It's as hard as it sounds!

Hello and Happy Tuesday fitness fans!
This week we continue our workouts with our colleagues and friends, with Emily Carlson.

"I like it because you work really hard and you sweat." That's how she describes one of her favorite classes at Gold's Gym in West Des Moines. I missed this shoot, and I'm really bummed about it. Sonya says it was brutal. Instructor Jessica Carlson describes Body Combat this way, "It's a mixture of cardio kick boxing, Thai boxing, tai kwondo, there's some Brazilian fighting in it." First, she schools participants on proper technique - then the warm up begins - and so does the sweating. "It's obviously a cardio vascular workout," says Jessica, "there's a lot of core, every time you do a jab, hook, uppercut it's always strengthening your core and obviously leg strengthening too when you're doing your kicks."

Ah yes, the kicks. When you start using those big muscle groups your heart rate soars. Add lunges and squats and it doesn't take long for your quads, hamstrings and glutes to start burning. According to Sonya, Emily makes all of this look easy but she also tells me Jessica was a great motivator - even when things got tough. And Body Combat not only works your body - it's also empowering. "I like it because you not only work really hard, you get to punch and kick and get rid of some aggressions," says Emily with a a grin.

If you're interested in giving Body Combat a try, visit Gold's Gym at 1550 22nd Street in West Des Moines. You can also call ahead, 225-9900.

Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com