Tag Archives: Les Mills Combat

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Hamstrings, Thighs

Answers

August 21, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I did a whole lotta’ kicking for my 43. I started with 43 x a right side kick and went right into 43 x right front kick, left back kick. Then I started over with 43 x a left side kick followed by 43 x left front kick, right back kick.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS4M3Nq_2J0′]

(side note – demo was after my workout was completely done – my legs were tired and sort of flailing!!!)

I did an old favorite today – Les Mills Combat – Combat 60, Extreme Cardio Fighter. I love this hour long workout full of punching, kicking and lots of cardio. The last segment (before the cool down) is some core work – always a bonus!!!

Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness nominated me for the Sunshine Award. We already know that I don’t always participate correctly – I’m going to answer the questions because they are fun but I’m not tagging anyone because I would pick everyone!! Sorry, Charlotte!

1. What is your favorite dessert?
I don’t eat desserts often but I LOVE hot brownies that are just a little gooey!

2. If you could only go to one website for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Well, if I said BlogLovin is it cheating to clink on links from there?! I’m not sure I can pick one website – and I NEED to go to Amazon on lots of occasions!!

3. If you could live in any time period, when would it be?
I think I would have enjoyed a lot of things about living in the early 1900s. I like the work ethic of so many people from long ago – the only thing I would hate is outdoor plumbing!!!

4. What’s your favorite motivational quote(s)?
I like lots of quotes (and always pick different ones as my favorite!!) – You don’t have to be great to start, you have to start to be great. (Zig Zagler)

5. What’s your favorite type of food to get when you eat out?
Mexican!!!

6. Describe yourself in 2 words.
committed & determined

7. How many different states have you lived in?
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Alabama + Philippine Islands (born there) so 7

8. Who is your favorite athlete?
Yikes, hard to pick just one!!! Jackie Joyner-Kersee is high on my list.

9. Would you rather read or watch TV?
READ!!!

10. What type of shoes do you have on your feet right now?
Mizuno Wave Creation 13

Now, the answers to yesterday’s riddles!!

1. Next 3 letters after o, t, t, f, f, – s, s, e
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

2. Next 3 letters after d, n, o, s – a, j, j
December, November, October, September, August, July, June

3. Lighter than a feather but strongest person can only hold for a few minutes?
Air

4. Wetter & wetter the more it dries?
a towel

5. Run but not walk and thought follows close behind?
a nose

6. Goes around the world in a corner?
a stamp

7. Inventor doesn’t want it, buyer doesn’t need it, person who needs it doesn’t know it?
a coffin

8. English word with 3 consecutive double letters
bookkeeper

9. Say my name and I disappear?
silence

How did you do?

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Lunges, Quad

Sleep: It’s Optional

July 26, 2013 Kim 52 Comments

Today’s 43 was an angle lunge. That is exactly what it sounds like – a lunge at an angle.

Start with feet together –

Lunge right leg to the right front angle –

right lunge – don’t forget to close your eyes

Quickly step right foot back and then lunge left leg to the left front angle –

I counted a right and left lunge as 1 rep so it was 43 lunges per leg. By moving quickly back and forth, I also got my heart rate up while doing these!

I thought about running but with the sand workouts lately, my Achilles is really sore so I will wait on that. Instead I did Les Mills Combat – Combat 45 – one of my all time favorite workouts!!!

So, I had already decided before we came on vacation that I was going to give myself permission to sleep in while we were here. At home I’m always up ~~at the butt crack of dawn~~ by 5:15 (often earlier) so I came here planning to really make up for lost sleep.

However, since we have been in Florida I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten even less sleep than I do at home!!

At home I have
However, since we’ve been here that has gone out the window (literally since we are outside all the time!)!!

It has been fun to be up past 10 pm (yep we are old and in bed by 10 almost every night!)!! We have set out on the deck and listened to the waves while catching up with friends – it has been awesome!!

The only problem is that I haven’t really been able to sleep in that much – by 7 we are usually up and going! Add that to the fact that I spend several hours in the middle of the night awake –

So, I have just decided that sleep is completely optional!!!

But who needs sleep when I can see this?

Even without much sleep being at the beach is very relaxing! My true happy place!!

Where is your happy place?
Do you sleep better or worse on vacation?

Happy Friday!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Struggling

June 26, 2013 Kim 46 Comments

Today’s 43 was a plank with a leg lift using my band for extra resistance! I wrapped the band around my foot –

After I had the band secured, I got into the plank position.

From this position, I lifted and lowered my right leg 43 times.

The sad thing on this move – after I finished 43 with my right leg, I still had another set of 43 with my left leg!

The band really made this a tough move today!!! Besides the leg lift, I had to hold plank for quite a while!!

I did another hotel friendly workout this morning – Les Mills Combat – Combat 45.

combat gloves - make you feel powerful!!! — combat gloves – make you feel powerful!!!

I put on my gloves and kicked and punched and jumped (tried to make sure and land soft so the people in the room below me didn’t complain!!). It’s been awhile since I did combat and I enjoyed it as much as ever!!!

Yesterday I mentioned that I had a completely awful run. I’m not sure why but I know that the problem didn’t have anything to do with my legs!! It was all about my breathing. I spent the entire run trying to settle into my breathing but it never happened!! I felt like I was gasping and panting the entire time!!!

If I had been running outside, I could have chalked it up to the heat/humidity. However, I was on a treadmill in a climate controlled environment.

I know that dehydration can make it hard to run and cause breathing problems but I’ve made sure to keep drinking plenty of water even though we are on vacation.

The boys and I always take the stairs at the hotel (we are on the 3rd floor) because we need all the extra activity we can get!!! 2 different times in the past 3 days I’ve felt like the little man in the above picture. Really?!! I shouldn’t have any problems going up a couple flights of stairs.

I’m not sure why I’m having such a hard time this week – all of my workouts have been harder than they should be. There are several factors that could be causing this – I’m just not sure what it is exactly.

Over-training? Maybe – the past few weeks I’ve pushed myself pretty hard.

Stress? Quite possibly. Even though the boys and I are having a great time, being away from home as a “single” parent is always a little stressful. Plus the fact that I haven’t talked to Chris since Saturday!

Fatigue? Pretty sure this is part of it – lack of quality sleep tends to add up!

Well, tomorrow is another day and I will have another run – hopefully after a relaxing day and a good night’s sleep it will be better!!!

Do you ever struggle with your breathing while doing what should be an easy run or other simple activity?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Fitness, Shoulders

Lesson Learned

April 16, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

My 43 today was hard (for me) because it was all shoulders. I used one of my bands

and combined 3 moves: Alternating front raise, alternating lateral raises and a curl with a shoulder press.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6D4mp5wdAo’]

43 sets of that move left my shoulders burning for sure!

After I finished that ~~torture~~ move, I did a Les Mills Combat DVD – Combat 60 Ultimate Cardio Fighter. Rachel & Dan (they lead the Combat series) say this is the hardest workout in the set – I don’t think it is but it’s a great one!!!

This morning I will finish my journey home. I can’t wait to get home and see the boys this afternoon. I was happy to see Chris last night but I will be happier when we are all back home together again! It was hard to watch all the coverage about Boston yesterday and know that some families will not be reunited because of such a senseless event! (I had to quit watching and watch some mindless reality TV – Dancing with the Stars.)

Sunday and Monday I really dragged through my workouts – to the point where I thought about not finishing. Then yesterday evening by the time I got to Wichita & saw Chris (about 5:00) I was dizzy and shaky and felt like crap. Lesson learned: Popcorn for dinner does not provide enough fuel for a good workout. I need protein!!

I already knew that for me, the most important meal I eat is usually dinner but I haven’t been eating dinner every night since I left home – STUPID!!! And yesterday, in addition to skipping dinner, I only had a snack while I was driving so I nearly paid a price for my stupidity. Fortunately, a little food (with carbs & protein) and some rest and I was pretty much back to normal.

Just 2 more hours in the car today and I will be home – I can’t wait!!!

Kim

Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Stairs

6:00 AM on a Saturday?!

March 30, 2013 Kim 8 Comments

It is rare for me to be up before 7:00 on a Saturday (especially when I stayed up till midnight watching basketball) – however today is for a good cause – Hunter has a Cello Competition in Manhattan this morning so off we go!!! I wanted to get my workout done before we left because the rest of the day is going to be full!

For the 43 today I did a Plie Squat and lunge combo. Start with a plie squat:

Turn to right lunge:

Lunge right (closing your eyes takes away the pain!)

Back to plie:

Left lunge:

Those 4 moves = 1 rep x 43. I stayed in a low squat/lunge the entire time so my quads were on fire by the time I finished all 43!! Thanks to Chris for posing for the pictures last night!!

I wanted to do a pretty quick workout so I did Les Mills Combat – Combat 45. It’s been a couple of weeks since I did some Combat and I always love it (even if it is at the butt crack of dawn!!).

Yesterday afternoon was beautiful!!! I went on a 2 mile walk with a neighbor and one of her dogs (a cute little Papillon who wasn’t really into walking and ended up being carried over half the way – silly girl!).

Then Chris and the boys and I played tennis for about an hour – always fun because Chris is the only true tennis player in the group the rest of us just run around a lot!!

Jordan - always has something crazy going on! — Jordan – always has something crazy going on!

Hunter - what are you doing? — Hunter – what are you doing?

What kind of sunglasses are those??? and - serve — What kind of sunglasses are those???
Oh- tennis glasses!

Fun times for sure!! Hunter wore his new basketball shoes because he wants to break them in a little before he starts basketball camp on Monday night. Tennis – basketball – both involve a ball – who needs special shoes??

Since I was the one who stopped and took a few pictures, there are none of me (funny that happens on vacation a lot, too) – maybe we should work on that!! Nah!

Jordan and I decided to enjoy the weather and just walk home from the courts – another 2.5 mile walk around the lake!!!

I think my post title yesterday was pretty accurate – it was definitely a Fun Friday! We finished off the night with some Chinese food, rum drinks and the NCAA basketball tournament! Bummer that Kansas lost but I still have Duke winning the whole thing so I have a chance to win!!

Now – I’m off to listen to some awesome cello music!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Day With KT