Tag Archives: Les Mills Combat

Dumbbells & Balls & Combat & Treadmills – Oh My!!!

For my 43 today, I did a move similar to one that I saw on the Biggest Loser last week!!!  It is one of those great exercises that uses lots of different muscle groups!! (my favorite kind of exercise!)

Start with your upper back/head on a stability ball and dumbbells in your hands (I used 8 pounds today).  Do a chest press – stand – do a shoulder press- lay back down on ball and repeat.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dszS-yLSQ0′]

Loved this exercise – will definitely do it again!!!

After I took Hunter to school, I came back to the still sick Jordan Screen shot 2013-01-15 at 8.18.55 AMand did the rest of my work-out.  Today was HIIT Power with Les Mills Combat.  This work-out is only 30 minutes but it is intense!!!  (It also has 40ish burpees with push-ups and squat jumps or tuck jumps!!!)  Fun times!!!

After I finished the Combat work-out I wanted to test my hip on the treadmill.  I only ran 3 miles (+ 1 mile cool-down) but I felt good and pushed the last mile (even though I’m not supposed to!!!).  Total for 3 miles – 20:34 – WooHoo!!!  Happiness!!!

I can’t wait to start increasing my mileage!!!

Can you tell I’m enjoying my morning off?  I got to sleep past 5:00 am and spend a little extra time working out – Yippee!!!  I am just working afternoons for a couple of days so that the person who I have been working for can ease back in to her job (and I can ease on out).

I don’t know about where y’all live/work but here the flu and other illnesses are OUT OF CONTROL!!!  Yesterday at the school I have been working at there were over 60 kids home sick (plus at least 10 staff members)  That is about 15% of the school – YUCK!!!

Screen shot 2013-01-15 at 8.20.41 AM

 

Happy Tuesday!!!

Kim

 

Happy Monday!!!!

The 43 today was hard for me!!!  I had to modify it in order to  finish all 43 – but we all know that making a modification is better than sacrificing form!!!

The move – a push-up with a clap.  (Now do you feel my pain?!)  The push-up alone – great!  Add in the clap – uh, what???  I did the first 13 on my toes and the next 30 on my knees.  Still got to 43 and by dropping to my knees I was still able to perform a full push-up  so I still consider it a success!!

Special guest for the video:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2NQgcsrF_I’]

Thanks, Chris!!!  (BTW – did you notice how many he did? 9!!!  + 1 more after the video)  He said, “No way am I doing 43!!!”  Umm…that’s cause you’re 44 – get busy!!!!  I think he left it at 10!!!  10 is much better than 0!!!

Today was another day of fun with Les Mills Combat!!!  I did the Combat 30 work-out again.  I’m really enjoying it now that I have done it a few times and know all the moves!!

After Combat I did something that I don’t do nearly enough of – a stretching DVD!!!  I did the Turbo Fire Stretch and it felt good.  I have a hard time making myself take the time to really stretch very often – I know I need it!!  Gotta work on doing that much more frequently!!

Even cats need a good stretch!!!
Even cats need a good stretch!!!

More time stretching – on the list!!!

I saw this yesterday and thought it was appropriate (at least in my world)!!!

Screen shot 2013-01-13 at 12.45.05 PM

Gotta get ready to head to the library (might be my last full day!!!).  Jordan will be home – still sick!  Hopefully he will be much better when he gets up today – I’m sure the fact that he has had these

Onions to the Rescue!!!
Onions to the Rescue!!!

in the room with him will make a huge difference!!!  (or not – but it can’t hurt, right?)

Happy Monday!

Kim

 

Ball Butt Blaster & Banning Bright Bulbs

Today, like the past 120 days or so, started with a daily 43.  For today’s move, I used a stability ball.  I started face-down with my fingers and toes touching the ground.

Set-Up
Set-Up

Then I bent my left leg to 90 degrees and flexed my foot.

Bend knee and flex foot
Bend knee and flex foot

Now for the real work – squeeze your butt and push your foot up to the ceiling.

Squeeze and Lift!!!
Squeeze and Lift!!!

I did 43 with each leg and my butt was definitely burning!!!

The rest of my work-out was back to Les Mills Combat.  Today I did the Combat 30 again. I am really enjoying  the Combat program with the Les Mills crew – always a great work-out and the time flies by!!

I don’t know about everyone (or really anyone for that matter) but I have a few several LOTS of sleep issues!  One of them is I like it to be dark!!!

Pitch Black!
Pitch Black!

Well, some nights this never seems to happen.  We have a big window, way up high, in our bedroom:

Source of much light at night!!!
Source of much light at night!!!

Some nights lots of light comes through this window – if someone drives in the cul-de-sac in the middle of the night (or parks with headlights on) – I see the light!  Some nights the moon is just wrong in the sky and shines straight in.  I think I need a remote controlled blind system for that window or something!!

Another source of light in our bedroom some nights (last night – all night long!!!):

Bright (I have no idea who those people are - default picture 7+ years later!)
Bright (I have no idea who those people are – default picture 7+ years later!)

This clock has 4 levels of brightness and at night it should be on the dimmest:

Dimmed (for night-time!!!)
Dimmed (for night-time!!!)

However, this is Chris’ clock (not mine!!!) and therefore on his night stand.  Last night it was like a flood light shining in our room all night long.Screen shot 2013-01-12 at 9.28.41 AMThat is a lot of light for someone who wants/needs pitch blackness to sleep!!!  This morning I told Chris that if he left it on bright again at night I was going to kick it and then throw it!!!  His perfectly rested response, “Why didn’t you just wake me up and ask me to turn it off?”   Where is the fun in that?  I much prefer kicking and throwing things after I gripe about them!!!!  Duh!!!!

Happy Saturday – hopefully a sunny day and a dark night ahead!!!

Kim

 

 

 

 

Friday = Funday!!!

5 straight days of 5:00 AM alarm – YUCK!!!  But it’s Fun Friday!!!! And, no alarm for the next 2 days!

Today for the 43 I worked my core and my upper back!  I did a Kayaker move:  Position yourself in a V-Sit (legs extended if possible) and hold that for the entire time.  Holding a body bar (mine only weighs about 5 pounds), row – pull the bar toward you and squeeze your shoulder blades then extend your arms and push the bar straight in front of you.

Good Job, Hunter!
Good Job, Hunter!
Hold your abs in!!!
Hold your abs in!!!

The row wasn’t too bad but holding the V-Sit for the entire time….made it through all 43 even though I was shaking by the end!!!

See - Exercise IS fun!!!
See – Exercise IS fun!!!

This picture is just because those 2 are so very silly!!!  I’m not exactly sure what Jordan was doing in the background of these pictures but Hunter seemed to think it was funny!!!  Look – he is still keeping his legs up while he laughs – double core bonus!!!

After the 43 I did Les Mills Combat – HIIT Plyo.  High intensity for 30 minutes!!!  I really liked this one even though it meant more burpees!!  (I’m not sure why I hate those so much but I keep doing them because I know they are good for me!)

I had a little more time so I pulled out one of my 10 Minute Solution DVDs – Blast Off Belly Fat.  I did 2 sections – Belly Fat Blaster and Ab Ripper.  The first section was all standing core work – awesome!!!  The second one was a mix of standing, crunches and plank work!  I like these little 10 minute programs because they are nonstop for the entire 10!

Today in the library we are doing inventory – every single book will be scanned by the end of the day!!!  Gonna be fun, fun, fun!!!Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 7.18.36 AMSponge Bob – I’m pretty sure that my boys (Chris included) can quote every line of every episode!!!  Awesome, huh?!

A friend had this quote on Facebook and I borrowed it because it is exactly me!!Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 7.04.08 AMThis quote pretty much sums things up – all of the challenges I do are to try and improve myself not to show-off or compete with anyone else.

Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 7.26.55 AMSome library humor in honor of the day ahead!

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

 

 

Exercise Fun with My Boys!!!

Today’s 43 was a true breeze (compared to yesterday!!!)  It was a great exercise to really work deep into the abs – the  especially obliques!

The move:  sit on a stability ball with hands clasped behind head.  Alternate opposite knee to elbow (like an oblique crunch on the floor but you have to work harder to maintain your balance on the ball = bonus core work!!!).  I counted 1 rep as a right knee lift and left knee lift – 43 each side!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4olEhbnJlRg’]

Here’s Jordan’s best attempt – you can hear Hunter cackling in the background – not sure why he was laughing so much at Jordan trying the move since he had even more trouble!!!  Funny boys!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-rWAhx7MPg’]

The boys were silly for sure – the longer they tried the move the more they laughed.  I just kept filming them because I love when they are having fun and laughing (especially the true, deep gut laughs)!!!  Plus, they were getting extra reps with each demo!!!  (sneaky Mom)

I did another day of Les Mills Combat – Combat 45.  This one was fun – I will like it more when I learn it a little better and when I’m back to being able to do all the moves at the highest impact level!!!

This afternoon we will see a lot of Chris’ family – sadly it is for a funeral.  (One of Chris’ aunts passed away Sunday evening.)  It’s always good to see his extended family but I like it better when the occasion is a  reunion or graduation party or some other fun event.

Off to a 1/2 day at the library – sad when they need a sub for the sub!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim