Category: Exercise

Children, nunchaku and taking a break

Morning!

Well, it’s a delightful Sunday afternoon.

I had planned on spending time hacking up my forum software, when one of my kids came to me and said, Mom! Let’s go practice our nunchaku katas outside!

Now, you have to understand – the last time I did nunchaku was about, oh, hmmm, 3 months ago? I had basically decided to drop this weapon as the kata required side kicks (which I was incapable of doing back then). However, I’m healed now, so I decided, heck, work could wait, let’s spend some quality kid time.

Wow, what a lot of fun it was! I was quite surprised that I remembered so much about the nunchaku techniques – I was even able to do the around-the-neck move with no problem at all. Perhaps I’ll rejoin the class again – it was really enjoyable.

And P90x-related, today is XStretch, but I’m debating about substituting it with YogaX. Gotta love the challenge that DVD presents.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – some nifty nunchaku goodies include:

P90x Review – Xstretch, Week 5, Day 7 – Total Days – 35

Okay, so I can’t count. :)

Yesterday was day 35 and I completed 5 weeks of P90x, yay!

I’ve dropped another 1/2 pound and energy wise, seem to be doing much better than when I started. Tomorrow is Back/Biceps; I remember from this week, it was utterly killer so I’m interested to see how it treats me again.

And that’s Day 35,

Barbara

ps – some neat P90x discounts:

Comparing P90x to Cathe’s STS

Hi everyone,

Here’s an interesting thread I just came across – it compares P90x to Cathe’s STS system.

…Do you think STS is Cathe’s version of P90X?

Of course the programs are very different, but I do see a couple of similarities: heavy weight work, each takes about three months to complete, etc.

I’m not implying that Cathe is copying anything or that P90X is better than the other because P90X came out first….

I think it’s somewhat like it but different as well. Here’s what I see:…

Well, I see your point, but I think the difference are big, too.

P90X uses the same basic types of exercises through the entire series (push ups, pull ups and heavy weights). It’s very heavy on upperbody, fairly light on lower body (the Legs and Back workout is great, but it’s not heavy weights).

With Cathe you start with Muscle Endurance and end up with heavy weights – both upper and lower body. It actually sounds more logical to me (and I LOVE P90X) .…MORE…

It’s an interesting discussion – you should definitely check it out.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – some P90x and Cathe goodies are:



P90x Fitness Review – Kenpo, Week 5, Day 6 – Total Days – 33

Morning!

Today is Day 33 – wheeee!

So far, P90x has been treating me magnificently well.

Today was Kenpo, and as always, I found it most beneficial. It gives me a good karate workout that I can bring to the dojo when I work out; I’m finding myself getting better and better with the combinations.

And that’s Day 33,

Barbara

ps – some nifty P90x goodies:

I missed it soooo much! Karate sparring with gear

A quick post before I collapse in a heap

along with, hmmm, lessee…..8 hours of programming, 1 hour of P90x legs/back, and a 2.4 mile circle walk, I also did an hour of adult self-defense. And we sparred with gear!
Omigosh, I never realized how much I have missed sparring with gear. True, I do self-defense without gear (realism is a good thing!) but wow, with gear, head shots can be endured! I partnered up with a brilliant 3rd degree black belt who was extremely controlled and blindingly fast. My gosh, I’m so blindingly slow! It was like I was visiting another planet where everyone else had lighter gravity than me; my brain registered, hey! There’s this fist coming at me! but didn’t give my body the signal to move until I was hit.

’twas a glorious, wondrous class. I have to add sparring to my other lessons.

Nice nice nice, ’tis all I have to say, I’m still dizzy with how much I loved the activity. The last time I sparred with gear was, hmmm, 4 months ago? What a thrill to do it once again.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – some neat karate gear includes:

P90x Fitness Review – Legs Back, Week 5, Day 5 – Total Days – 33

Howdy all!

Well! Yesterday, I did doubles with my P90x

I had missed Wednesday’s workout (Back and Biceps) so I did that as well as Yoga. But because I did Back yesterday as well, I opted to change today’s workout to solely Legs and Abs.

It went rather well, I must say. There’s lots of bodyweight exercises you can do for your legs; I rediscovered one legged squats, hamstring stretches and the like. Definitely felt the burn by the end.

After the workout, I was drawn to doing my 2.4 mile circle walk in the rain. Mental note to mom – it’s COLD when it’s raining and below 37 degrees! Took a hot shower upon returning, and am now getting back to work.

And! I have my biceps pix – will be posting that soon.

And that’s Day 33 of P90x,

Barbara

ps – Some nifty Tony Horton goodies:

P90x Fitness Review – Darth Yoga, Week 5, Day 4 – Total Days – 32

Morning!

Darth Yoga was actually for the first time in human memory….really enjoyable.

Why? Well, for beginners, I had spent about, oh, 8 hours straight sitting at my computer, programming my little heart out. I slowly but surely descended into the land of Can’tThinkStraightUnlessFingersWereGluedToKeyboard…. and that got tired real quick.

I had two choices yesterday afternoon – go to Advanced Karate or do my Yoga. I opted for the second – I figured that as I had done 2 hours in the gym earlier, plus my 100 kicks on each leg for the crescent, roundhouse and front kick series, my body was craving something a bit less active.

So! I gave myself permission to miss karate, and instead tackled Darth Yoga with my kids. I bet them that they couldn’t last but they did hang in there longer than I would have thought – 28 minutes!

The workout was awesome, I can really see how it’s beneficial to one’s overall stretching/health condition. It’s funny to realize how much I utterly hated it when I started…and now how much I can truly appreciate it.

And that’s Day 32,

Barbara

ps – Some neat P90x goodies:

P90x Fitness Review – Back Biceps, Week 5, Day 3 – Total Days – 31

Morning!

Well, back and biceps were quite enjoyable, I must say.

I’m currently in Phase 2, and the DVDs for this particular phase seem to be a weeee bit more advanced than the first phase.

Back/Biceps is classic upper body hardcore curls and pullups. In a nutshell, that’s the DVD! However, Tony really gets going and doesn’t let up until perhaps 3 minutes prior to the end. All in all, a very good workout indeed.

And that’s Day 31,

Barbara

ps – Some more P90x Goodies:



Want to lose weight? How many calories are you burning?

One of the best things you can do for your own personal weight loss journey is to just plain get moving. Exercise! It doesn’t have to be a lot to start out with, it doesn’t have to be a massive commitment…but taking that first step often is critical to moving the scale in the right direction.

Ever wonder just how many calories you’re burning when you’re walking, shoveling snow, building websites and the like? If so, enjoy the following:

For me, I’m finding that my heart rate goes ‘way up there whenever I practice my 100 karate front kicks and 100 karate side kicks and 100 karate round house kicks (I do these on Monday, Wednesday and Friday), and also during good ‘ole fashioned cardio.

What works best for you? You might be surprised.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – here are some more calorie burning resources:

P90x Fitness Review – Plyo, Week 5, Day 2 – Total Days – 30

Morning!

Today was Day 30 (whooohooo!) of P90x!

The good news – I’ve lost 6 pounds!

  • The bad news – my pictures don’t show it!

The good news – I’ve lost inches all over the place!

  • The bad news – my pictures don’t show it!

The good news – the fact my pictures don’t show it….doesn’t faze me. My clothing fits much better, I have much more energy – I’m totally thrilled with how I’m starting to reshape myself.

So! Onto Day 30 review – Plyo! I take advantage of many of the exercises there to help me build up my jumping ability – some year, I have promised myself I shall execute a decent spinning jump front kick. This is kinda sorta impossible, mind you, if you can’t propel yourself off the ground! So I practice a lot of those.

My heart rate really got up there during the workout; it was most energizing. And tomorrow is: Back and Biceps! Oh joy, oh joy! Weight lifting! Just bring it on. :)

And that’s Day 30,

Barbara

ps – some nice P90x Goodies: