FRIDAY CROSSFIT WOD

Holy schlofogomus it was hard to get out of bed this morning! But as I was arguing with myself, discussing reasons to pull out, I thought: I will never regret getting up and going for a run, but I will almost always (unless I'm sick) regret if I don't go for a run. Which is so TRUE!! Although very sore from the boxing session I made it to last night, I managed to give the run a good go. I even managed to do a CrossFit WOD consisting of 3 exercises:

1. Sprint 25 metres x 5


2. Jump pull-ups 5-5-5-5


3. Air squats 10-10-10-10

Still need to work on my pull-ups and it's definitely one of my goals to be able to do them strict or kipping without jumping. Strrrrong!

SPRING RUN

After weeks of back injury, doggie paw injury, and 2 weeks working on the road, my pants are feeling a teeny tiny tight to say the least. So after being able to sleep in my own bed and not in a hotel or a train, I woke up well rested, saw the sun and got my running clothes on. I thought I would be in much worse state than what I actually was. Happily surprised! Haha. And Murphy was the happiest out of us two, jumping around thinking he had turned into a rabbit. :)

Best way to start a Friday and this coming weekend!

FRIDAY CROSSFIT CHALLENGE

Good morning JumpingJaxers! Here's your Friday Crossfit Challenge. Try to do this circuit as fast as you can without losing form. If you have any questions about the exercises, ask me. Good luck!

50 push-ups
50 kettlebell/dumbbell swings
100 mountain climbers
25 full range butterfly sit-ups
25 full range burpees

Rest for 1 minute and repeat!

Music recommendation: SCOOTER!

Now, Just Do It!

RIPPED IN 30

Yesterday I started a new workout program. I love going to the gym and lifting heavy, and I loved doing the LiveFit trainer, but right now I need a program that will fit into my kickboxing schedule and traveling with work. So, I did a bit of research and you know me, I always love a bit of Jillian Michaels. I loved her 30-day shred program, which together with running, helped me lose my last 15 kg/33 pounds on my weight loss journey. No gym. Just running with Murphy and 30-day shred. And not long ago she came out with a newer, similar version called Ripped in 30, so I figured I'd give it a go.

She has divided each weekly program into 3 circuits and it's 3 divisions into each circuit: 3 min strength, 2 min cardio and 1 min abs. There's 4 weeks of different workout programs and they get harder and harder as the weeks go by. So, I started week 1 yesterday and man did I sweat! I like to consider myself as pretty fit by now and have good cardio ability, but because most of the moves are combo moves (i.e. one sequence incorporates more than one movement, for example squat and then dumbbell shoulder press, or lunge with dumbell biceps curl, etc.) my heart rate was really high at the same time as I was working resistance. And there is no rest for 30 min. Hence the sweating! And the sore buttocks!

Think I will really like Ripped in 30. I like week 1 program so far anyway. Good start! There is a meal plan with this program as well, if you're interested, but I already have a good diet so don't feel I need it.

LIVEFIT WEEK 4

It was so worth me taking a rest day yesterday because this morning I felt strong and revving to go, to start this fabulous week! First on my workout schedule this week was Back and Biceps. Remember last week when I was feeling so week? None of that today. I was ripping through the workout and it felt great. I really worked on isolating the muscles and feeling them work. Total focus!

Here's my workout for today:
Hammer strength lat pull
Pull-ups
Seated narrow-grip cable row
T-bar row
Back extensions
BB biceps curl
Incline DB curl
Alternating hammer curls

Jamie Eason with some nice looking back muscles. 

ODE TO AMINO ENERGY

I can't live without my amino acids! I usually take only a scoop of my Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy just before my morning workout, and what a difference it makes!! It's like turning the light switch on in my body and mind. I thought I could live without it, but yesterday's zombie workout proved me wrong. (I use Fruit Fusion pictured above. Yum!)

Today I bombarded chest and triceps. And I still follow Jamie Eason's Livefit 12-week training plan, which is going to be interesting to see the results of once I'm on day 84. Today was day 17. I usually follow the workouts to the letter, but because of my active training schedule on the side I will have to make slight changes. This morning's weights workout was followed by aThai Kickboxing session tonight.

Here's my workout for today, chest and triceps:

Wide push-ups
BWx10/BWx10/BWx10
Incline DB chest press
10kgx10/10x10/11x10
Flat bench DB chest flyes
7kgx10/7x10/7x10
Standing cable flyes
10kgx10/10x10/15x10
Triceps bench dips, feet up
BWx10/BWx10/BWx10
Lying BB triceps extensions
10kgx10/10x10/10x10
DB triceps kickbacks
4kgx10/4x10/5x10
OH triceps extensions w plate
10kgx10/15x9/15x9
Cable 1-arm triceps extension
5kgx10/10x10/10x10

LIVEFIT DAY 16 (WITHOUT EAA's)

Oooh, woke up so sore! The kickboxing really did its toll on me, but it actually feels great! Amazing to realise, although I work out pretty much every day, when I mix up my training a bit, it switches on completely different muscles. And I have bruises on my shins. Not very pretty, but hey, rather there than my eye. Haha!

As an experiment, I tried not taking my scoop of Optimum Nutrition EAA before working out this morning and I was like a Zombie walking around the gym. Couldn't get my groove on. I still did the workout, but I wasn't as strong or efficient as I am normally. So defo back on the aminos tomorrow morning! And on top of that, because I was a bit brain-foggy, I was doing 12 reps each set instead of 10. Doh! Didn't realise it until halfway into the workout.

Here's my week 3, day 16, of the LiveFit plan - back and biceps:

Hammer strength lat pull
30kgx12/35x12/40x12
Wide-grip lat pulldown
35kgx12/35x12/35x12
Seated narrow-grip cable row
35kgx12/35x12/35x12
Bent-over BB row
10kgx12/20x12/30x12
Back extension
BWx10/BWx10/BWx10
BB biceps curl
10kgx10/14x10/18x9
Incline DB curl
6kgx10/6x10/6x10
Alternating hammer curl
7kgx10/7x10/7x10

HAMSTRING INJURY

Oh, it was going so well! Despite a rough night with a crazy mjauwing male cat, I was feeling so strong starting my leg workout this morning. In retrospect, I now know I should've warmed up a bit more after being out in the cold.

After doing one set of walking lunges I could feel my legs starting to spasm a bit. No worries I thought. Take it easy. Walk it off. But then a hard muscle twinge in one of my buttocks hit me and it hurt! So I thought, fine, I can go to the next exercise and see if it gets better. I just finished last rep in first set of one-legged deadlift and my hamstring just gave in on me. The pain hit me so surprisingly fast, I actually yelped. It's never attractive to yelp in the gym. Haha! I sat down and stretched for a bit, massaged it, but realised I had to call it a day. Bummer!

It's much better now after stretching and massaging it, but it doesn't help it's the same hamstring I pulled really bad during a dance performance when I was 17 and had to jump down into splits in really high heels. No yelping then. Big smiles all around. Show no pain. Thankfully, it happened at the very end of the performance, so I could limp off stage and cry my eyes out. Since then, my left hamstring has never been the same.

But it's the year of no excuses, right??!!! So, no excuses to attend kickboxing tonight. Yee-haw!

Here's what I managed to do today before ending my workout abruptly:

DAY 11 LIVEFIT

Day 11 of Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer plan and I did shoulders and abs as you can see from my mobile screen shot. Didn't feel super strong, but I got through it. According to the plan, I am supposed to relax for 3 days now, but because I have 3 group training classes to teach on Saturday, it's just not possible rest. But I'm sure the cardio won't hurt my body either. After all, I'll be resting tomorrow and Sunday, beside all my walks with my doggie.

From what I can see, next week will be a mix-up in the LiveFit workout schedule. Very exciting! Will keep you updated on the progress.

STRONG SEXY LEGS

Felt so strong at the gym today! I could easily have done heavier and more, but then I usually injure myself coz I slap too much weight on too soon. Really missing doing deadlifts though. Hope the LiveFit plan I'm on introduces them into the workout schedule soon, otherwise I'll do it myself.

But it felt good to feel so much stronger today from yesterday. Felt much stronger mentally so it definitely goes hand in hand. Got some superb words of wisdom from my amazing man this morning before my workout and it seems like they just clicked right into place in my brain and completely empowered me. Fantastic how carefully chosen words can change the way you think and therefore also change the way you feel. Love it!

Here's my workout for today, legs and calves:

Bring on those strong, sexy legs and buttocks! And calves to endure my Jump rope classes!

NOT MY BEST FORM

Eventhough I got 8 hours of sleep, I wasn't in my best form this morning at the gym. Usually, I feel strong and get a surge of energy. I suspect my mental down swing is probably playing a big part in me feeling physically weak as well. Since my wonderful job assignment is now finished, I'm looking for work. Again. Because of seperate accommodations, I'm back to living in the flat without my man. Again. And as a result my economy will soon be in the gutter. Again. On the positive side though, at least I have a home I love, food on the table and clothes to keep me warm. And I know everything will sort itself out soon. Again.

Here's my workout from today, back and biceps:



Considering I was feeling weak, I think I did pretty good. Next week will be even better. :)