is decent but I still do some things to try to improve such as one legged squats. I have a stability ball and I also use it to kneel on my hands and knees while balancing on the ball…its pretty tough but I really feel like it helps with strengthening my core!
I tried the one leg stands today I don’t think I am quite ready to do one legged squats. The balance on your hands and knees sounds interesting – I will have to look that one up!
Pilates really helps my balance. I do have a balance board. I should use it more.
I have never tried pilates! That sounds like a great class to take.
I couldn’t find a class I liked when I moved, so I went to youtube and found Blogilates (also known as Pop pilates). Cassey, the instructor, has tons of FREE videos. They are really good and challenging!
I hate the bosu….but I love it at the same time!! I am super shaky on it – it’s so challenging!!
-Sammy
It is for sure a love/hate relationship!
The shaky feeling you get when using a boss is actually your core working to stabilize you, so you’re getting some core while using it as well. When you have it flipped upside down, use the little inverted handles to hold & do pushups (which will work your core like crazy!) in the same position (tall plank or pushup position) you can bring your knee to the opposite arm and switch to do mountain climber type abs.
Awesome idea! Thanks! I may have to give that a shot when I go to the gym later 🙂 Yes I can tell it works my core because it always is sore afterwards!