By now you all know that I am in love with BodyPump. My fellow BodyPump fans out there know that BodyPump is a class that falls under the Les Mills umbrella of group fitness classes.
Up until this afternoon, the only Les Mills class I’ve taken is BodyPump because that’s the only class I had access to when we lived in Orlando. (Sadly there are no Les Mills classes in Ocala.) Today, when I arrived at the gym, I glanced at the group exercise schedule and saw BodyCombat on the agenda! My curiosity got the best of me and I headed into the class with high expectations.
According to Les Mills, BodyCombat is an empowering cardio workout inspired by mixed martial arts that draws from a wide array of disciplines such as karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai. Like BodyPump, the class began with energizing music. We spent the duration of the class kicking and punching our way through the workout. I was a sweaty mess by the end!
The class reminded me a lot of kickboxing classes I’ve taken before, but with more energy and excitement. The instructor was definitely feelin’ it and her enthusiasm was contagious. The class wasn’t too hard to follow, even as a first-timer, because the instructor did a good job of previewing the combinations. The 45-minute class flew by and I had a blast. BodyCombat reminded me, yet again, just how much fun fitness really can be when you find the right exercise program. Shop around until you find something you love!
Lunch
On my way home from the gym, I swung by The Fresh Market. We don’t have a Fresh Market in Ocala and I am in love with their flavored coffees and bulk bins, so I took a little detour and picked up some ingredients for a crock pot dinner at the fancy grocery store.
I also made sure to take advantage of their coffee samples.
Yum!
And I couldn’t leave without buying a small bag of the white chocolate fudge trail mix to snack on during the car ride home.
This stuff is the jam.
Once I made it back to my parents’ condo, I fixed myself a plate of leftovers.
Rotisserie chicken + Rice + Fresh blackberries.
Someone wanted in…
Chicken makes her heart swoon.
Before signing off, I wanted to share a gorgeous picture with you guys that Ryan sent to me from his business trip this week.
I think it’s safe to say he’s not in Florida anymore! Ryan is returning tomorrow from Warwick, England and I can’t wait to see him!
Hope you have a wonderful Friday!
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New to your blog and loving it! Found you from an Old Navy post on facebook. I am currently training for my second half marathon and find your information, tips, and recipes most helpful! Our fitness center that I go to is wonderful. They offer most of Les Mills classes. We also have another class I haven’t tried yet. HIIT(High Intensity Interval Training). It looks like Tabata on steroids!
Never heard of Body Combat, but it sounds like something my DIL would love. Me, I’ll stick to step aerobics and Chi-Gong.
Love that pic of Sadie, adorable!
I’d love to go to England, hope Ryan took more pictures for you to share!
I would love to take a BodyPump or BodyCombst class, maybe someday!! I love Warwick England, there is an awesome castle there, you should have tagged along 🙂
I know you already commented on BodyAttack but you’d love it! Sports inspired and a mix of high intensity and agility training…burns crazy calories. That, Combat and Pump are my tried and true, week after week!
Les Mills workout sounds intense and awesome, I cant wait to try some 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Body Combat (especially when the instructor gets into it!). So happy when people find it 🙂 I need to get back into going to class…thanks for the reminder!
OMG, that Fresh Market white chocolate mix is the best thing ever! I have to keep away from it or I will not stop eating it until it’s gone!
Ahhh, Warwick! I took a day trip to Warwick Castle when I studied abroad–absolutely beautiful!
You totally need to try BodyAttack. it’s my favorite! Be prepared to sweat your butt off!
Ooohhhh White Chocolate Fudge Trail Mix??? Haven’t tried it before, but ANY trail mix is good trail mix!
Ooh, I love the bins at Fresh Market as well! When I host a party, I always swing by there and load up on lots of different goodies for putting on all the side table for munchies. YUM!
That coffee looks like it’s to die for. I have a soft spot for flavored coffee… Delish
Glad you got to try another Les Mills class! You REALLY need to try Attack (actually Pump and Attack back-to-back is my favorite combo). I like it a lot more than Combat. For some reason I don’t find Combat as challenging as other kickboxing type classes I’ve taken but maybe it’s just me not working as hard as I should.
I love that snowy pic of England. My brother moved to Oxford two weeks ago and I can’t wait to visit!
Ha! BodyCombat is without a doubt my favorite LesMills class and I’ve been doing it for almost two years now… I’m so happy you liked it too!!! 🙂
Fresh market is my favorite! If it wasn’t so expensive, all of my food would come from there. Especially fr the bulk bins. Sesame sticks=love
I love all the LesMiles classes! I’m out in Texas now and Gold’s Gym offers them all and I try to do one everyday. (I am from Florida, and went to school in Gainesville!) My favorite are BodyPump, BodyCombat, and CXworks. I’ve done BodyAttack a few times but it really starts to hurt my knees and joints if I do it more than once every 10ish days. And it reminds me a lot of Insanity, which I HATED. Anyway, glad you are getting to do the wonderful classes again!
I haven’t tried BodyCombat yet but my gym offers it! I’ll have to give it a try.
What an amazing piccie! Um your trail mix looks delish! (Ps. Love how you say ‘the jam’ haha).
I use to do combat once a week (I’m a Les Mills addict) but I’ve actually stopped doing it because I couldn’t connect with my instructor and I found the new release too easy and not enough for me. I’ll try it again next round with the newer releases. Also, I stand by my word- try Body Step. It’ll blow your mind. Or come visit me in Aus and I’ll teach it to you 😉
The body combat class sounds like a lot of fun. I’m a big fan of classes that utilize martial arts, I find them intense but mentally relaxing at the same time! That picture reminds me of the snow in NY right now, except I’d definitely rather be in England!
That trail mix looks so good!
What a nice location for a business trip! My last trip was to Kansas, I’m jealous!
That white chocolate trail mix looks amazing. I wish we had a Fresh Market in my area!
Aww, Sadie is such a sweetie! 🙂
I love body combat and pump! If your gym offers cxworks (les mills) it’s also great, it’s a 30 minute core class. I live all the Les Mills classes.
I love Body Combat- it’s one of the classes that definitely pass by in a flash!
I can honestly say that the West Midlands snow may look pretty but its been a major disruption to my week. If Ryan ever comes this way again I would gladly recommend some places to eat/things to see. Hopefully he got to see the Castle. And as for Body Combat. What can I say?! Ever class pushes me. Its the only workout I’ve ever done where I come out completely drenched in sweat. I love it 🙂
Julie,
I am a total Les Mills junkie! I am certified in Bodypump, but love taking Combat, RPM, and CXWorks. The one class I have yet to try and know that I will love is Bodyattack!! I have watched several videos of it online, and without even taking it I would love to get certified in that class too!! 🙂
Yikes! I’m glad I’m not where Ryan is! That snow looks beautiful … but cold!! 😉
You should try Krav Maga! It’s Israeli self-defense training (the name literally means “contact combat”). It teaches you how to defend yourself if you’re attacked, and anyone can do it. I started in August, and I am so hooked! It’s an awesome workout. I also love it because it forces me out of my comfort zone (I’m typically gentle, quiet, not the least bit aggressive), so it has forced me to grow. And the best thing is, even if I stopped doing it and gained ten pounds, all of the sweat and energy wouldn’t be wasted, because I would still have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to defend myself. I am in love, even though it does come with a few bruises sometimes. But those go away 😉
Body Combat is THE BEST! I used to do body pump, then tried combat and never looked back (although ideally they work well together!) I was surprised at how much it worked my arms-I was always so sore the morning after! And the legs track! I want to try body jammm or whatever the dancing one is.
Body Combat is great, but Body Attack is my favorite cardio class.
If you get a chance and you’re in the mood for some yoga, I highly suggest Body Flow. It’s a mix of yoga, tai chi and pilates. The tai chi at the beginning is a little weird, but everything else is great. I’m always surprised by how much of a work out I feel like I’m getting (moreso than regular yoga). And it’s a great way to stretch out all your muscles and kinks from running and weights.
Trail mix will be the death of me. It’s addictive.
That pic is gorgeous!
I LOVE Body Combat!
My gym has very few classes and no Les Mills ones, but I really want to get the Combat DVDs. I really enjoyed the P90X KenpoX so figure Combat will be similar.
I love Bodystep and body pump but after reading all the comments about body attack, you all inspired me to try. Turns out its offered tomorrow at 6am which is the only time I can go to the gym. Yes!!
I am lucky enough to live a half a mile awhile from a Golds gym that offers all of the Les Mills classes. I started taking Body Pump in December and I love it!! I love the feeling of my body getting stronger and leaner. I have worked my way up to using a large and small plate on the squat track!!! For once I’m looking forward to showing off my toned arms this summer. I will to give Body Combat a try!!
Nice! I just started Les Mills Combat! (Beachbody has Les Mills Pump and Les Mills Combat as home workout programs with Dvds so I do it at home.) Loving it already =)
There’s a Freshmarket in Gainesville if you ever need a closer fix. 🙂
I started following your blog in 2011 right as I was beginning my fitness journey and was a new Florida resident. I love love your posts and look forward to getting my email with new blogs up eveveryday! So glad to see BodyCombat get some love on your website! I’m certified and teach 4 les mills programs… BodyPump, BodyCombat, CXWORXS, and BodyFlow! Definitely make sure you try all the formats–there’s something for everyone & most people find at least a few they can’t get enough of ;)-keep up the good work PBF!