limits | Day With KT

Today I went with a basketball inspired 43 in honor of the NBA Finals! We (all but Jordan) are rooting for the Spurs!!!

The move requires a medicine ball (I used an 8 pound ball), or you could use a dumbbell, and has several parts:

lunge forward with right leg
pass ball under right leg
lunge back with right leg
pass ball under left leg
bring feet together
jump and press ball overhead

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zD5fdvqdiY’]

After completing 43 as listed above, I had to switch and do the lunges with my left leg for another set!

This was really a great combo 43 – worked my quads, calves, shoulders and even my upper back some work – plus because I moved fairly quickly, I got my heart rate up!!!

I woke up around 4:30 this morning to a pretty heavy rain so I wasn’t sure if anyone would come to Boot Camp this morning. However, since today’s workout was at my house, we had the garage option (necessary today since not only was it raining, there was some thunder and lightening!). I had a few show up and we had a good workout. Today we did a really fun workout – Tabata Boot Camp!!!

After that I had Insanity Asylum – and I was sort-of dreading it today. Today was Game Day (60 minutes of every possible sport) and Overtime (15 minutes designed to ~~kill~~ really challenge you). Game Day actually goes pretty quickly because you keep changing the sport (really it’s just moves that might be used in different sports). And, I felt like I accomplished way more in Overtime today than last week – but the moves are still beyond brutal!!!!

I feel like the past few weeks, I have been living by the above motto. Doing Insanity with Shaun T – you hear the phrase “Dig Deeper” a LOT!!! And, even though I’m in my basement living room with no one around (except Jordan who usually watches me to make sure I don’t ~~die~~ cheat) I feel like I have to push a little harder every time I hear those words. Move my feet faster, jump higher, eek out a few more push-ups – doesn’t matter what it is, I just try to push myself even more!!

I agree that you have to work hard to become who you want to be but at what point do you decide that maybe you need to back off just a little? Do you have to change your goals and “settle” for less or do you just change the time-line for your goals?

We see quotes like the one above, or hear fitness professionals telling us to push as hard as we can and then push just a little harder. But sometimes you need to hear –

We all have different limits and amounts that we can tolerate. I like to push myself hard almost everyday. By pushing hard – I mean to the point of saying “I’m done. I can’t do another _________ (rep, lap, mile, whatever).”

For others, pushing hard is something that can only occasionally be tolerated either because of health/injury or sometimes because of not being mentally prepared for the pain of pushing your limits. And, there are some, who are willing to work but only to a certain level and have absolutely zero desire to push themselves any harder. Pushing too hard for too long can lead to overtraining or burn-out. (click the link for a great article in Runner’s World about overtraining).

I’m pretty sure if you look, or even feel, like thisthen it is probably time to ease up and give yourself a little slack.

So, just because you see or hear the message to push harder all the time, remember to do what is right for you and your own personal limits. Sometimes you feel weak because you have pushed harder than you should and it is time to back off a little. It’s all about knowing your body and listening to the messages it gives you!!

Do you feel like you ever push too hard? Is it easy for you to back off when you need to or do you try to push through?

Happy Monday!!! I’m going to cut myself a little slack today – I hope you do the same if you need to!!!

Kim

Today’s 43 was for my obliques. I did a straight leg sit-up and touched the outside of my toes – right then left counted as 1 rep so it was a total of 86 sit-ups.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHmdt2aOII4′]

This was a nice move to start my workout with!!

Next up – Insanity Asylum – Game Day. I’m not gonna lie – this was HARD!!!! 60 minutes of all sorts of sport themed moves including track & field, tennis, wrestling, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, speed skating, swimming, mountain/rock climbing and ????? I think I left out one or two but I can’t remember. I did what Shaun T said and gave 100% because Team Asylum is a winning team!!! WOW!!!

Then I taught boot camp at the beach – this was fun and the weather was perfect. This is such a great way to start the day – fresh air, friends, sweat, the “beach” – AWESOME!!!

Don’t let the pretty graphic fool you – game day is intense. Funny how it seems easier to go hard core during an actual game, competition or race than just an everyday practice or workout – must be adrenaline!!!

Today, during the Insanity workout, Shaun T talked about the fact that we were a team and we all had to work together and fight to win. It made me start thinking about other workouts and the effort that I put in.

While I don’t think it is possible (or good for your body) to go all out for every single workout, I also think that sometimes we can push ourselves harder than we actually do. I think that the only way we will reach our maximum potential is to push ourselves a little more each time out.

Some days have to be recovery days (obviously) but lots of days we can really stretch our limits so that we can see just how much we are truly capable of.So, whether you are actually competing in a sports event, running a race or just working out in your basement, make at least some of your days GAME DAY!!! You might surprise yourself!!!