Tag Archives: Les Mills Combat

Exercise: Fun or Dreaded?

February 25, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 really made me push myself!! I did plank rows – which means I stayed in the plank position while I did 43 rows with each arm (for a total of 86 rows)!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A631XqSoj4′]

I wanted to maximize the core work so I tried to keep my body as still as possible during the rows – not easy!!! (but done)

Today was Combat 60 Live – Ultimate Warrior (fun, fun, fun!!!) which is part of the Les Mills Combat program. I sort-of wish that particular work-out was even longer than an hour – so much fun and yet when I finish I always know that I have gotten a great work-out!

I’m forcing myself to take a week or two off of running to see if my Achilles will heal up. I have had Achilles problems (not that kind of Achilles!!!) since grad school and my days of heavy road racing – it comes and goes but usually if I will give it a bit of a break I can push on through!

I tried a quick new work-out today – LOVED it!!! I did work-out #1 on Zuzana’s (from BodyRock) new DVD series.

10 burpees (touch your stomach to the ground each time then jump into the air at the top)
10 tuck jumps
10 burpees
20 jumping lunges
10 burpees
30 kick ups (start in crab position & kick legs up – one right & one left = 1)
10 burpees
40 jack kicks (jack your feet out then in, kick leg high to the side – alt. legs)
10 burpees
10 burpees

Next time I think I will set my own timer – I stuck with Zuzana today but I had some down time and I would rather push the whole time!! Either way – less than 10 minutes to a great work-out!

Do you enjoy your work-outs or are they just something to be endured so you can check it off the list?

People that know me know I love to exercise. I don’t know if I’ve ever said I “have” to work out. Usually, if I have a day where I feel like that, it means I need a day off!!

But, I’ve had many people say, “I wish I liked to work out like you do.” Why??? Don’t work-out like me if you hate it!! Find something that YOU like!

Anytime someone tells me they wished they liked to run or lift weights, I always ask them what they do like to do. If it’s not something you like then it will just be work!!! I don’t ever swim for exercise because I hate swimming (I think the pool or lake should just be used to cool off while tanning). If that were to be my work-out I would dread every second of it and it wouldn’t benefit me much at all.

I always feel bad when I can tell someone is going to the gym just because they feel like they “should.” Even with my boys, I would love them to be runners but I don’t think they really enjoy it – no problem, but find something you like and do it!!

I know that MizFit is a big advocate for making fitness fun – she calls it Playout (instead of workout – get it?). I love her approach to making it FUN!!!

So, any of you who dread your work-out times, maybe it’s time to make a change! Make it fun so you will enjoy it (or at least not dread it!!).

Happy Monday!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness

Exciting News!!!

February 23, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

Today I used my TransFirmer for the 43 but I set it up a little differently:

I did a little mini-step workout! Fun times! I started behind the angled step and did an L-step off the left side, a 3 count repeater knee, an L-step off the back and then did the same thing off the other side for 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQtg1yTOmgY’]

I tried to step high onto the incline during the repeater to make it a little more challenging. This was a fun 43 to really get my heart pumping.

Today was Les Mills Combat HIIT Plyo. 30 minutes of jumping lunges, jump squats, burpees and so many more “fun” moves! I love how intense it is but I’m glad this is only a 30 minute program – don’t think I could last for much longer!

Wait for it…….

I finally started a Day with KT Facebook page! It only took me 5 1/2 months!! Feel free to “like” my page – hopefully I will be able to improve the layout soon. (OK – so it really isn’t super big news but…)

Also, Hunter completed his first full M100 yesterday!! Usually he does 1 set of each of the 3 exercises (30 total moves). Soon he will want to challenge me to another M500 – UGH!!! Way to work, Hunter!!

Gotta get 6 more wall-sits to hit 23 (1 minute each) today and then head off to History Day for Jordan.

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

Snow Day Fun

February 22, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today is another snow day for the boys!!! Chris had to go to work (but not until 10:00am which is much better than his normal 6:00am show time!).

I decided to give my legs a break on the 43 today and hit my arms. I did a cross body hammer curl (biceps). I alternated arms and counted 1 right arm curl and 1 left arm curl as 1 rep so it was really 86!!

You can see that it is a simple move – I tried to go slowly and focus on the entire movement for maximum benefit! (I used 10 pound dumbbells.)

I guess I’m checking out my massive bicep?! (Pictures aren’t very close up because this hair growing business isn’t working out that well!! I’ve resorted to just pulling my bangs back in the most lovely fashion so they stay off my face when I work out!)

Today I also did my newest favorite workout from Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 Live, Ultimate Warrior. This one totally kicks my tail!!! Love it!

Then I decided to pull out another old favorite – Ab Ripper X (from P90X). I already know that by Sunday my entire core will ache!! This is a short work-out (16 minutes) and it includes 11 different core exercise – 25 of each except the last 1 has 50. It’s a true delight!!!

I know lots of people spend snow days outside playing in the snow – ~~idiots~~ crazy! I have a strict snow day policy – I don’t leave the house!!! I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it, but I hate snow and cold!!! Usually the boys go out and romp around in the snow but yesterday they didn’t for some reason.

Our snow day included:

Jordan & I worked for several hours on his History Day board (it is for Saturday so good thing we had a snow day to get it done!!). It was fun working with him and helping him put it together!!
Hunter spent time perfecting his Rubik skills!
Hunter’s Rubik collection

3. Chris spent a couple hours shoveling 10″ of snow off the driveway – yuck! (and somehow I didn’t get a picture – boo!)

4. Jordan also fit in some time for his epic Lego battles! I love that he has such a vivid imagination still. He even makes videos of the lego stuff – who knows? Maybe one day he will be a film maker?? Actually he plans to be a History Professor (Ancient History).

5. Hunter also had a battle scene:

I’m not sure when we will finally get rid of all of the stuffed animals! Hunter (and his friends when they come over) still enjoys them (for battles!) – funny!

So, how does your family spend a snow day (or 2)?

Oh – Good news!!! Today is National Margarita Day!!! What a great thing for Fun Friday!

Happy Fun Friday, Margarita Day!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

SLEEP – Why Can’t we be Friends???

February 20, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today’s 43 targeted the lower abs (one of the hardest areas to work, I think). I laid on my back with my legs straight up at 90 and feet flexed. The actual move is small – lift your hips while pushing your feet up to the sky.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkMZ7fOhIMg’]

I tried to make sure that I wasn’t using my hands to push off – all core. A simple, quick 43 today!

Then – more Les Mills Combat!! Combat 45 – another fun, but intense work-out. I’m pretty addicted to this Combat program!!! I think they are all great work-outs but also very enjoyable!!

SLEEP – such a simple word!! Why is it so difficult?! I have always had a few issues with sleep as well as a few requirements: completely dark, cool, quiet. Seems reasonable -right?

So, why can’t I sleep???

Hot, then cold, oh wait now I’m hot again!!! Sweating during a work-out is awesome, sweating at night, not so great!
2-3 trips to the bathroom! I have always been a huge water drinker – all day long. I don’t drink different amounts now, my body just handles it differently!
Comfort – there is no single position that I can stay in for more than about an hour. If I sleep on my back, it hurts. If I sleep on my right side, my elbow hurts.
My brain won’t shut off!!! I don’t usually feel stressed about things when I go to bed but during the night I have 1000s of thoughts that run through my head over & over & over again!!

SLEEP – let’s make up and move on! I don’t think it’s too much to ask!

Do y’all have sleep issues? What do you do when you can’t sleep?

(A lot of nights I read for hours – good thing it doesn’t bother Chris – he can sleep through most anything!!)

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Calves, Fitness, Running, Stairs, Treadmill

Pure Joy

February 19, 2013 Kim 5 Comments

Today’s 43 worked a muscle group that I rarely spend much time on – my calves. I guess I just assume that running and plyo work is enough for them. (Weird, cause I use to always add in calf work.)

Anyway – I did calf raises on my bottom step (on a separate note – I really need to vacuum the stairs!). I held 15 pound dumbbells for added weight and tried to work all angles of my calves. I did a set of 43 just straight up and down:

I really tried to focus on holding not just the drop portion but the raised portion of each rep.

up - this is the real work! — up – this is the real work!

Then I turned my toes out for a set of 43.

A third set of 43 with my toes in.

Then I thought I might as well go ahead and really work my calves to fatigue by doing each leg by separately. (For these, I held one 15 pound dumbbell in the hand on the same side as the leg I was working.)

43 on the left leg.

Final 43 on the right leg.

Yikes!! I really should start doing these more often. I think it would help my problem Achilles a lot!! The hold at the top of each rep is where the true burn comes in!!

Today was a Les Mills Combat day – HIIT Power. 30 minutes of high intensity strength and plyo moves. There was a brief moment during the last segment where I questioned why I was putting myself through such ~~torture~~ ~~pain~~ an intense work-out. Then I remembered – I LOVE IT!!!!

Since the work-out was short, I decided to get in some extra cardio – Hello, treadmill!!!

Today was maybe the best run I’ve had since sometime last summer. Not because of the speed or distance – it just felt so great!! I felt like I was running simply because I LOVE it.

Such a great feeling!! I ran 6 miles (41:38) and then did and easy 1.5 to finish an hour of running. I don’t know what was different today but I will take it – Pure, 100% joy from the run!!!This babies expression sums it up beautifully!!!