So delayed in publishing this! Almost the end of the final week of Janathon! Oh well, here’s my week three synopsis!
Day 15
Really enjoying all the Alex Crockford workouts – they’re hard but a great start to the day – this is just a small snippet!
Tag: Boxercise
Janathon 2017 – Week 2 Round Up
So a little round up of Janathon week 2 – sorry for the delay in publishing, I have been monumentally busy, but loving all my exercise!
Day 8
Alex Crockford Cycle 3 workout 2 – 45 secs with 15 secs rest – jump lunges, static sprint, shoulder presses, 180 degree frog squat jumps and side lunges – repeated 4 times. Then 15 split squats, each leg, repeated 3 times!
Janathon 2017 – Week 1 Round Up
So it’s that time again – Janathon time! This year I am giving it my all! Working out every day (some days more gently as it’s important to let the body recover too!) – and I am also aiming to get in 10,000 steps every day as well (though will be satisfied if I manage 5 out of 7 days for this!)
So what have I been up to for the first seven days, well if you follow me on Instagram you probably already have an idea, but here are a few more details!
Day 1 – New Years Day
Double parkrun (Greenwich – Avery Hill Park and Bexley – Danson Park) with my lovely friend Helen of helsbels.org – we started 2016 off in the same way, and I think it’s a great way to start the year!
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Having a break…
No seriously – I’m not taking a break from my blog – I have a broken ankle! The image of my crutches may have given it away and a lot of you may already know this if you follow me on my Facebook Page or Instagram.
It all started at one of my beloved Boxercise classes – it was coming to the end of the class, we weren’t doing anything complicated, just running up and down the hall, when I turned to run back and so my foot was sideways but I still had forward momentum and my left foot turned under me – I heard a crack and felt a concentrated pain like being pinged by a bit of elastic and my first thought literally was “Oh shit, I’ve just broken my ankle” which was then followed by thoughts of how would I deal with the kids.
I collapsed on the floor clutching my ankle and my Boxercise partner called our lovely fitness instructor over who was brilliant and did everything perfectly with regards to an accident (I feel so guilty I managed to hurt myself in her class – what a muppet I am), she got me some ice and had me elevate my leg on a chair.
As I wasn’t crying, feeling sick, overly shocked and still quite coherent I’m sure people thought I was probably being overdramatic saying I’d broken my ankle. There was lots of discussion of maybe it was ligament/tissue damage – I said: “It could be, but I don’t think so, I’ve broken it!”. Even my poor partner had heard the crack!!!
We recorded the incident as we waited for my poor hubby to be dropped off by his mum (his dad sat in our house, as the kids were asleep in bed). Once my hubby arrived, with the help of my lovely friends we managed to get me into the car (one of the perks of being a lightweight) and then it was off to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, and their Urgent Care department. We got there around 8:40pm and registered with the reception, who were very kind but warned me that the wait for triage was 3 hours but x-ray was only open for just over another hour – the wait was on! I was terrified that I wouldn’t get seen, and totally having my priorities right I was worried I’d have to cancel my hairdresser coming to me the next morning! The important things in life eh!?
Ducking Boxercise!
By this I mean we did lots of ducking and diving, not that I tried to get out of it! As if I would, my Boxercise is my weekly sanity lifeline – this is one of things that really helps with my anxiety! Multiple benefits of exercise, not being able to think of anything else and possibly the fun of getting to hit things!!! A good stress reliever!
So for the warm up, there were slow jabs to one side, then fast jabs, then repeated on the other side. Skipping, skipping from one side to the other. A skip back, then skip forward touch the ground – this needed coordination which I seem to be slightly lacking in! High legs jogging on the spot and various other things – whew, we were well and truly warmed up!Read More »
Book Day, Breaststroke and Brutal Boxercise
So I think I may have broken myself yesterday!!!
Firstly, I obviously have to mention world book day – my two went as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger! They looked so cute!
I made an effort and put 10 plaits in the Pink Ones hair so that when we took them out she had the bushy hair Hermione is known for.
They were so excited, they have been counting down the days until they could wear their costumes to school!
Rachael really helped me with my breaststroke technique, working on my leg kick, making sure I completed the cycle and squeezed my legs to get the full propulsion through the water, even doing some work with a float. The trying to get the process right…
Pull, Breath, Kick, Glide
Definitely easier said than done – but I will be chanting this mantra until my body does it automatically! The majority of this was completed with head out of the water, as I’d misplaced my goggles, so I was wearing my hubby’s and the left eye kept filling with water! Most annoying! I have subsequently located my ones!
I did monkey down to the deep end, but no matter how logical I was and how much I spoke it through with Rachael – I could not let go of the edge and glide or swim. I got so nervous at one point I actually got cramp in my foot!!!
This pathological fear of the deep end and going through the water under my own steam without panicking is exhausting. So I didn’t manage it this time, which is disappointing, but my swimming is getting stronger (and Rachael assures me I can swim), so, and I said it out loud to Rachael that on our next session I would start in the deep end! I may regret saying this next week, but this problem is literally an argument with my own head! I will conquer it and I just appreciate Rachael being so calm and patient with me!
Once home, I did my usual studies – both Technologies in Practice and some Maths.
Then I was off to my Boxercise class! The session was amazing, but seriously tough! We were doing Boxercise to the Beat (named after my previous blog post!). For our warm up we were bouncing to the beat in southpaw and then two jabs, two hooks – repeated a few times, then some squats, punches to the floor, then back to bouncing, two jabs, two hooks, two uppers and two lower uppers. Then we bounced into the orthodox position and did the same.
Next, pads and gloves on, in southpaw we had to bounce in time with our partner and the beat, jabbing for five, high leg lifts for five, until Michelle called out and then we had to do 10 jabs and 10 high leg lifts, finally 15 of each. In between swapping to orthodox, we had to do some squats and punches to the floor ,then repeating the whole interval. Then we had to swap pads/gloves. The constant moving was intense, it was brutal.
We then had some floor work, 15 curl ups and 15 leg reaches, some of us were then skipping, while others were doing one leg stands from the benches, this was repeated three times. The we had to do 15 push ups and now those of us that been skipping had to do try and do the one leg stands – they were really hard (and I was starting to feel the swimming from the morning) – one of the ladies worked out it was easier to do if you crossed your leg over the top of the one you were standing up on. Again repeated three times. Finally, again repeated three times, we did a 30 second plank followed by 30 seconds of high leg running.
So glad for the cool down that’s for sure! If you want to come along to a session – find all the details at Michelle’s Facebook page for Foxlee Fitness. I think I may be feeling all this exercise over the next few days! Hopefully it’s doing me go!!! haha!!!
So how do you deal with anxiety or facing a fear? I’d love to know! 🙂 xxx
Boxercise to the Beat
It’s been a crappy week since my last Boxercise session, the Blue One has been really poorly with an evil virus, he’s had scarily high temperatures (kept spiking to 40). So there were trips to the walk in clinic at our doctors, the Urgent Care Unit at Queen Mary’s and even rung my friend’s husband who is a doctor. All agreed it was an upper respiratory tract viral infection, so it was a case of sit it out and wait, dosing him up on Calpol and Nurofen and just keeping a close eye on him (I checked him so many time for rashes). So I’ve been stuck in the house, and as much as I love my home, staring at the same four walls, you do begin to develop cabin fever. So with the little man finally seeming to be on the mend, I definitely wanted to get out to my Boxercise session, even though I can feel my son has kindly shared his germs with me (this morning I had even lost my voice – which I am sure some people were quite happy about!!! haha!!!).
So, warm up session tonight was alternating between the orthodox and southpaw stance, bouncing from foot to foot, then with a jab, then with the back leg kick your bum, then lift the front leg up. We then, to the beat, went backwards to the back of the hall and then we came forward again whilst also doing jabs. Then general jog/run round the hall, then on the spot, elbow and then arm strike, then we were all thoroughly warmed up!
Time to glove and pad up! In our pairs, we started off in southpaw, and then just punching with the right hand worked our way across the room, then once on the other side of the room, did five jabs, then five jumps for the person in the gloves and five jumping jacks for the person in the pads, then do 10 jabs – with ten jumps or jumping jacks, and do the same again for 15 and 20. Once complete, boxer’s bounce so facing the other way, now in orthodox stance, this time making the way back across the room jabbing with the left hand. Repeating the five, 10, 15 and 20 jab and jump routine again. I must admit, when I was in the gloves I didn’t manage all the jumps and did do some squats instead, blaming the cold I’m getting…
Once we’d both had a go in the gloves and pads, it was onto the next routine. Again in our pairs, two cones on the floor between us, then both in a squat position, we did step and hooks for a count of 3o, then in between swapping hands, we had to do 20 skaters. Then swap pads/gloves. This was a thigh burner for both the glove and pad wearer!!!
Squat Hooks
Skaters
For the last section we did some work with resistance bands. First move was the band under the foot and then into the lunge position with knee on the floor, lifting up – so 20 dips and pulling the bands up as you come up. Hold at the end and then pulses. repeat on the other leg.
Next interval was for the arms, so the resistance band is held under the ball of the foot, again in the lunge position and pulling the arm straight back, again hold at the end and pulsing for eight, hold again and another pulse for eight. Could definitely feel the burn! Repeated again on the other arm.
Now holding the resistance band in both hands, squat down and then come up and put the band up and over your head and stretch the arms out for a count of 30 – ouch!
Finally sixteen stretches in front of your chest and then sixteen behind – then it was cool down time!
Really good session, hard work, but after a pants week – perfect for releasing some stress and hopefully this week I don’t have any dodgy bruises on my knees!!!
Come and join us – you know you want to – see our instructor Michelle’s Facebook page for all the details! 🙂 xxx
Boxercise and Bruises
Didn’t know if I was going to make tonight, as not only was my Hubby poorly today my Blue One also got poorly! He was with his nanny and grandad, along with the Pink One, as it was my study day but my Mother-in-Law let me know that the Blue One wasn’t himself and when it was time to come home he was crying and felt very hot, though he had made an effort to eat his dinner.
When he got in I took his temperature and it was 39.4, poor little boy – I wondered if I was being a bad wife and mummy to still attend my Boxercise class, but the Hubby said he was happy getting them to bed and the consensus on my Facebook status was to go… so I dosed the boy up with same Calpol, checked the Hubby was really ok and – I did!!!
Excitingly I had a new sports top to wear tonight, a bargain bought from Sainsburys – £6 reduced to £3.60 in their sale and then an additional 25% off this week, so a fabulous £2.70! Can’t argue with that can you! Plus it’s added a nice splash of colour to my kit!
Warm up tonight, running around with high knees and then Michelle randomly called out numbers;
1 – 10 jabs on the spot
2 – 10 knees up to chest on the spot
3 – 10 jabs on the spot
4 – 10 punches down to the floor, squatting your legs on the spot
We then changed to running in the other direction and this time it was feet to bum – whilst Michelle called out the numbers again.
Next we got into spaces, there were punches to the ground, legs kicks and then we were all warmed up!
Time to pair up and into pads and gloves. The person in the gloves had to do 20 jabs, whilst they were recovering the one wearing the pads had to go down flat on the floor and then jump back up, and then another 20 jabs – all in all repeated five times. Then the same sequence repeated, but for hooks, again five times – then swap over! I did got an extra 10 hooks to do!
Next up was an obstacle course, jump squats on the ladder. Small hurdles so single jump overs, double foot landing, and no intermittent bounce. Next the large hurdles, which we obviously jump over elegantly like gazelles (haha) – then we had to go down the line up of pads, with hooks, jabs, uppers and lower uppers, five on each person – then repeat the whole routine five times! That was tough!
We then had the whole routine again – but instead of us in pads the pads were on the floor, and we had to do five punches with alternate arms to each pad (punching the shit out of it obviously), so on our knees the entire time – blooming painful! This we did three times!
For the last part of the evening was some floor work, lying on our backs alternate hands to legs straight up in the air, then legs together up into the air, then bringing them down but not quite touching then back up again, elbows to knees and finally crunches – legs straight in the air and reaching up to them – each interval to the count of ten and then repeat three times! Could feel the burn in my abdomen!
Then it was stretch and cool down! If you want to come along – details here! You know you want to – it makes you feel so good!
It was an awesome session, absolutely loved it, but my knees did not! I have bruises on my knees – that doesn’t look dodgy! Good thing it’s not summer!!! haha!!! 😛
What exercise class do you just have to go to no matter what!? 🙂 xxx
Birthdays and Boxercise!
Today was the Blue One’s fourth birthday therefore I was feeling rather emotional, my baby is growing up – so really needed my Boxercise tonight, so will write about that first!
Had a good warm up, jogging, some fast jabbing, side running, fast hooks – getting our heart rates up.
Then with three ropes placed across the hall we had to go across, under the rope flat on our fronts, get up run to the next rope, again flat on your front back up and the same with the third rope – get to your partner who has the pads, do ten jabs and then go back and repeat until you’ve done four lot of ten jabs – swap with your partner.
Once in the pads, whilst the other person was negotiating the ropes, we were doing cross jacks!
I must confess though I didn’t go flat on my front under the ropes – the floor is hard and it hurts my knees, and I just didn’t need questionable bruises on my knees! haha! So I did go low, but not completely flat.
Swapped again, repeated the process but this time with ten hooks, again repeated four times. The person on the pads had to do high leg jogging whilst waiting.
Next up was weaving under the ropes, touching with your shoulder each side, bending the knees not the back – repeating on each of the three ropes, then jog back to the beginning to then weave under and swing yourself round and put your back to the rope, working your way along and to be done on each of the three ropes. Then alternate between shoulder touch and back to the rope on each of the ropes.
This was harder than you realised, and it was only once I’d stopped I realised how much I was sweating, but really enjoyed this section!
We then paired up, initial set was four jabs and then the person with the pads had to strike. Starting in orthodox stance and therefore the right hand, repeated ten times. Then swap and do the same starting with the left hand – then swap.
In between another interval, we did some deep squats – my left thigh is still not happy from last week and could really feel it! Maybe I need a massage!?
Then it was back to pads and gloves work, this time just strikes by the person in the pads, 20 to the right and 20 to the left meaning the person in the gloves had to duck. Swap and repeat – then swap back and do 30 strikes and again swap!
Then it was cold down – it was a fab session, thoroughly enjoyed it! Boxercise photos courtesy of Michelle Fox our wonderful Boxercise instructor – check out Foxlee Fitness!
As I said at the beginning, it was the Blue One’s birthday and he had a fab day, we gave him an Iron Man figure as one of his presents and he had to come with us on the school run! As hubby had the day off, we then walked to the Café for a cooked brekkie – where Iron Man had to join us!
When we collected the boy, we were able to sit with him whilst he sat on the nursery birthday throne to hand out his sweets. He loved it.
His birthday treat was a trip to soft play with two of his nursery friends and they had a phenomenal time! He loved his new Rescue Bots Blades toy.
Once home, both sets of grandparents came to visit – he got his first football goal (lots of fun in the garden to be had!), a Darth Vadar costume and an Optimus Prime figure. His uncles bought him a Captain American costume!
He has an Omnitrix birthday cake as made by mummy (a further post to follow on the making of this cake), but we’re saving that for the family birthday celebration on Sunday, so my wonderful sister of Caking it fame – made him a lightsaber cakelet, complete with lights and sound effects!
Also, I recorded a little a video of the Blue One at his football session with AW Football Coaching on Tuesday – which I shared on Instagram and Tekkers TV asked that I load it to their website (all about showcasing grass roots players) and they’d tweet it out and they have 33k followers – and they did that today, so that was a bonus!
All in all a great day! :-)xxx
What do your small people like doing to keep active?
Benefits of Boxercise
Even though Janathon is over I’ve still got my weekly Boxercise class, so thought I do a weekly round up of the class anyway! It’s such a good mood booster it deserves sharing!
I really wasn’t sure if I’d go tonight as my tummy was feeling a bit sore (stupid IBS), but Thursday is my OU study day so getting out for my exercise class is much needed after a whole day in front of my computer and not really talking with anyone!
So to warm up tonight we played a game of catch – whilst wearing pads or gloves, running around and avoiding the cones on the floor! If you dropped what was thrown to you or trod on a cone, then you had to do high leg jogging on the spot until someone freed you!
Next warm up exercise was a game of ‘Oi, you!’
Those in pads line up on one side and those in gloves on the other – the one in the pads had to point at someone wearing gloves and say, you guessed it, ‘Oi, you!’. To which you had to run over and do 20 jabs run back and wait till you’re yelled at again!
Next was an interesting exercise set, you had to walk in the squat position – which basically made you look like you’d crapped yourself, you then had to do five high leg overs the person holding the pad out, using the right leg, and go along the line – then repeat the squat walk and do the high leg overs with the left leg!
Next up was the pyramid of pain as I like to affectionately refer to it which entailed:
10 Alternative Jabs – 10 Push Ups
20 Uppercuts – 20 Squats
30 Alternative Jabs – 30 Push Ups
40 Uppercuts – 40 Squats
30 Alternative Jabs – 30 Push Ups
20 Uppercut – 20 squats
10 Alternative Jabs – 10 Push Ups
The squats seriously burned!!! The person in the pads had to do squats or jumping jacks when the one in the gloves was doing their push ups or squats.
Final exercise session for the evening was those in pads lining up again, those in gloves having to run up and five kicks with your right leg, then five knee kicks and continue down the line then run back round and repeat with the left leg! My arms ached a lot when wearing the pads – holding them up for the knee kick!
Then it was cool down time – phew!!! Think my arms and thighs are going to be feeling it tomorrow!
If you’re in the Sidcup/Blackfen/Bexley area come along! It’s an awesome session, details – here – and below…
What’s your favourite exercise class? Share with me in the comments below! :-)xxx
Jog on Mum 