Tag Archives: Les Mills Combat

The Knock-Out Punch

January 31, 2013 Kim 2 Comments

I have been enjoying my Combat work-outs so much that I decided to do some boxing for my 43 today. I used Hunter’s punching bag.

And, happiness – I wore my pink boxing gloves!!!

For the 43 I started with a right stance and, using my right arm did a jab, hook, uppercut series plus a left cross. (I feel like my punching technique has improved thanks to the hints I’ve gotten from the Les Mills crew.) Of course, I had to switch my stance after I got to 43 and do another set with a left jab, hook, uppercut, right cross. As a bonus, I did 43 alternating jabs to finish!

Boxing makes me feel powerful!!! I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do!

I also did a Les Mills Combat work-out – Combat 45. Great work-out – especially the jumping side kicks and the jumping knees!!!

While I was punching and kicking today, I was thinking about things I would use a knock-out punch on.

My first thought was this: But then I would have missed out on my work-out opportunity of the day and that would not have been cool!

Then I thought I would knock-out all of the daily aches and pains I experience thanks to getting older!!!

But even that is a totally selfish thought use of my knock-out punch!

What I would really, really like to use it on is Cancer. Cancer sucks!!! The last 1.5 – 2 years it seems like many people in my circle of friends, aquaintances, etc. have been hit hard. So, I would say –

And on that note, time to take on Thursday!! 4th graders today!!! (I won’t be doing any knock-out punches at school!!!)

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Squats

Smile – It’s Worth It!!!

January 29, 2013 Kim 6 Comments

:Happy-Grin: :Happy: :Overjoy: :Happy-Grin: :Happy: :Overjoy:

My 43 today was great for getting my heart rate up in a very short amount of time!!! I did a squat- jump to a side kick – jump to squat. It went quickly but it was still effective. In fact, since this was one of those 43s that I had to do 2x (43 on each leg) – I actually stopped for about 20-30 seconds in between legs to catch my breath!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDDrFS1nu5U’]

I don’t know why it is so dark but you get the point!!! Hunter said we should try it again but in the second demo he cut off my head and parts of my feet so we just used the dark copy. Since I did 5 on each side for 2 demos I guess I did 53 reps/side today!!!

I did another Les Mills Combat work-out: Power HIIT – 30 minutes of hard-core intensity!!! Then I forced myself to do the Core Attack work-out. 20 minutes of ~~torture~~ core work. I hope it helps!!!

The rest of this week is going to be BUSY – 3 days of subbing, library volunteering, school newsletter to start, finish, copy and distribute, tutoring……..I should have gotten up earlier today! Oh well – 5 am will be showing it’s ugly head the next 3 days!!!

This is something I try to remember – especially when I start to feel overwhelmed! Find the little things to smile about. Things like:

New Yellow Box flip flops on clearance for only $12 and a warm day in January to enjoy them (yesterday!).Or, an 8th grade band concert where the kids let loose and acted like kids during the Dinosaur song:

You can barely see Jordan but you can see his smile – FUN!!!! I tried to get other pictures at the concert last night but we always seem to sit in the spot where we can’t see Jordan at all.

(walking out – so tall!)

Remember: And when all else fails, I picture myself right back here where I can’t help but smile!

What all are you smiling about today??

Happy Wednesday!

Kim :Happy-Grin:

Fitness, Push-Ups, Running

Shorts in January = Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

January 28, 2013 Kim 19 Comments

Today’s 43 was HARD!! It was a push-up using 4 medicine balls.

(Mine aren’t all the same size but it works out OK!) I have 2 – 8 pound balls that are the same size, 1 – 9 pound ball and another 8 pound ball with handles.

The first challenge with this move is trying to balance yourself on the 4 balls – each hand and foot gets a ball! Then – do the push-up!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcGnoJl6DPM’]

I managed to get through all 43 but I had to stop and stretch about 5 times! Of course, each stretch break meant I had to rebalance myself! Fun!! (BTW – I got this move from P90X2.)

After the push-up fun, I did Les Mills Combat Combat 60 – Ultimate Fighter. I love how hard I feel like I’ve worked when this one is done! I was going to try one of my new Zuzka (from Body Rock) DVDs – I did about 10 minutes and then decided that it was crazy not to take advantage of the warmer weather and go out for a run.

Shorts – I ran in shorts!!!! January 28 in Kansas and I ran in shorts!!! I can’t even begin to describe how happy that makes me! (It is supposed to get to 70 today but even the 50 that I just ran in was AWESOME!!!)

I only did an easy 2.1 miles (8:00 min/pace). It wasn’t really about running hard – just enjoying the gorgeous day!

I saw this ecard and thought it was funny (with some truth even though I don’t actually count calories)!!! I’m pretty sure if I have saw how many burpees it would take to burn off some of favorite things I might quit having them – Nah, I would probably just quit reading the label!!!

Happy Monday – I hope everyone has beautiful weather to enjoy!

Kim

Biceps, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Just Messin’ Around

January 26, 2013 Kim 5 Comments

Today for my 43, I pulled out a piece of equipment that I forgot I even had (and I have no idea where it came from).

It is a Bally disc. Kind-of cool because the disc actually spins so you have to hold your core tight if you want to stay still.

The black part is the spinning part. I decided to just play around with this and see what all I could do with it.

First, I stood on it and twisted. I did 3 sets of 43 twists.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf3pwJT3NPM’]

I’m not sure if it would be possible for me to look any goofier than I do in that demo!!!

Then I decided to stand on the disk and do side-bicep curls (43, of course).

The bands aren’t really very long and they are sort-of tight so this was a pretty good exercise. I decided to try one more 43 – alternate front raises.

This last 43 (on each side!!!) was the hardest!! Gotta keep working on my shoulders!!!

Overall, I’m not sure how often I will pull this disc out – judging by the dust I had to clean off of it this time, not very often!!! It was fun to mess around and do some different things for my 43 today so the disc has some value!!!

After I finished up the 43s of the day, I did Les Mills Combat – HIIT Plyo. This is a great HIIT work-out. It is only 30 minutes but it is super high intensity. Lots of jumping squats, plyo lunges and burpees!!! I also did the Core Attack work-out again because I like to ~~torture myself~~ challenge myself!

Yesterday was a fun girl’s day out (we even had a glass of wine with our lunch) – shopping really works up an appetite!!! The best part of the day was coming home at dinner time to the yummy meal that Chris had all ready!!

Last night, Chris and I watched Pitch Perfect using Apple TV. That Apple TV is handy – all you need is a remote – no DVD player required!!! (The DVD has to be preloaded and….blah, blah, blah…..but that is behind the scenes work on Chris’ part!!!). Chris admitted he thought the movie was going to be hokey but he ended up enjoying it as much as I did!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siEHekc-1oE’]

My favorite type of movie – funny with a happy ending – a true feel-good movie.

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Lovin’ Friday!

January 25, 2013 Kim 5 Comments

Today I mixed it up – crazy, I know!!! I did my 43 at the end of my work-out. Not my favorite way to get things done!!! I like to kick things off with the 43 because for a lot of the exercises – 43 seems like a really large number and I like to hit it while I’m fresh!!!!

Anyway, today I did a move from Tae-Bo (I think it is in the Boot Camp series but I can’t actually remember which DVD it is from!). It is a sit-up but when you come up, you split your legs and reach forward.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9AvWVPuEA’]

This actually turned out to be a great 43 to do at the end of a work-out because besides the core work from the sit-up, it has a bit of a stretch!

I started my day with some Les Mills Combat – Combat 60 Ultimate Warrior!!! Great start to any day – especially Fun Friday!!

I typically don’t run 2 days in a row with my history of injuries but today was a short run for a good cause. Rachelle posted about a virtual 1.5 run today for a little boy (Colton) who is fighting Leukemia. The idea is to wear orange (color to support Leukemia) and send a picture. You can click over to her site for more details. I thought it was a great idea so I hoped on my treadmill and did a quick 1.5 miles.

Since I worked out early, I had to wait for Jordan to get up to actually take my picture – done running by that point!!!

I’m excited to be checking out a new (to me) place today. I’m going with a friend to The Pink Suitcase. Hmm…I wonder if they carry work-out clothes since that is what I seem to be living in these days! It should be fun – girl’s day out!!!

And – it is supposed to be 50 degrees today!!!! WooHoo!!!

Happy Fun Friday!

Kim

Day With KT