Today I went with a basketball inspired 43 in honor of the NBA Finals!  We (all but Jordan) are rooting for the Spurs!!!

The move requires a medicine ball (I used an 8 pound ball), or you could use a dumbbell, and has several parts:

• lunge forward with right leg
• pass ball under right leg
• lunge back with right leg
• pass ball under left leg
• bring feet together
• jump and press ball overhead

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zD5fdvqdiY’]

After completing 43 as listed above, I had to switch and do the lunges with my left leg for another set!

This was really a great combo 43 – worked my quads, calves, shoulders and even my upper back some work – plus because I moved fairly quickly, I got my heart rate up!!!

I woke up around 4:30 this morning to a pretty heavy rain so I wasn’t sure if anyone would come to Boot Camp this morning.  However, since today’s workout was at my house, we had the garage option (necessary today since not only was it raining, there was some thunder and lightening!).  I had a few show up and we had a good workout.  Today we did a really fun workout – Tabata Boot Camp!!!

After that I had Insanity Asylum – and I was sort-of dreading it today.  Today was Game Day (60 minutes of every possible sport) and Overtime (15 minutes designed to kill really challenge you).  Game Day actually  goes pretty quickly because you keep changing the sport (really it’s just moves that might be used in different sports).  And, I felt like I accomplished way more in Overtime today than last week – but the moves are still beyond brutal!!!!

I feel like the past few weeks, I have been living by the above motto.  Doing Insanity with Shaun T – you hear the phrase “Dig Deeper”  a LOT!!!  And, even though I’m in my basement living room with no one around (except Jordan who usually watches me to make sure I don’t die cheat) I feel like I have to push a little harder every time I hear those words.  Move my feet faster, jump higher, eek out a few more push-ups – doesn’t matter what it is, I just try to push myself even more!!

I agree that you have to work hard to become who you want to be but at what point do you decide that maybe you need to back off just a little?  Do you have to change your goals and “settle” for less or do you just change the time-line for your goals?  

We see quotes like the one above, or hear fitness professionals telling us to push as hard as we can and then push just a little harder.  But sometimes you need to hear – 

We all have different limits and amounts that we can tolerate.  I like to push myself hard almost everyday.  By pushing hard – I mean to the point of saying “I’m done.  I can’t do another _________ (rep, lap, mile, whatever).”

For others, pushing hard is something that can only occasionally be tolerated either because of health/injury or sometimes because of not being mentally prepared for the pain of pushing your limits.  And, there are some, who are willing to work but only to a certain level and have absolutely zero desire to push themselves any harder.   Pushing too hard for too long can lead to overtraining or burn-out.  (click the link for a great article in Runner’s World about overtraining).  

I’m pretty sure if you look, or even feel, like thisthen it is probably time to ease up and give yourself a little slack.

So, just because you see or hear the message to push harder all the time, remember to do what is right for you and your own personal limits.  Sometimes you feel weak because you have pushed harder than you should and it is time to back off a little.  It’s all about knowing your body and listening to the messages it gives you!!

Do you feel like you ever push too hard?  Is it easy for you to back off when you need to or do you try to push through?

Happy Monday!!!  I’m going to cut myself a little slack today – I hope you do the same if you need to!!!

Kim