Tag Archives: Les Mills Combat

Back, Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Hamstrings, Lunges, Plyo, Push-Ups, Running, Shoulders, Triceps

Fun with Workout Toys (4/5 – 4/11)

April 11, 2015 Kim 1 Comment

This week I used a variety of pieces of equipment and other workout “toys” for some of my moves – always fun to use items in different ways!!

Sunday 4/5 – 45 cross behind lunges (curtsey style) off of step – plyo move.

hop back to curtsey lunge with right leg

Push off and hop back to top.

I need to start incorporating more plyo moves into my workouts again!!!

Monday 4/6 – 45 double step – plank jack/tricep push-up.

I set my steps up end-to-end and put my feet on the taller one with my hands on the shorter one –

as you jump your feet back in go down into a push-up

This move was hard – the tricep push-up is what killed me!!!

I ran 10 miles (74:28) followed by an easy mile.

Tuesday 4/7 – 45 V-sit on vertical foam roller with open/close arms. This move is a variation of a move from Lindsay (Cotter Crunch) and her 3 New Core Moves – she did the move as a stationary move focusing on holding. I knew I couldn’t do 45 long holds so I adapted it.

start with arms out and legs out a little

This move might look easy but it was HARD!!!

I did Denise Austin’s Personal Training DVD – always a fun workout for the entire body!! I even did the stretching segment!!

Wednesday 4/8 – 45 hinged barbell pulls.

The key to this move was keeping everything still except the arms.

I only had time for 6 miles (44:17) followed by a cool down mile.

Thursday 4/9 – 45 side plank with a leg sweep front-back-front.

Move the top leg back to the front to complete the rep. This took longer than I expected – I had to pause a couple times before completing all 45 reps. And, then I had to flip over and do some more!

Bring that leg to the front to complete 1 rep! I guess I didn’t use any cool “toys” for this move – oops!!

I did Les Mills Combat – Ultimate Warriors – 60 minutes of fast paced punching and kicking!!!

Friday 4/10 – 45 shoulder presses with a chair. I was a slug and slept till 6:00 so I didn’t get my workout done early. I had my 3rd day of cleaning/set-up at the venue for the past 4 so I decided to do my 45 once I got to the venue.

I used one of our chairs – I held it in front of my chest with both hands (by the front legs) and pressed my arms overhead before lowering to a 90 degree bend. Sort of a fun way to work my shoulders!!

Saturday 4/11 – 45 sidearm triceps extensions.

Can you tell the pictures are after my run? I put my shirt back on for them since I’m not super happy with my abs these days.

I ran 10 miles (73:50) followed by 1.5 easy miles.

Do you like to experiment with new uses for standard equipment?
I like to use different pieces of equipment especially in new ways!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Plank, Running

Mixing It Up Again (3/22 – 3/28)

March 28, 2015 Kim 23 Comments

This week I have been mixing my workouts up again after months of heavy running. I can tell it’s been awhile because I have actually been sore several days which is rare for me!!!

Sunday 3/22 – 45 second hold in 4 different planks.

This was a recovery and driving day – 7 hours to get back from Texas.

Monday 3/23 – 45 minutes on the elliptical.

Not my favorite piece of equipment but even though I only ran 19 miles Saturday, the mud factor took a bit out of my legs so I needed to recover another day.

Tuesday 3/24 – 45 plie side bends with ankle reach (right-left=1 rep). This is a move from Josie (Yum Yucky) in her 5-minute slimming workout.

Return to the middle.

Staying in plie for all 45 reps was HARD!!! And, my obliques have been sore since Tuesday!!!

I just walked 6miles at a 10% incline so that I could watch Dancing with the Stars.

Wednesday 3/25 – 45 single leg BOSU hops. This is another move from a blog friend!! Allie (VitaTrain4Life) showed this move as part of her intense strength training the other day.

This move was hard!!! I did all 45 with my right leg before switching and doing another set of 45 with my left leg.

I did Les Mills Pump – Combat. It’s one of my favorites and I enjoyed punching and kicking!

Thursday 3/26 – 45 standing medicine ball crunches – single knee in. I got so many great moves from blog friends this week!! This move is one of Nellie’s (BrooklynActiveMama) Weekly Wednesday Workouts.

pull knee in and bring ball down - crunch — pull knee in and bring ball down – crunch

I tried to keep my balance and float my leg back each time but did have to tap my toe a few times. And, of course, I had to switch and do another set of 45 with my left leg.

lift knee and bring arms down with a crunch

This was a fun move with the balance challenge.

I finally ran again!! 6 miles in 47:51 + 2 easy miles.

Friday 3/27 – 45 plank to down dog with hands on a foam roller.

I really liked this move – great core work and stretching!!!

I did one of my 10 Minute Solution workouts – Ultimate Boot Camp. Normally I do all 5 sections but I only did 3 this time.

Saturday 3/28 – 45 standing leg circles (hands behind head).

The funny thing with this move is that I felt it as much in my standing ankle as the thigh of the leg circling. Gotta love working on balance/stability!

It was nice to add in a variety of workouts again but I still plan to keep my mileage up.

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Uncategorized

Some of My Favorite Workouts

March 17, 2015 Kim 75 Comments

For years the only type of working out I did was running. Now I love trying new exercises and workouts.

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite ways to workout. I can’t share all of them because this post would go on for way too long!

1. 10 Minute Solutions workouts – I like the variety in all of these workouts. Some are mostly cardio, some are toning and some are a perfect mix of everything!

2. Jari Love Get Ripped DVDs – these are weight training workouts that focus on high reps.

3. TaeBo – sometimes old school is the best!!!

4. Various workouts on my Pinterest board – many from blogging friends.

5. Jillian Michaels workouts – I feel like I get a good workout with all of Jillian’s workouts. I think sometimes her cuing isn’t great and she doesn’t always make sure both sides get equal work but I can work with those issues.

6. Chalean Extreme – the first time I did this program was the first time I really pushed myself to lift heavier weights!!!

7. Les Mills Combat – these workouts are just fun!!!

8. Insanity – this is definitely hard work but I love that it is cardio and toning with no equipment required.

9. Turbo Fire (and Turbo Jam) – working with Chalean is my favorite! She makes every workout fun and the time passes quickly.

10. Running!!!

Bonus: I really enjoy my daily moves! Doing these has really forced me to try new moves and do different things which I think is great for my body.

What is your favorite way to workout?

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Butt, Calves, Core, Fitness, Lunges, Running, Squats

Thankful for the Things I CAN Do!! (11/23 – 11/29)

November 29, 2014 Kim

This week I decided to push myself a bit even if it “hurt” and I ended up feeling very thankful for all that my body is capable of doing!!!

Sunday 11/23 – 45 calf pulses with feet front, feet out and feet in.

I just bounced up and down – this was a fun way to work my calves!!!

Since this was such an easy move I decided 3 sets of 45 was good!

Monday 11/24 – 45 double crunches with feet on a chair (lift butt while crunching up).

I decided to try running some this week.
Today started with a 3 mile walk/jog followed by 5 slow miles of running and a mile cool-down.

Tuesday 11/25 – 45 plie squat on upside down wobble balls.

I did one of my favorite workouts ever – Les Mills Combat: Extreme Cardio Fighter – 60 minutes of a super fun workout!!!

Wednesday 11/26 – 45 bridges with alternating foot lift and touch (right – left = 1 rep).

lift left foot and reach with right hand

Return to start and switch sides –

lift right hand - reach with left hand — lift right hand – reach with left hand

This was a challenge to keep my butt up the entire time!!!

I decided to try running again.
2 miles of walking/jogging followed by 5 miles at a moderate pace and an easy mile cool-down.

Thursday 11/27 – 45 pulsing lunges with feet on upside down wobble balls.

This move was a challenge because of the balance aspect!!! (The hardest part was getting set up on the wobble balls!!!) After I did the first set, I switched around and put the other foot on the front ball.

I think this is the first Thanksgiving in at least 5 years (probably way more!!) that I didn’t do a hard workout in the morning!!!

Friday 11/28 – 45 butt lifts with legs up and a medicine ball (8 pounds) in between feet.

I’m happy that I didn’t drop the ball on my face!!!

I ran 7 miles (57:51) and then did an easy mile cool down.

Saturday 11/29 – 45 twisting crunches on a stability ball while holding an 8 pound medicine ball.

You can see that the move is a twist to each side and then a crunch. This was a great core workout!!!

Overall, I’m happy with this week of workouts. The running is slow and sort of painful but it is good for my mental state!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill, Triceps

Back to Work!!! (5/18-5/24)

May 24, 2014 Kim 30 Comments

This week has been all about getting back into a solid workout groove. For the past couple of months I sort of let my weight training and cross training take a back seat to running. Even though I plan to keep logging lots of miles, I need to add in the other work again!!!

Sunday 5/18 – 44 shoulder burners!! This move was a front raise, flip arms over and do a bicep curl with arms out in front (and up), shoulder press, then reverse each step for 1 rep – oh, and I stood on my wobble balls just to increase the FUN!!!

flip arms over - palms up — flip arms over – palms up

Not gonna lie – my shoulders were dying by the time I finished all 44 of these!!!! (and I only used 5 pound dumbbells)

I did a DVD that I haven’t done in a long time – Jackie Warner X-Treme Crunch Free Abs. This is just over 30 minutes of serious ab/core work. The first half is all done standing and the 2nd half is on the ground. About midnight Sunday night I could really feel all of those moves!!!

I also did a treadmill run. Lately I haven’t even tried to push my pace much and I’m still going to focus on running more miles at an easy pace but every once in awhile I need to pick it up.

5 miles – 35:27 + 1 easy mile to cool down (all at 1.5% incline)

Monday 5/19 – 44 step-ups with a bicep curl.

Push off foot on step to lift up and curl at the same time.

After I did 44 on this side I had to switch sides – a total of 88 bicep curls!!! (the main reason I stuck with 8 pound dumbbells!)

ready (not sure what I'm doing with the weights!) — ready (not sure what I’m doing with the weights!)

The nice thing about this move was that it got my heart rate up besides working my biceps, butt and quads!!!

I did one of my favorite workouts – Les Mills Combat – Extreme Cardio Fighter. 60 minutes of kicking and punching at a fairly high intensity!!! Love it!

Tuesday 5/20 – 44 fall backs with medicine ball.

This move was HARD!!! It is great for your core and also for your quads.

The rest of the workout was 10 Minute Solutions – Hot Body Boot Camp. Not gonna lie, of the 5 10 minute sections my favorite this time was the stretching!!! I think I was dragging a little!!!

Wednesday 5/21 – 44 waving triceps while standing on wobble balls.

Trying to stay balanced on the wobble balls and keeping my arms extended the entire time turned this into a great challenge!!! (8 pound dumbbells)

This was a running day – 10 miles in 78:43 plus 1.2 easy miles.

Thursday 5/22 – 44 pull-overs while on a stability ball. This move was from Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) and her weekly Wednesday workout.

I’m not sure I dropped my arms as far as you are supposed to but I was trying to keep my form good and not bend my arms – lots of muscles involved here!!! (1 12 pound dumbbell)

I wanted to do something a little easier so I did The Biggest Loser – Weight Loss Yoga. Ummm….there was very little easy about the workout. Bob Harper knows his stuff and after 50 minutes of yoga I felt like I had worked out for sure!!!

Friday 5/23 – 44 triceps kickbacks while in chair.

I know that I should have been lower in “chair” but my quads were burning!!! (8 pound dumbbells)

It was another run day and I decided to make it a bit of a harder pace because lately I feel like I’ve been running slower most of the time.

8 miles (1.5% incline) in 53:27 + 2.4 easy miles. I try not to run hard too often anymore (I used to do it every single run – part of why I was injured more than not) but it was nice to push the pace. (6:41 average)

Saturday 5/24 – 44 leg lifts with a medicine ball between my lower legs.

Yikes – that move was hard!!! The medicine ball I used was 8 pounds and I told Chris that the hardest part was the ball hurt my ankle bones!!! Even with the whining, I still did another set of 44!!!

Hunter and I are supposed to be out running right now – his final long run but it is raining and I’m not a diehard!!! I have zero desire to be soaking wet for over an hour and a half!! We will run later or even in the next day or two – we have some flexibility since he is going to run quite a bit this week before scaling back for the final week before his race!

This week wasn’t a high mileage week for me but it felt good to get in a few runs again. I’m ready to focus on a new goal and plan to keep my miles up while getting in more strength work again!!!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim