Les Mills COMBAT: Day... I lost count.

This weekend was the weekend to end all weekends.

I had to make up for lost time and doubled up my workouts on Friday and Sunday. Saturday, I felt the effects of doing two sessions (COMBAT 45 and COMBAT 60 LIVE) in between working two 8-hour shifts. I could have fallen asleep standing up and my body was sore all over.

On Sunday, the soreness died down and I completed the HIIT: Plyo and COMBAT 60 LIVE sessions. I slept like a babe that night. Today, I feel great. And I realized I only have 17 days left of Les Mills COMBAT. 17 DAYS!!!

Tonight, I'm set to complete the HIIT: Plyo session again, but what I want to discuss now is COMBAT 60 LIVE. This DVD has the video trainers performing a live session to a crowd of about... 400 is what I think they said. It has several aspects that differ from the previous kick/punch (or MMA-inspired, as they call it) sessions.

It consist of kick/punch combos with bobs and elbows sprinkled here and there. The most strenuous, and challenging, part comes in the form of a Capoeira segment. What you do is kick first and follow that kick with three lunges. It gets better.

Next, you do what's called an "esquiva," where you lunge out to the side and follow that with two lunges with your foot behind you. Finally, from the "esquiva" pose, you begin a combo that goes: knee, knee, back kick, knee. Whichever leg is in front does not move.

That combo is a balance killer. While attempting, I stumbled forward and I stumbled backward. I may have even stumbled upward. I've completed this session twice and while I have improved on the other segments (I particularly enjoy the triple elbow), I haven't seen much improvement in the "esquiva" segment.

I'm excited to be so close to finishing Les Mills COMBAT... for the first time. I'm planning on taking it the next level once I complete this initial run. More fun and excitement to come.

I'M A POWER RANGER!!!

Check out Les Mills COMBAT and other Beachbody DVDs here: philipm78.

Check me out on Twitter here: @pmelton357.

Check out my facebook page here: Independent Beachbody Coach Philip A. Melton II.

#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 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: Day 5 - Shock Plyo HIIT 2

Here I go again. Back on the 30 minute track to reshaping my body with Les Mills COMBAT. Today's session is the Shock Plyo HIIT 2.

My plan today was to go above and beyond my Les Mills COMBAT workout and as tough as it was, I did just that.

Shock Plyo HIIT 2 is all about constant movement. I did squats, lunges, double lunges, ski hops, jump squats, suicides... heck, I can't even remember everything. And when I wasn't doing one of the aforementioned actions, I either ran in place with high knees or bounced from side to side. 

At the end of the workout, I did planks, side planks, cobra push-ups, and mountain climbers. I pushed through it and was drenched with sweat by cool down time. It was a great feeling.

However, I wasn't done. I wanted to push myself further with a little light weight training and core work. So after shutting off the DVD, I did:

• Bench press - 3 sets of 20 at 70lbs
• Leg extensions - 3 sets of 20 at 25lbs
• Leg curls - 3 sets of 20 at 25 lbs
• Upright row - 3 sets of 8 at 70 lbs
• Ab roll out with Ab Wheel - 3 sets of 15

After all of that, I know I'm going to sleep well tonight. I feel great about pushing myself to the limit. I have nothing left to give and my body is worn out. I wanted to see if I could go further than my scheduled workout and I can. 

Don't let me have all the fun. Check out the Les Mills COMBAT workout for yourself. Go to beachbodycoach.com/philipm78 and order your copy today.

Also, follow me on Twitter at @pmelton357.

 

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