I Met My TGU Goal!

March 30, 2011

At the start of the new year, I’d made a goal of doing a Turkish Get-up on each side with the 20kg kettlebell.  Well, that was fairly easy to do.  I reached that goal by the 3rd week of January.   After quickly reaching that goal, I realized that I needed to up the weight and set a new deadline for the end of March.  So, throughout this month, I worked on my get-ups and today I can say that I can now do a 24kg Turkish Get-up on each side!   And, it wasn’t that horribly difficult.  They weren’t perfect, but I focused, took my time and did them. . . . at the very end of my workout. 

Thanks to my workout buddy, Janet, who was there to make sure I didn’t drop the weight on my face, and would call for help if needed!  Luckily, I didn’t have much issue doing it! 

I feel so strong.  My confidence is high!  It’s times like this that motivate me to “keep on keepin’ on” with my workouts and maintain my healthy eating habits.  I’ve worked so hard to get to this point – I’m not going to just quit, sit on the couch and get fat again!  I can’t do a chin-up or pull-up.  I don’t do heavy dead lifts or squats.  Upper body strength is  always something I struggle with, but I can eek out a few full, real push-ups when needed.  But, being able to do a 24kg TGU is something I’m quite proud of! 

24kg = 52.8 pounds. 

This is a video of my doing a get-up with a 24kg kettlebell.  I’ve got some things I need to work on with my form. . . keeping my shoulders packed and down and my arm back by my ear, keeping my knee from falling in, and getting my bridge up high . . . they are always a work in progress!


Wednesday Conditioning Workout

March 23, 2011
Medicine Balls

Image by Beneteau Sailor via Flickr

This was my workout for today. . . it was a cold, rainy/snowy day here in Wisconsin and I wasn’t really feeling much like exercising, but I knew I had to do something.  I’m so tired of winter weather. 

Medicine Ball Throws x 20-25 (OH, Chest, Side R, Side L, Granny, Sit-up Throw)

KB Swings 20kg x 20

Heavy Rope x 50 (various)

Sled Push x down & back length of the gym

I did 6 rounds of this circuit and I rested for 30-60 seconds between sets - it was a hard 24 minutes.   That sled makes my legs burn!  Yikes.  I don’t know if I could have done more! 

Good workout today!


Dumbbell Bench Press

March 22, 2011
Powerblock Personal Set

Image by Marek Joschko via Flickr

12 years ago, when my husband was working at a college job, I stopped by his work and watched the women’s volleyball team training.  At the time, I was in awe of a few of the girls lifting 25 lb. dumbbells for their bench press.  It impressed and stayed with me.  I never thought I could be “that strong” or lift like all those young college girls.  At that time, I worked at a fitness center, but mainly taught aerobics and did other forms of aerobic activity, with minimal heavy lifting.  Back then, I was (what one of my clients suggested) . . . “doughy”.  That’s a good word.  I was fit, but not lean.  I was thin, but had a big butt.   And, I was not strong, at all.

Today, I’m proud to say that I used 40-pound dumbbells for my DB bench press for 3 sets of 6 repetitions!  Woohoo!   The best part was that my shoulder didn’t bother me at all!  So, this almost-43-year-old woman can hang with some of the young college girls!  (Even if I’m a little (a lot) slower and have a few (a lot) more aches and pains than all those young girls.)

Life is good!


My Son Puts Me to Shame

March 20, 2011

My son started going to taekwondo in September of 2008, and recently got his probationary black belt.  Here is a video of him demonstrating his “gecko” kick, one of the many skills he’s learned over the past couple of years. . .

Now here is my weak attempt. . . ugh. It’s so hard (although it is a new record for me)!

He did 40, I got to 17.


Awesome Get-up!

March 14, 2011

I’ve got to keep working!


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