Oops! I forgot to catch you up on this weekend’s posts earlier. So, in case you missed it -

• 5 Minute Tropical Ice Cream
• Jump Around – fun way I spent my Saturday + the FFF Features
• Self-Love Reflection of the Week – Little Letters to the body
• One Month to Live Weekly Review – discussion on loving completely

Today was the big day. I mentioned tearing up early this morning at the thought of Makenzie starting preschool officially today. I cried a bit after dropping her off.

And then…I got home and realized the blessing of extra time to rock out some productivity. I love my little munchkin and thought about her consistently, but I can certainly see the bright side to this whole preschool thing now. Plus, her beaming grin when I picked her up let me know how happy it made her. I can’t argue with that. 🙂

Before dropping Makenzie off at preschool, I decided to keep things as normal as possible for her routine. I didn’t want her noticing me hovering extra and then thinking something was up with this whole preschool thing. That meant hitting the gym for my Monday morning weights session as usual. I did something a little different this morning and incorporated a plethora of stability training into the mix.

I coupled a bunch of exercises together in supersets with one traditional exercise and one stability exercise for the larger muscle groups (legs, chest, back) and a couple stability exercises together for the smaller muscle groups (arms, shoulders, abs).

• Legs: deadlift superset lunge on upside down Bosu
• Back: cable high row superset dumbell pullover on the ball
• Chest: flat dumbbell bench press superset alternating incline press on stability ball
• Shoulders/Biceps: side raises and bicep curls on upside down Bosu
• Triceps/Abs: dips on stability ball, ball crunches

I did three sets of 8 to 12 reps for each superset. It went rather quickly but I really felt the challenge on doing two exercises for the same muscle back to back. Plus, I have recently fallen in love with stability training! I used to think it didn’t add much of an extra challenge or benefit, but it really does. I can feel it work my body in new and different ways. Plus, from my personal training studies, I have learned the large benefits in focusing on stabilization muscles for a broad spectrum of fitness improvements. Gotta love a solid foundation to help better your fitness overall. 🙂

I have recently been loving on the following to add some extra fun in the form of stability or balance training to my workouts:

Doing Moves on an Upside Down Bosu Ball

Doing Alternating Movements (on or off stability ball)

For example: Instead of pressing both arms at once in a shoulder or bench press, do one arm at a time. Training one side at a time can increase the need to balance yourself and it can display if a side is weaker than the other.

Traditional Moves Done on a Stability Ball

Wow. The iPhone takes junky pictures. LOL

Almost any move I would use a bench for I can sub in a stability ball for an added challenge in balance and stability training.

 Staggered Moves

Having one side of the body slightly higher than the other can increase a need for balance. Another example would be doing squats with one leg higher on a step with risers.

I gotta say that I love putting into practice a few of the things I have learned. Hopefully I can stay on track to get certified sometime in November and start up with the online training stuff by the new year. Sometimes I even brain storm ideas of having an end of the year or start of the year (depending on timing) program to host for all of my blogging friends. What a fun way that would be to kick off the new venture! Who would be with me? 😉 Okay…getting ahead of myself. Sorry, but I just can’t wait!

Well, now I must get to making up lost time with my little M before settling in for an exciting night of leftover lasagna straight out of the tupperware and Bachelor Pad viewing. Peter’s Monday night meetings this month will equal high class evenings around here. Ha!

• Do you ever incorporate stability or balance training into your strength training workouts? What ways do you like to do so?
• What things do you tend to do when by your lonesome for the night?

Disclaimer: This post is not meant as advice on how you should train. I simply strive to share my personal fitness journey and some fitness ideas along the way. Use them at your own discretion. 🙂

No, this isn’t another plyometrics post. Instead, its how I spent my late morning.

After this morning’s long run and tropical ice cream breakfast, I had to haul butt to a birthday party for one of Makenzie’s dear friends. First I have to get all emotional that my little girl is starting preschool on Monday. Now, I get to face the fact that our little ones are turning THREE this year. Sigh.

Fall birthday madness began today. I don’t know why but there are a lot of fall birthdays around here for the little ones. We have party after party after party on our calendar. I don’t mind. It’s all fun and games to me. Including today’s party which was all about the jumparoos. Weeeee!!!

Is that what you call them? That’s what I used to call them growing up. Whatever they are called, it makes for some fun for toddlers and the parental units accompanying them. I had a great time watching Makenzie live it up with her friends and catching up with some of my friends as well. And meeting new ones – hi, Molly!!

And we clearly can’t forget the fun that comes in the form of cake.

oahlkandihoaihja. Speechless. That cake was amazing!!! Normally I could care less about the cake and just want a vehicle for the frosting to make it to my mouth. I think I could say that this was some of the best cake I have ever eaten. EVER! I loved every bite. Just like I loved these posts from this past week. Check them out if you missed them. It’s FFF Features time!

Featured Post of the Week: I Am A Runner

It finally hit me that I can call myself a runner. Runner Up: Month 7 Progress Pictures!

Featured Fitness Post of the Week: Break Through Plateaus

Because we all hit them from time to time.

Featured Meal Post of the Week: Healthy Candy

This post highlighted some goodies - “Reese’s” Oatmeal, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Green Smoothie, and some delicious eye candy you don’t want to miss…or just want to take a gander at again. Runner Up: Chocolate Coconut Pancakes

Featured Fun Post of the Week: Daily Feats Add Up

A cool new site and tool to rack up points to earn gift cards to fun things like iTunes, Amazon, Fandango, SpaFinder, Best Buy, Starbucks, and more!

Featured Cuteness of the Week: This Can’t Be Happening

Getting ready for Makenzie to start preschool on Monday. I can’t believe it!

Featured Reading of the Week: Sisters Jess & Jo from the blogs…

Eat Drink Breathe Sweat (Jess)

and Determined To Be (Jo)

A few words come to mind when I think of these two ladies. Dedicated. Loving. Supportive. Encouraging. Genuine. Open. Fighters. Fit. Healthy. Motivating. Every post they write touches me in some way. I love hearing their running thoughts, their body image ponderings, and just experiencing their growth over the years I have read both their blogs. Love these ladies and I know you will too. Plus, they both face a half marathon together tomorrow, so give them some of the love and encouragement they pour out into the blogging community back. 🙂

• What was your best moment this past week?
• Which do you love more of – cake or frosting?