Asa's Plank

Devin posted this picture on Facebook and I just had to put it on our blog to show to the whole family.  I am super impressed at your planking skills, Asa, and the theme park was a great setting in which to do it!  Thanks for rising to the challenge!



I wanted to enlargen for those with failing eyesight.
It makes it blurrier but you can still tell he has perfect form!



Spiritual goal

I wanted to report in on my spiritual goal. I need to be pushed to do things -- like reporting in. I just completed reading the Ensign and New Era for the month of June. I am really learning a lot of new things and things that I can use to improve my life. It is an ongoing goal and I hope to continue on with it.

Sharon, I went back and read your remarks on planking and I can see that the exercise I was doing doesn't fit the bill so I will look at the other exercises I have been assigned to do and see if any of those apply. I am trying to improve my posture by touching my belly button to my spine everytime I think of it and also tucking my butt in and keeping my shoulders back when I think of it. My problem is thinking about it. But, I'm trying.

Love, Mom

June's Mid-month Challenge

I know you've all been waiting with bated breath and just been chomping at the bit to get at this month's challenge.  Especially since Ashlee whetted our appetite with that great post on the planking craze. 

By the way, some of that planking is just laying face down and is not benefitting the core muscles at all!  But this month's challenge is designed to do just that:  work those "core" muscles!  Planking is an excellent activity to enhance any abdominal exercises you probably are already doing in your fitness routine. 

The core muscles basically include everything on your torso between your shoulders and hips including the front and back of your body.  By strengthening this area, you keep yourself well-balanced and better prepared to tackle the challenges of exercising as well as your routine daily movements.  Not to mention planking will work on toning and tightening your middle.

The main thing to remember with planking is, keep your tummy pulled-in and tight!  See - now the importance of last month's challenge comes to light!  And you want your body to make a straight line from your shoulders to your feet (or knees, depending on which version of the plank you're doing) just like a plank of wood.

So here's the challenge (I have a feeling it'll be a breeze for Ashlee):

Point Value:  1

Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions (if movement is involved) or 2 sets of at least a 20-second hold of your plank exercise(s) of your choice... 3 x/week until the end of this month.

This challenge must be completed as stated above to earn the point!

A few notes about the demo video:  If it doesn't work for you, tell me and I'll email you written instructions and pictures.  Also, our microphone broke, so I couldn't talk you through any of the exercises.  However, I think just by watching it, you'll catch on just fine.

Planking Craze

Sharon I found this video to inspire us for this month's challenge

I hope this is what we have to look forward to this month. I definitely think I can master it quite quickly if so. In fact I have already gotten started.

Keep on goin'

Hey Marie, remember that old adage: Half is better than nothing! Didn't someone famous say something like that. Anyway, you did the important part and added a point. Way to go, Sharon on the coupon organization. I can't imagine doing something like that. I finally have an appointment to see my family doctor tomorrow and I'm afraid he will tell me to quit doing what I've been doing. There go my points. This is everyone's chance to pass me or catch up with me. I hate these old age aches and pains. I'll let you know what he tells me. Yesterday was another rough day and last night Lynn rubbed me with her oils and I took some Tylenol and seemed to sleep somewhat okay. My hip felt pretty good today so I've been doing the laundry and a few other things. Just every once in a while I get a twinge but not anything like yesterday and the day before. Once you help me and Sharon get through our aches and pains, we'll help you get through yours.

Love, Mom

Only Half for Me

Well I didn't report for May partly because I never sound as good as all of you, and partly because I only did half of the challenge. I did the tummy sucking and the kegle exercises, but kept putting off the cleaning out and organizing. I know what I wanted to do for that and I am still going to do it because it needs it so badly. Kudos to Mom, Ashlee, and Sharon. Keep inspiring me ok.

Report from the next "extreme couponer"

It cracks me up that Mom and Ashlee are the ones who are the most diligent about posting regularly but they apologize and fret about not posting enough!  Good job, you guys!  You are definitely helping to inspire me! 

Well, I did accomplish both challenges this month.  I organized my couponing system and that has helped a lot with my weekly shopping.  I'm not saving 98.3% on my grocery bill like those extreme couponing freaks just yet, but I feel that I'm saving the most I possibly can by having my coupons at the ready to pair them up with the stores' sales.  Some weeks are better than others and this one was a good one because I saved about 45% on my groceries.  Score!

I found a website couponing101.com that I like and followed her method of setting up a couponing system (I commandeered Keith's unused Franklin Planner binder so now I'm one of those zealots who roams the grocery aisles with her big black notebook stuffed with the weekly ads and dozens of coupons).  I do have to dedicate some time each week to clipping and filing coupons and printing off the printable coupons.  And making my shopping lists is a bit more strategic so it takes more thought than it used to, but, for us, it's been worth it so far.  Sorry to blab, but just wanted to pass that along.

I also did plenty of gut-sucking.  Easy challenge, huh?  If you didn't do it... well, then, you're just plain lazy, aren't you?!  Yeah, I said it!  Did anyone besides me, Ashlee and Mom do it???  You have to report in or you don't get the point!

And I know I've made empty promises before, but I'm hoping to be sincere when I say this month's challenge will be coming this week... with a video!  (That's always the hold-up).

So in the meantime, keep doing your ab bracing and be ready for.... some planking!

Deets to come soon.