Another Rest Week of Sorts

I didn't make it to class Monday. After spending some time in the ER over the weekend making sure my appendix wasn't about to blow up and coming home with other issues, I opted out. I returned to class Wednesday and took it a little easy. I am feeling better today.

Here is Wednesday's workout:

9 presses - two 12kg bells
9 squats - two 12kg bells
9 swings - two 12kg bells
9 cleans - two 12kg bells
9 snatches - two 12kg bells
9 overhead squats - two 12kg bells
55 squats - 24kg bell

And yes, that was 'easy' for me. In fact, it wasn't even a complete workout. I also finished off with an hour of karate. Hoping to get to class tonight too!

On another note, we got a new puppy. She is a Puggle named Zoey. She is very sweet and quite well-mannered. It's only been a few days and she is adjusting very well!

Rest/PR Week

I missed out on Monday's class because I had to go to the doctor. The plague was not avoided. But I made it to the kids karate class early and was able to do a few minutes of kettlebells. And of course Wednesday class. I didn't try to PR on as much as I did last time, but I am proud of what I did accomplish!

*I can do a solid press with 16kg with both arms. Last time, I had to push press on the left to get it up there.

*I pressed 18kg with my right arm, push pressed it with my left. Definite increase in strength!!!

*I did 100 snatches in 5 minutes with 12kg. Not really a PR, but I still did it!

*I dead lifted The Beast! It's 48kg, about 106lbs. I had never dead lifted before and it was pretty easy. Next time, I will dead lift two 28kg bells, around 120lbs.

*I did 5 swings with The Beast! My first try wasn't good, but the second time, I knew what to expect and got in 5!

That's all I did this week (other than karate). It doesn't look like a lot, but for me, it was a big accomplishment. It's cool to actually see the increase in strength like this, to be able to compare it every nine weeks!

On Monday, I finally start pressing two 12kg bells. Even though I was sick of the 10s, I see now how much they did for me. Next PR Week in approximately two and a half months!

Approaching Swimsuit Season with Caution

I am hoping to lose more weight before our annual trip to the beach. I have 17lbs to go to hit weight goal #1. Ever since the flu came to visit our house, I haven't had much of an appetite. I blame the massive amounts of vomit I had to clean up. Because of the lack of appetite, I have been really careful with what and how much I eat. Some days it's a little harder than others. I admit I am a comfort/boredom eater. I have been trying to ask myself whether I am actually hungry when I want to snack or eat a second helping.

The other day, I tried on a swimsuit for the beach. Even though I weigh the same as last year's trip, I was able to go down a size in my bottoms because I have lost inches. And have I mentioned my jeans are looser? I find that I keep having to pull them up. I don't think it's time to size down in that department quite yet though. Maybe by next winter.

I would like to be at weight goal #1 by the end of this year, I am ok with not being there by summer time. I worry that if I lose it too quickly, it will just come back. I want to concentrate on changing my eating habits, continue with kettlebells, karate, and running, and I figure the pounds will drop on their own. 

Wednesday

I was a teensy weensy bit sore after running on Monday. I forgot to stretch since I went straight to kettlebells and my calves hurt!!! I'm glad no one saw me getting out of bed the last two mornings, I have no doubt it was comical!

This morning, I met up with my friend to run on the indoor track at the Y before kettlebells. I definitely slowed down my pace since I was a little stiff. We are doing the 5k101 program and started with Week 2. It's a 5 minute warm up, (2.5 minute run,2.5 minute walk- repeating so that you have 5 "runs"), then a cool down.We got in about 2.25 miles and I made sure to stretch before and after this time. We aren't always able to run together, but we are going to stay on the same week. And I think we are going to plan a 5k so we have a goal!

Kettlebells was good. I got in my whole workout with a little extra. I admit that I am glad next week is Rest Week. Even though it's not really resting. It will be interesting to see how much my strength has increased since the last one 9 weeks ago! Here is today's workout:

55 squats - 24kg

Complex 1
9 cleans - two 10kg
9 presses - two 10kg
9 swings - 24kg
9 squats - 24kg

Complex 2
9 snatches - two 10kg
9 overhead squats - two 10kg

Complex 3
3 TGUs - 12kg
6 snatches - 12kg
6 windmills - 12kg

30 pullovers - 18lb

I honestly think kettlebells has been enough cardio maintenance that getting back into running isn't a big deal. And my core is stronger, that is a big help. I can definitely run longer than 2.5 minutes with no problem. Why don't I? Two reasons. First, I have a running partner to think about, we are in this together and I won't leave her behind. Second, I am a minimal kind of girl. Running with minimalist shoes requires gradual training to build up strength in my ankles and feet. And obviously in my calves too! Since I took time off (I have only ran a couple times in 6+ months), I need to take it slow so that I don't injure myself. 

One hour of karate down, one more to go tonight!

Monday

I finished this round of nine weeks and next week is PR/Rest Week! Woohoo! I am finally done with pressing the 10kg bells (a few to go on Wednesday though)/ Moving on to the 12kg bells in two weeks! Here is my workout today:

140 snatches - 12kg bell
60 presses - two 10kg bells
45 squats - two 10kg bells
75 swings - two 10kg bells

I didn't get in my push presses or double jerks today, I was exhausted. I should have done my presses on Sunday.

I went to the Y early and ran/walked 2.25 miles on the track before class. That's probably why I was so tired during kettlebell class! I went pretty fast during my running segments, I can honestly say I missed it. Meeting my friend before class on Wednesday to run again. Her ankle has healed and her schedule calmed down.

An hour of karate after kettlebells, I cleaned my kitchen floor when I got home, did homework with this kids, dinner, and another hour of kids karate. This week will be busy too as I am volunteering at school 3 days this week on top of my normal chaos! Karate tournament on Saturday, celebrate birthdays of my oldest 2 with my parents afterwards, karate stripe/belt test on Sunday. When can I take my nap????

Karate Kids

The kid's karate class made our local paper! My oldest was interviewed, but they spelled her name wrong. That's ok, I know who she is!

YMCA Offers Karate, Kettlebell

Last Wednesday

Here is last week's recap:

2 cases of the stomach flu
1 case of strep throat
1 day off school due to some random holiday
1 day off school due to weather

Needless to say, I was running a little ragged and didn't have much time to blog Wednesday's workout. Here it is:

64 squats - 24kg bell
15 swings - 24kg bell
9 cleans - two 10kg bells
9 presses - two 10kg bells
9 snatches - two 12kg bells
9 overhead squats - two 12kg bells
3 TGUs - 12kg bell
6 snatches - 12kg bell
6 windmills - 12kg bells

I also decided to do a 10 minute swing test. I did 120 swings in that time period with a 32kg bell. That's 70.5lbs!