Category: Exercise

P90x Fitness Review – Plyo, Week 7, Day 2 – Total Days – 44

Afternoon,

Plyo treated me really well earlier in the day… (that’s the good news) but the not-as-exciting news is that my body was toast afterwards (I did major workouts the day before and wow, was I sore).

So! I bravely treated myself to Darth Yoga afterwards, and that was just what the doctor ordered – it helped me stretch and loosen my body very well indeed.

As always, the best part of Plyo was the kick-over-the-chair goodies; my daily 800 karate kicks workout have really helped me get those far more smooth.

And that’s Day 44,

Barbara

ps – some nifty Tony Horton Goodies:

How to get Billy Blank’s Taebo for free

Morning,

Have you heard of

Billy Blank’s Taebo? Billy Blanks developed this workout program that combines kick-boxing, karate moves and cardio all in one package. It’s quite a workout, and can really help you with your balance/karate speed as well.

But did you know, you don’t have to pay retail? Consider:

From where did I get these Taebo DVDs? Why, eBay of course! Remember, not everyone sticks to exercise plans…and sometimes, after they buy products or DVDs or machines/etc., they decide, this isn’t for me….and put them up for sale at a discount.

You can also go to YouTube and search for clips from his DVDs too. Just look at these:

Taebo Basic

Taebo Cardio Warmup

Where else can you go to get taebo for free? Check out your local Freecycle – I got my first set of Taebo tapes from someone who was happy to give them away for free. Just browse to your state and area…and post a request! Who knows, perhaps someone will give you a set too.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – other nifty Taebo goodies are:

P90x Fitness Review – Chest Shoulders Triceps, Week 7, Day 1 – Total Days – 43

Morning!

I brought it with P90x early this morning and as always, it was a super workout. I really like the pushups/pullups and especially the triceps exercises – for some reason, I just love building up my deltoids/triceps. :)

Later on in the morning, the husband and I went to the gym for our time together. I was able to do 30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes free weights, and some time in the Cybex room; all in all, it was a great way to start the day!

I’m back now and full of energy. That’s one thing I like about P90x and workouts in general – you might feel like they’re too difficult to commit to, but once they’re done, wow – it’s a great accomplishment.

And that’s Day 43,

Barbara

ps – some nifty P90x goodies are:

P90x Fitness Review – Xstretch, Week 6, Day 7 – Total Days – 42

Howdy,

Gosh, the XStretch is one of the most relaxing P90x workouts one can do. I really enjoy closing my weekend with it!

My body is getting more and more flexible (yay!). Hopefully that will translate into more and more ease with my other activities – karate, taebo, gym, etc.

One more week and then it’s recovery again! Wheeee!

And that’s day 42,

Barbara

ps – some nifty Tony Horton goodies:

Another Great Review of Safe and Smart Internet Weight Loss Edge

Morning,

Another great review of my book came on by! You can see it at Go Workout Mom. It includes….

The Safe and Smart Weight Loss Edge E-Book is for someone who is overwhelmed by the weight loss process. If you have little time to conduct searches on the internet, then Barbara Ling will save you hours of work with this great compilation of links for general weight loss information, diet plans, exercises, and many other related topics.

From a fitness blogger’s perspective, I plan to use it as a tool in my research. It’s price of $37.00 saves me hours of time that it would take to compile this list of over 900 links. I also look forward to incorporating her ideas into my own fitness journey. With vivid pictures and entertaining comparisons, her insights are accurate and informative.

This is not a pre-made plan that walks you through the process of losing weight with a structured diet and exercise regime. It is a book to show you what Barbara Ling did, a 43 year old mom with 4 children, and provide the tools to research what will work best for you.

What’s Included….MORE….

Hope you enjoy the review!

Barbara

ps – speaking of workouts, some great DVDs are:

DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) Diet

So what exactly IS the DDR Diet?

Actually, it’s not a diet at all – it’s simply using the game DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) to move your body and help you lose weight.

I’m very fond of DDR myself. Back when I started my own weight loss journey, I got DDR for my kids – I figured, hey, might as well get them up and moving too! I was astounded to see how much you sweat when you do it, and also how very exhausted you become as well.

It’s a blast! After 2 months, the dinky plastic mats broke, so I invested in some Red Octane mats instead that have lasted to this day. And the kids and I still regularly do DDR after school or after karate – it’s a great way to spend family time as well.

Here are some cool DDR resources you can use to find out more:

DDR is truly a boon for parents who want to get fit with their kids! You should definitely check it out.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – some great DDR goodies are:

P90x Review – Kenpo, Week 6, Day 6 – Total Days – 41

Morning!

Today’s P90x went by very quickly and smoothly. Karate kicks – can’t get a better cardio workout than that! I’m finding it to come along much more smoothly these days – it looks like my body is FINALLY getting the coordination I had wanted.

And that’s Day 41,

Barbara

ps – some nifty Tony Horton goodies:

P90x Review – Legs Back, Week 6, Day 5 – Total Days – 40

Morning everyone,

I pressed PLAY later than usual today but as always, P90x delivered!

I find a lot of the bodyweight leg work (squats/etc.) to be really beneficial. I also include other bodyweight exercises too. And of course, the pullups are wondrous; I really have to get my P90x chinup bar installed!

And that’s day 40,

Barbara

ps – some groovy P90x discounts:

Barbara Ling Weight Loss Diet Interview with Leigh Peele

Morning,

This is ‘way cool – my interview with Leigh Peele, fitness trainer, is now up HERE!

Fab Fit momNow, Leigh really knows her stuff – I was extremely pleased that she was willing to review my book The Safe and Smart Internet Weight Loss Edge. You can see by some of her articles that she is extremely educated in the area of fitness and health:

  • The Wagon Rider and the Pedestrian
    • …I am a big believer in things not being very black and white. I am one who believes in the ability of people to change, perhaps because I myself have changed so much. I seem to find often those who don’t believe in others ability to change are those who are afraid or do not attempt to do so themselves. I change, I change everyday. I constantly try to face things I fear, to stand up to the person I know I can be, and to self educate to become a more informed person in the future. I am human, I am flawed, but I try because I care….
  • Do you have to be convinced to eat?
    • I ran into the grocery store to get something that I had already been to two stores prior to find. In short, they as well were out of the very thing I needed. So I did the only thing I could and gave up for the night on my hunt and decided to grab my dog a treat. I walked up to the checkout and in front of me there is man reading Men’s Health while chewing on the opened box of cookies, still waiting to be scanned, from his cart. I find the irony here quite excellent to say the least. It is habit also that I peruse other shopping carts out of curiosity and cookie man had all the goods. He had chips, white bread, and doughnuts, basically a trainer’s worst nightmare. Now I am not judging his food choices, if anything I am very much a “to each their own kind of person”. What I was struck by was the reoccurring thought in my head, “at least he is eating”. I took myself aback and thought why is it when I look at this lustrous cart of trans fat and sugar I don’t think “oh my god that man is going to have a heart attack”. Could it be because I spend so much of my day just trying to convince people to eat?….

As you can see, the woman knows her material! Do yourself a favor and check out her blog at Avidity Fitness.net – I think you’ll enjoy it greatly.

Barbara

Using Taebo to improve your karate skills

Now, first off –

I know that Taebo by itself is NOT a martial art.

That’s kinda sorta obvious.

However, as a mom who now practices karate, I’m finding that Taebo is extremely beneficial in obtaining muscle memory and speed (which doing your cardio workouts as well!).

Yesterday, I decided to revisit my beloved Taebo and put on Billy Blanks Get Ripped II (otherwise known by my kids as Painful Death 1). Several of the exercises included rather rapid side-kicks to knee raises, round house kicks to punches, etc…. stuff that is similar to what I do in my karate classes.

I personally think that (especially for adults who are starting karate late in life!) Taebo can be a great addition for practicing the basics of martial arts at home. Sure, I can do my 800 kicks every day (400 on each leg, 100 each of front kicks, side kicks, crescent kicks and ax kicks), but being able to build up speed an accuracy without falling over definitely has its benefits as well.

I’ve been doing karate now for 8 months (wow, what a time!) and I’m getting beyond the typical lessons offered. So, I need to practice at home…and getting those movements down well simply is common sense. Doing it by itself or as part of a Billy Blanks Taebo DVD… whatever works for you!

It’s a nice addition to my P90x workouts as well.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – some nice Taebo discounts: