In The Groove

I am having a pretty good, kick butt week with my workouts. Been hitting the running track, doing some weight work, and making sure I get at least 30 mins of a workout in every single day. This afternoon, I'm going to add about 30 laps of rollerblading to the mix, which I need to do anyway since I have a blading event on Sunday. Gotta train!

One thing I'm doing is taking advantage of extra time where I'd be doing much of nothing and using it to get in a quick one. For example: I train a 7am client every day, and usually after training her, I just come straight home and jump on the computer. Now, after she leaves, I just go ahead and bang out a quick one. I mean, I already have the equipment I use with her (jump rope, dumbbells, cones, etc). Why not just go ahead and use them? Also, I've been showing up to work about a half hour early. Before teaching my usual classes, I once again get my own workout in. By the time my class starts, I am so warmed up and sweating like mad that the class reinforces my personal workout, making me burn even more calories. I love it! It's like cheating without actually cheating! ;)

And the gym is my playground. All the cool stuff in there to pick from for a workout. Hmmmmm..... what to choose? Grab the boxing stuff and go a few rounds? Hit the weight machines, maybe? Play with my favorite toy, the BOSU or a stability ball? Maybe I'll just rock the step today, with some intervals of dumb bell work.
Today you have sooooo many possibilities! We're also a lot smarter about exercise than we were a mere few generations ago. Most people today at least know what the word 'cardio' means. That's progress, people! Gotta love it! ;)

Now that my morning workout is done, I can just chill and play around online. Hey... did you get YOUR workout in today? What did you do? If not, what are you waiting for? It's YOUR bod, babe.... better take care of it and keep it running well! Just like a car. And you know what happens to cars that just sit around in the yard or garage doing nothing. They get old and rusty. You don't want to get old and rusty, do ya? :)

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What's Hot - Kettlebell Workouts

As you all know, I keep my finger firmly on the pulse of what's new, hot, and most importantly, effective in fitness. There's just about no workout I haven't done!
However, I've yet to experience the fitness craze surrounding "kettle bell" workouts. Heck, I have to admit, my gym doesn't even have them. So, what exactly ARE kettlebells, and what do you do with them? This fitness diva decided to find out.

First off, the kettle bell, which was invented in Russia, is a cast iron weight that is basically a ball with a handle. They have been around since the 1700's, and their reputation for creating strong, all around fit specimens of athlete is growing tremendously outside of the country in which they were born. They've been used in Russia and Europe for ages, and can help you become stronger and fitter than most traditional dumbbell and barbell workouts are able to.

They come in different sizes, ranging from 9, 18, 26, 35, 53, 70 to 88 pounds.
The average man should start with the 35 lb weight, and the average woman should begin with the 18. If you're a not so conditioned female, I think the 9 would work better for you to start with, and for guys, the 26. Just starting out, that's already a challenge!

Who uses them? Olympic level weight lifters, Russian Special Forces, US Military soldiers, the FBI Hostage Rescue team, competetive athletes, and anyone wanting a hard, strenuous, heart rate raising, fat burning workout without having to do aerobics or long weight training sessions. Kettlebells are becoming a new fitness craze around the world, and for good reason. They work!

Check out the video to get an idea of what kettlebells are, and how you might be able to incorporate them into your workouts. I am going to get myself one just to try it!

Anybody out there already using these? Let us know what you think about them, and what they've done for your workout. All experts welcome! ;)

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