25 minutes in HELL

It's official.  I like kicking my ass.  Also, the 30 day challenge got really lame on day 2 so I switched.

I didn't give up, I just switched to someone I really, really admire.  More on it later.

I feel like I'm dying while I'm doing it and I smell and look really disgusting but I did it!  I did the entire workout to the absolute max I could do and I stuck it out!  I've got three really important things for you today, but I'm going to put one of them in a separate blog to spread the monotony.  For this blog, two things:

1.  Use this website for your interval training.  I've been training with my computer so I can watch the routines first and really get down the posture and hold counts and such, then I crank up the music and turn on

http://www.beach-fitness.com/tabata/ 

You can set the interval to whatever you want, which is amazeballs and it changes green and red depending on rest or go, go, go.  It also has an awesome surprise at the end of each set.  For example, yesterday my routine focused on 50/10 intervals, 4 routines 3 times each.  Today it was 20/10 intervals for 8 sets, total of 4 minutes each...classic tabata.

2.  Here's the routine that kicked my ass today.  Read: it's NOT EASY! 

HIGH KNEES: Tabata

• Basically run in place with your knees as high as you can get them with your boobs out, Olympic sprint style.  It's a rough start so be sure to stretch a bit before this.

LEG/STAR/BUTT:  30 reps

• Lay on the mat with your back as flat as you can get it.  Lift both legs at the same time, raising your feet toward the ceiling.  If this is too hard, start with bent legs.  Once your feet are up in the air, split your feet out to the sides and raise your arms and shoulders and push them between your legs, like a crunch.  Yes, it looks weird.
• Lay your shoulders back down, put your feet back together and with your arms spread out on the ground, try to lift your butt ONLY off the ground just for a second.  It's harder than it sounds and you'll really feel it in your core.
• I have to be really, really honest here.  I only got about 15 done then I couldn't do anymore.  Just could not.  So, instead of just stopping, I did 45 crunches.  Something is better than nothing.

LOW JACKS: Tabata

• A low jack is a squatting jumping jack, without the flailing arms.  The lower the squat the harder it is.  I'm going to be honest with you guys and let you know my knees were just bent enough and I couldn't make it through the full tabata...I kept pushing, but it was like two jacks, break, three jacks, break, etc.

 SIDE PLANK LIFTS: 25 reps each side

• This uses muscles I bet you didn't even know you had.  Here's a pic of what it should look like:

•  If you're like me, you're going to do the beginner one, which is the leg towards the bottom is bent at the knee and goes back behind you.  As you get advanced, you can straighten both legs and your lower arm.

SCISSORS: Tabata

• Scissors is like a Russian running man.  One leg in front of the other and jump to switch legs.  You'll be surprised how tired your legs get doing this.

BRIDGE TOE TOUCH: 30 reps

• Ok, for this lay on the mat, or floor or whatever.  put one knee up with your foot on the floor like this
•  
• It's a horrid picture, but there you go (PS, that's not me!  LOL).  Then you bridge your body, which is bring your hips only toward the sky, keeping your shoulders on the ground.  If this is too hard, keep both feet on the ground while doing the bridge.
• Lower your hips back to the mat then lift one leg up to the ceiling and reach both hands up and try to do a toe touch.  Lower the foot and go back to the bridge.  Then lift the opposite leg and do a toe touch.

My body was really drained at the end and I had to force myself up to stretch, but stretching is SO IMPORTANT!!!!!  I do some floor leg stretches, like toe touches, then one of my favorite stretches is standing up, bending forward and letting my hands drag on the floor.  I'll swing them back and forth a bit to loosen everything up.  Then I'll do some sunrise poses from yoga and if my abs are ripping, which they weren't really today, I'll do some dog poses.

IT WAS HELL!!!  Ok, I have to tell you who I follow for these exercises.  Her name is Zuzana, and she used to be with BodyRock.tv, but she has branched out and goes by Zuzka Lite now.  I'm a fan of her page on Facebook, but here's her link https://www.facebook.com/ZuzkaLight  You can youtube Zuzana and all of her little videos will pop up.  I'm doing her beginner stuff now because I'm a fatty cow, but she is amazing and just amazing.  Seriously, amazing.  And her body is RIPPED!!!  I'll never look that amazing, but she definitely is inspiration.  I tried doing the bodyrock.tv exercises, but they're heavy on equipment and I have a mat and two 5 pound weights...nothing else...and I'm not going to buy any new stuff and then realize I hate the workouts.  I love Zuzana because she's mostly just body intensity, sometimes throwing in small free weights or stuff like that.  CHECK HER OUT.