Les Mills COMBAT: Day 31 - Wasn't this a Rest Day?

Here it is, Day 31 of Les Mills COMBAT and I'm still going strong. 

Today was scheduled to be a rest day, but I've had to do a bit of adjusting this week due to some additional activities going on in my life. Because of this, I made Sunday and Tuesday both unexpected rest days and doubled up my workout on Monday. I did COMBAT 30 and COMBAT 60 and I felt invigorated.

COMBAT 45: Power Kata was the session for today. As a matter of fact, I peeped ahead to see what the rest of the week's session were and I finish off with COMBAT 60 and COMBAT 30. That's cool. I really like the mixed fighting sessions. I don't feel like I can get in someone's ring or back alley fight club and throw down yet, but I do feel more confident in my kicks and punches.

Day 31 also marks the halfway point of Les Mills COMBAT.

That's right. It's a celebration. To be quite honest, I thought I would give in before now. However, with everything that's been going on this week, I was determined not to fall short. Doubling up on Monday showed me my determination to finish. It also helped me see how far I've come cardio-wise. After finishing both sessions, I was pumped and even considered doing multiple sessions from now until day 60. I said, "considered."

Since this is the halfway point, I also took my measurements. They are as follows:

• Chest: 40"
• Right Arm: 13.5"
• Left Arm: 13.5"
• Waist: 35.5"
• Hips: 41.5"
• Right Thigh: 23"
• Left Thigh: 23.5"

When comparing these with my first measurements, not much has changed. I've lost an inch in my waist and, somehow, inexplicably gained an half an inch in my left thigh. Who gains an inch in one thigh? Especially on the weaker side of their body? There's definitely a margin of error in there somewhere.

My assessment of my first 30 days of Les Mills COMBAT: I need to step it up during the sessions, with my additional exercises, and with my diet. I like to eat and most of what I like to eat is cohesive to changing my body. I've improved on eating healthier, but some days I'm just like... I'm going to eat whatever I want to eat. Need to be more disciplined than that. 

I can say that I do feel a change on the inside. Doing regular physical activity that's fun is all part of the motivation to change your body for the better. Check it out for yourself at www.beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me on Twitter at @pmelton357.

Until next time... let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.

Les Mills COMBAT: Day 23

While I may have slacked off on my blog, I've kept up with my Les Mills COMBAT routine.

Here I am at day 23 and I've never felt better. The order of the sessions has changed a bit since my first two weeks. This week started with COMBAT 60: Extreme Cardio Fighter on Sunday and Shock Plyo HIIT 2 today. Those just happen to be the last two sessions I did last week.

Since I began Les Mills COMBAT, I've noticed that my legs have gotten stronger. That's been especially evident when I do the Plyo HIIT 2 session. The lunges are getting easier and my legs don't get fatigued as quickly as they did in the beginning. I would go for a run if I didn't hate the cold so much.

In just a few more days, I'll be at the halfway mark of Les Mills COMBAT. I'm excited to see what changes there are in my measurements. Whatever changes have occurred, I know all the credit doesn't solely go to this DVD workout set. I had to get off of my butt and put forth an effort to make my body change. Some days I didn't feel like doing anything. Other days, I wanted to do more than expected. 

Overall, these workouts have kept me motivated with the simply notion of wanting to complete a goal. That goal: to finish all 60 days and to give my all at the same time. At day 23, I feel that I've been doing just that and I plan to keep on going to day 60 and beyond.

If you're ready to grow and want to change your body, check out Les Mills COMBAT or any of the other programs Beachbody has to offer at beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Les Mills COMBAT: Day 16 - Power HIIT 1

Did I ever tell you how much I hate lunges? 

I hate them. They are a despicable exercise dreamed up by some sadistic personal trainer with legs the size of tree trunks. And he never really did any more than two and that was just to demonstrate how they are done. When no one is watching, he secretly only does squats.

Well, while doing the Les Mills COMBAT; Power HIIT 1 for the third time in three weeks, I would like to add my utter disdain for burpees, squats, deadlifts... pretty much any exercise that works the legs in general. If you have seen me in person, then you know this to be true.

For this reason, after I completed today's 30 minute session, I did:

• Leg extensions, 3 sets of 35 reps at 40 lbs.
• Leg curls, 3 sets of 25 reps at 40 lbs.

No longer will I neglect my foundation. If I am to see a significant change in my body, then it will be in my legs. I dream of the day my calves rip through my socks like Hulk Hogan tears through a too small tank top. I have a long way to go.

The extra leg exercises weren't all I did in addition to Power HIIT 1. I also added:

• Exercise ball sit-ups, 3 sets of 25 reps.
• Ab wheel oblique rollouts, 3 sets of 5 reps for each side.

And after a dinner of asparagus, baked chicken breast, and brown rice, I'm feeling really good.

Time to rest this weary body and getting my mind right for tomorrow's session.

If you're ready to grow and want to change your body, check out Les Mills COMBAT or any of the other programs Beachbody has to offer at beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.

Les Mills COMBAT: Day 15 - COMBAT 60: Extreme Cardio Fighter

Here I am at the beginning of the third week of Les Mills COMBAT and it's time for something different... COMBAT 60: Extreme Cardio Fighter.

Sixty minutes of punching, kicking, knees, elbows, bobbing, and weaving. Plenty of moves to get the heart beating, the lungs working, and the sweat pouring. And I feel great.

The first two weeks of Les Mills COMBAT gets you prepared to take on this long session. Initially, I was hesitant because of the 60 minutes, but once I got going, I realized that I was ready to take on the challenge.

There are lots of combos to work through in this session, so it took some time getting my rhythm together. Of course, the punch combos full of jabs, crosses, uppercuts, and hooks came easily. It's the punch-kick combos and kick combos that require the most coordination.

Going from an uppercut with both arms to a back knee strike to a front kick is a lot for a beginner to handle at first. However, with each repetition, I got more comfortable performing the combination. Fatigue makes it hard to keep up with the combos as well. 

I'm glad that I was able to push myself and finish another session of Les Mills COMBAT. I'm enjoying every workout I do. Every session I complete, I feel better and better. Every morning after I feel I can take on the world... or at least do another session.

If you're ready to grow and want to change your body, check out Les Mills COMBAT or any of the other programs Beachbody has to offer at beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.

Les Mills COMBAT: Day 12 - Shock Plyo HIIT 2

I have found my white whale... or maybe my Jerry or Tweety Bird. I've never read Moby Dick. I have watched a lot of cartoons.

Shock Plyo HIIT 2 challenges me. It pushes me to a point that I haven't reached yet. The other sessions do not compare. They're easy.

I ran in place. I did jump squats. I did lunges and double lunges. And then I paused the DVD, had a drink of water, and took a deep breath. Press play.

More running in place. More jump squats. And there's still 20 minutes to go. I keep pushing. 

Wait. You want me to do burpee, transition to a squat, and then jump up in the air? Ok. 

You want me to do that again? Ok. 

I try not to think about how much I sweat or how heavy I breathe. I push pass the burning sensation in your arms and legs, although at times I want to stop. If you want to change your body, then you have to take control.

I want to change my body. 

If you're ready to grow and want to change your body, check out Les Mills COMBAT or any of the other programs Beachbody has to offer at beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.

Les Mills COMBAT: Days 9 & 10

So, I took a day off from posting yesterday, but I didn't take a day off from Les Mills COMBAT. I still got my work in with Power HIIT 1 yesterday and followed it up with an intense session of COMBAT 45: Power Kata today. 

Power HIIT 1

For the second time around, I prepared for Power HIIT 1. I used my straight barbell bar with 7.5lbs on each side along with my weighted gloves. Although the weight may be light, using it with Power HIIT 1 became challenging very quickly.

It really began to hit me once we started doing the squat to overhead press. My arms felt like they would give out at any moment. I made it through the first two sets, but for the last two, I just went with the gloves and a 2.5 lb plate in each hand. 

This was indeed a difficult session. I hope to see some improvement in my muscle endurance by the next Power HIIT 1 session. I finished, but I can't say that I was truly pleased with my performance. Still, I gave it my all.

COMBAT 45: POWER KATA

The martial arts based sessions, however, are getting easier. Although I stumbled here and there, I was able to keep up with my DVD trainers. The punch combinations come easily. There's still plenty of room for improvement with my kicks. 

Since I felt more comfortable with the Power Kata, I was motivated to push myself hard and maintained my intensity throughout the session. It really showed once the workout ended as you can see in this picture.

During the Power Kata, sweat dripped everywhere. At one point, I just closed my eyes and listened to the trainer's instructions. I'm getting closer to the point where I don't really have to watch the DVD to see how they position themselves. However, if you saw my kicks, you'd know that I do have room to grow.

If you're ready to grow and make a change, check out Les Mills COMBAT or any of the other programs Beachbody has to offer at beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.

Giving your Mind a Workout

Giving Your Mind a Workout

Like the body, the mind needs activity to stay fit. While it is true that the mind is always working, it is not always working hard. Certain activities help strengthen the mind by taking it out of its comfort zone. Mental fitness occurs through subjecting the mind to challenging processes, encouraging it to approach problems from various angles. By stimulating your mind, you keep it well-equipped to handle the dynamics nature of life.

PREDICTABILITY STIFLES GROWTH

Over time, people develop routines that help them function comfortably in life. Predictability makes life simple. Unfortunately, life is anything but predictable. Every day, life brings challenges. Most challenges are small and inconsequential. Those can be overcome with minimal mental effort. Life, however, would not be life without the occasional, substantial obstacle arising every now and again. These larger than life roadblocks will require you to reach beyond what you know, and are accustomed to, with regard to finding a solution.

READ, RE-READ, & READ SOME MORE

How do you go about exercising your mind? Reading a wide range of literature is the easiest place to begin. New information encourages your mind to process, understand, and assimilate it. Your mind will work to join the new information with any knowledge you already possess. The more you read, the more you will retain. Reading introduces your mind to ideas, concepts, and opinions you may have never before considered. It also allows you to explore subjects that interest and intrigue you. Read more to expand your mind and the world in which you live.

FUN & EDUCATIONAL

Puzzles and games can also be valuable tools for strengthening the mind. Puzzles come in various shapes, sizes and levels of difficulty. For example, the standard jigsaw puzzle requires you to take pieces of a picture to make it whole. You will match the colors on the puzzle pieces, as well as the shapes, slowly progressing to the finished photo. Sudoku, on the other hand, is a logic game. Here, you organize numbers (commonly those between 1 and 9) in a grid with only a few hints of each number’s location. For completing puzzles, you must work with the parts to create the big picture.

GO BACK TO SCHOOL

Regardless of age, school shall always be an excellent avenue for strengthening the mind. A regular schedule of informative lectures accompanied by required readings, problems, or research will challenge your mind to grow. You can choose between in depth learning to bolster your current field of expertise or study something new that’s always piqued your interest.

Mental fitness means having a mind that is capable of managing the rigors of life. The longer you live, the more likely your mental abilities may diminish because of lack of stimulation and aging. Engaging the mind with regular exercise helps to lessen these effects. Keep your mind sharp by giving it a good workout.

Les Mills COMBAT: Day 8 - COMBAT 30 Kick Start

Superbowl XXLIX.

It got me. Like almost everyone else, I watched the biggest football game of the year. I wanted to see the end result of all the trash talk, Skittles, and deflated footballs. And I saw the New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks for another Superbowl title.

After that, I hit the play button on the DVD player. Back to Les Mills COMBAT and COMBAT 30 Kick Start.

With this being the third time I've done this session in 8 days, it was far easiest than it was on day 1. Still, I got a good workout in and a great sweat.

Also, I'm getting better with keeping my balance throughout the kick repetitions as well as keeping up with the guys on the DVD. It feels good when you see the change happening due to your effort and dedication. What can be more motivating than that?

Start your path to change and check out beachbodycoach.com/philipm78.

Also, follow me at Twitter at @pmelton357.

Let's get in shape, let's have fun, and #letsgetstrong.