Need Advice!

Hi guys. I am just plugging right along. I have lost 15.2 pounds and have 17.6 to go. My measurements, when I started in April, were 42/39/42 and are now 38/32/40, so I am on a roll. I blogged back at my blog about how I have been struck with Cholinergic Urticaria (aka: exercise induced hives) so I have had to scale back and also do a fair amount of exercise at home.  Though I really prefer to be outside. I got to go out yesterday, without hives, coz it was a rainy day here and cooler than usual for June in Atlanta. Anyway, the Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVDs have always looked interesting to me. I am trying to amass just a small collection of different styles of work out DVDs for when it's too hot to go outside.  (When it gets cold, you WON'T find me inside.)  So, of those of you here that are into Tae Bo (I know Leonie is) what is a good one to start with?

Thanks!

Rachel

Taebo

Yesterday I got to do one of my Taebo workouts ~ with my doctor's permission. I did Taebo Ulitmate Upper Body -

Kickboxing with an upper body focus, for 60 minutes. Upper body focus = less pull on my abs and post surgery area.

I loved it! I could have worked out for another 30 minutes, but I showed restraint. And who has the time??

Sadly, I couldn't do my usual full push ups - they hurt my abs. So I did the push ups on my knees. But I know I'll work back up to full, big boy push ups eventually.

At the end, Billy gave his little motivational talk. Get Fit-Have Fun-Be Strong - Remember the Spirit.

Billy Blanks is a Christian. And his motivational talks reflect this. I was jumping around, dancing and smiling at Billy at the end of the workout and during his little talk.

And, so, yes, my workouts remind me of not doing this, my life, on my own strength but of relying on God.

Body Combat

I am really enjoying the Body Combat class I do on Sat morning.. here is a video. Leonie you would love this! Click here to see video

My class is better than this video.. in that the instructor is not on the stage.. lol.. This is a good cardio example, it is intense-- We also do "ninja" moves.. and they are really elegant.

At first I didn't like the 'violent' aspect of it. We are supposed to be beating someone up! But when we really start punching someone I pretend it is The bad guy as all don't like and his demons. Or maybe a guy who assults me in the parking lot..I told my gym buddy today if I guy did ever try and get me, I would do some of these moves and it might just make him laugh so hard he would forget his plans. :0

It is a great cardio workout.
But.. I am finding I am SORE from this workout-- muscles are sore which is amazing as it is all cardio and we use no equipment.

Just wanted to share.. :)
Hope everyone is well and moving!

Off for a walk

Here I am, ready for my morning walk. Today I am walking with a friend. She is meeting me at my house at 7.;30 a.m and then we will walk for an hour, around a nearby lake and up a hill.

Ladies, keep up your walking and working out!

Check in time??

Walk, Walk, Walk

Yep, that is what I have been doing lately. Walking. An hour every day.

Walking is the only workout that gets my doctor's approval right now, post surgery. I see him again on June 24 ( the feast of The Birth of St John the Baptist and our liturgical year celebration with Xmas Pudding and Xmas Cake in June) . At this visit, I hope to get the okay for adding in other workouts.

But , mean time, walking is not so bad. It is rhythmic. It is fun. It encourages meditation. And it is helping me maintain my weight loss.

I lost a few kilograms after surgery but thought I'd put them back on with no workouts. I have a fear of getting fat again. I'm not fat any more, I'm normal BMI, pretty fit but not super thin! Dang! lol!

Anyway, weight gain hasn't happened. You know, an hour of walking cardio every day is helping me maintain my weight. Coupled with some loose calorie counting, of course!


Walking is man's best medicine - Hippocrates

Definitely. I have been dealing with some stress and anger and depression in a family member's life and walking away from things for an hour really helps. Sometimes, this person walks with me - the exercise and time together outside, even if we don't talk, has to be good for both of us, right? I usually pray my Rosary while walking. I ask St Anthony of Padua for his intercession. Or I stay home, I put on a walking workout DVD ( yes, they do exist! lol) and I walk and smile and blow off worry. Or concerns.

And those super addictive make-me-feel-happy edorphins kick in. I am a pretty happy person any way, like to smile and laugh. Walking, and working out, makes me even happier!

I feel good! - James Brown.

Walking workout DVDs? I've been doing some by Leslie Sansone - especially like her 5 mile fast walk and her 4 mile fast walk - these have options and markers for just doing one/two/three miles, too! These also have weight training options, if you want to add in some weights while walking -well, I can't, my doc says no weights for now but at least the option is there.

I also have some fun George Foreman, ex boxer, walking DVDs and one Prevention one with trainer Chris Freytag.

I can't wait to get back to my Billy (Taebo) and Chalene (Turbo Jam) and to the Stepford Wives of The Firms. But walking is working fine for me right now.

Maybe you can add some walking into your week? You don't have to do an hour, even a fifteen minute walk is cool!

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and right
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...Lord Byron

( She walks in beauty....I wish! I'm more like Big Girls Are Beautiful by Mika, well, not exactly beautiful! lol! ~ Check out Mika's YouTube clip for the Big Girls song... )

Post natal taebo rocks!

Leonie recommended this DVD, and I have been checking it out for the past few weeks.

The workout is Shellie Blanks (Billy Blanks' daughter) at 10 weeks post partum with 2 other moms, one also having delivered recently. They warm up and then do core, upper body, lower body, and cardio workouts for a little more than 10 min each and then stretch. The moves are simple and effective and easy to follow. Shellie frequently reminds you to breathe, drink your water, move at your own pace, be patient, and adapt moves if necessary. For example, a lower body lunge included a top tap with your back leg, so she suggested holding onto a chair for balance. And I did!

I'm pretty uncoordinated, but by the second time watching, I could follow along fairly easily. I did shorter weekday workouts by only doing 2 segments, and today I did the whole hour. It was a challenge to do the whole hour, but in a good way. :) And you can still feel it when you only do a section or two. I especially loved that, even though she looks great, Shellie does have a soft little post partum tummy if you look. That made me not feel quite so squishy myself. The kids enjoyed doing some of the parts with me, too. The only thing I miss is a long, slow, yoga style stretch at the end which I could do myself if I plan the time. I'm definitely going to buy this one.

Also, Leonie mentioned, and I thought the same thing, this is a really good workout for anyone getting back into exercise. :) THANKS, LEONIE!