HOLIDAY SWING CHALLENGE - Week 4

My week 4 total was 1062 swings. 

Week 1 = 1330. Week 2 = 1360 Week 3 = 1244 Week 4 = 1062 for at total of 4996.  Damn...I am only 4 swings short of 5,000.  If only I had known.

W4D1 & D2

It seems I am slowing down at the end of this challenge.
I did W4D1 on Wednesday and completed 250 swings. I also did my regularly scheduled work out.
Christmas was a day off...back at it today.
...

I did my regularly scheduled workout which included 4 x 10 at 400 pounds and then W4D2 but not all of day two. I did 2H swings with 25 KG. I did 10 x 10 for 100 swings.
I did one round of 6 x 6 with 18 KG pounds and then I felt like toast. So I stopped.
One thing I did today was 18 KG Turkish get up which is a PR for me. It was really difficult. Working my way up.

W4D3 = 270 swings

I did my regularly scheduled work out this morning. I saved the swings for tonight. Before the swings I did overhead carries because I did not get them in this morning.
Thanks for doing this challenge Artemis. Loving it!

W4D4 & D5

I finished Week 4 on Sunday and Monday...couple days late but I did it.
W4D4 - 280 swings
W4D5 - 250 swings.

I also did my regular work out on both days.

I cannot believe how many swings I did in four weeks.  Whenever I wanted to quit, I thought about how important it was to me to complete this challenge.  I wanted to conquer the mental desire to quit. 

Over and out....I did it. 

 

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS AND MEANINGS

My step-mother, Ann, has, for as long as I can remember, created Christmas ornaments for my sister and me and other children.  They are always creative and reflect our interests or milestones in our lives.  Usually, one or two are tear worthy.  It has become a special and wonderful family tradition. 

Check out my 2014 ornament:

The ornament is a reflection of this blog...its name and its mindset but it is much more than that.  If you look closely at the bike you can see the number 303.  That number is still on my bike.  I cannot bring myself to take it off.  It probably looks silly but...

That number has very special meaning.  It was my number for my last triathlon and the tri was in Asbury Park.  It marked the end of my tri career in a place that holds a very special place in my heart.  So...every time I look at this ornament, I will remember that very special moment in my life.

My beautiful bike...Gracie!  She has been with me through it all

SheRox Tri Transition in the early morning

Asbury Park Beach and Sunrise

The Finish Line

You never know though...for my 60th birthday I may treat myself to a last tri at Hever Castle in England.  A girl needs to have goals ya know. 

Holiday Swing Challenge - Week 3

Want to check out my Christmas present from my nephew....one of the best presents ever! I now have two matching 35 pound KG and I have a plan.  Stay tune for more details.

Here are the results of week three...

W3D1

I did it! I did it! I did it!. I keep thinking I don't have it in me to get it done and then I do. I get it done and still feel really good.
5 rounds at 16KG for 250 swings

W3D3, 4, and 5

I haven't posted for awhile but I have been swinging...here are the results

W3D3: 270 swings.

W3D4: Not a good day. I've always had callouses but today they were particular painful. I also forget the order of Day 4. Anyway, I didn't complete the entire work out but I got some of it done. Did part of part two for 120 swings. You do what you can do.

W3D5: Pretty much back to normal for 250 swings.
I also have workouts that I normally do during the week. Those went well!

As you can see, Day 2 is missing.  I am reposting what I am post to the Iron Body Studios Group on FB.  Apparently, I did not post Day 2.  I did Day 2 but did not record it. 

Here are my 3 week totals

Week 1 = 1330. Week 2 = 1360 Week 3 = 1244 for at total of 3934.

Holiday Swing Challenge - Week Two

The Holiday Swing challenge continues...because of work commitments it has been a tough week for me but I did get it done, just not the way I wanted to get it done.  In some cases, I was able to increase the weight I used. 

Finished week 2 with a total of 1360 swings.

Week 1 total was 1330.  My two week total is 2690 swings.  This number won't win me any prizes.  However, I do feel a sense of personal satisfaction!

Started W2D1.

 What I realized is that yesterday I did day 1 again and not day 5. So tonight, because I wanted some variety, I did Day 5.

I did two sets of H2H with 16 KG.

I then did three sets of H2H with 16 KG for 5, 10 and 15. Went down to 12 KG for 20
...

Total of 250 swings.

W2D2:

Monday I did my regularly scheduled work out and took a break from swings.  Tuesday I did nothing but walk.  I needed a break.

This morning I did 290 swings.
2H swings
11 sets at 20 KG
1H swings
3 sets of 20 kg
12 sets of 16 KG

W2D3...

Very long day but I just got them done. 270 swings. Only disappointment is that I did them with 12KG, I felt like I couldn't go any higher tonight., It is all good.

W2D4

I started the morning with good intentions.  I did the first half in the morning.
10 x 12 with 16 KG.  Felt good but decided to do the second half later in the day.  Well, that didn't work out the way I planned. 

So I made the decision to finish the second half  the following day.  40 pounds (at the Y).  Did 15 rounds before my regularly scheduled work out.  It was a great work out day. 

Total of 300 swings

W2D5

Just finished up after doing a modification of my regularly scheduled workout.

5 rounds for a total of 250 swings

H2H Swings with a 16KG.  I did two rounds of 5 swings and 10 swings with 20 KG. 

They were tough but we are working on getting stronger and increasing weight so it is a start

The plan for next week is to wear these while I swing...

 

Holiday Swing Challenge - Week One

As many of you know, I love kettle bells.  I love to swing and I love Turkish Get Ups even more.  So when Iron Body by Artemis promoted a Holiday Swing Challenge I decided to give it a short.  My total number of swings for Week One was 1330...that is a lot of swings for someone who maybe did, at the most 200-300 swings a week.  Two of the five days I did my usual work out before doing the swings.   

My initial plan was to do my workout before doing the swings.  However, I had a challenging work week and only managed two days that included my regular work outs. 

Here is the thing about this challenge.  Not only did I feel like I was building strength but it was an amazing cardio work out. 

I posted what I did in a FB Holiday Swing Challenge Group.  I thought I would share with you my unedited postings.  Maybe next time you might want to accept the challenge. 

Week 1 Day 1
 Did 250 swings with a 16kg bell.
Sweaty mess right now. Challenge for me was doing the routine at 6:00 PM instead of 5 AM. I am very much a morning exercise person. Everything feels heavier at night. Proud that I completed the routine!!!

Week 1 Day 2
The plan was to swing yesterday but worked got in the way. I worked 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Just didn't have it in me although around 8:00 I thought...well maybe...so I picked up the 16kg and did ten 1H swings on each side and decided not tonight. Will pick it up tomorrow.  And I did.
 
I only have one 16KG bell so I did 2H swings 10x10 for 100. The 16KG felt light so I did the last 3 rounds with the 20KG. That is all I have here at home.

I then did 15 sets of 1H swings with the 16KG for a total of 180.
Total swings yesterday = 20
 
Today 280

Week 1 Day 3
 270 swings in the book. Again I had to do them at night but I am getting them done. Whoo Hoo! Still prefer the morning but circumstances have been beyond my control this week.

Week 1 Day 4
I only have one 20KG bell so I did 2H swings 10x10 for 100. Felt great!
I then did 14 sets of 1H swings with the 16KG. During the 14th set my form felt like crap so I went down to a 12KG to finish 15 sets. YAAAA

Total swings yesterday = 20

Today 280

Before swinging I did my regularly scheduled workout. This has been a challenging work week for me. It was great having these simple, fairly quick scheduled workouts.

Week 1 Day 5
Total for week one is 1330 swings....Really proud of this accomplishment.

I did Week One; Day Five yesterday. I did not have the opportunity to post yesterday.

Did 250 swings. I used an 18 kg bell and 16 kg depending on my form.

I did a regular workout prior to my swings. Between each set of deadlifts, I did 10 kettlebell swings with 18 KG bell for a total of 50.

See More

Link Love

Just wanted to share some recent articles that I've enjoyed....hope you enjoy them as well.  Some may be duplicates from my facebook page.

Highlighted Link:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/muscular-and-proud  -  This is a great discussion by Jen Sinkler (pictured below) on why you should never be embarrassed to be a female with big muscles. 

Food

http://www.mynewroots.org/site/2014/11/sweet-potato-skillet-hash/?mc_cid=c71373e39c&mc_eid=53cfc82a82

http://www.negharfonooni.com/2013/01/07/avocado-dressing/

Exercise

http://tonygentilcore.com/2014/12/miscellaneous-miscellany-monday-get-ups-deadlifts-and-b-days/

http://www.t-nation.com/training/timed-carries-for-traps-arms-core

Miscellaneous

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/maya-angelou-power-of-words_n_5462077.html?utm_hp_ref=pt&src=sp&comm_ref=false

http://maidenmermaid.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/be-mindful/

http://www.postconsumers.com/education/eco-friendly-facts-about-christmas-trees/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/best-books-on-making-the-most-of-later-life-1417408073