For this evenings workout I ran to the local football pitch and worked through a couple of decks of cards.

Suits
* Spades = Sit ups
* Hearts = Push ups
* Diamonds = Hindu Squats
* Clubs = Squat Thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

Completed twice.

The deck of cards workout is one of my staples, they’re cheap, natural, you can do them anywhere and most of all, they’re effective. A no nonsense workout that works!

I was staying in a hotel, I always take a deck of cards with me when I travel.

Suits
* Spades = sit ups
* Hearts = Push ups
* Diamonds = Jumping Jacks
* Clubs = Squat Thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

Completed 2 times.

It’s cheap, clutter-free, natural and most of all, effective. A no nonsense workout that works!

I haven’t updated for a variety of reasons just recently but mostly because I’ve been busy with work, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been working out though. I’ve still found time to workout and took my 3 workout staples with me, my mp3 player with the pit workouts converted to mp3, deck of cards and my gymboss timer. I’ve mostly been in hotels for the last couple of months and mostly Hilton Hotels (ouch!) They’re not cheap but they have been convenient for work and they do have great gyms that as a guest are free to use. While I didn’t use any of the machines or free weights there was an aerobics room that had a reebok free standing bag in it that no-one but myself seemed to use. I’d get in there every evening after work and either do one of the 3 pit workouts, work through a couple of decks of cards or use the gymboss timer for tabata burpees. I’d never pay to use a gym and when I’m staying in a hotel that has no gym I’ll either find a nearby park, field or my favourite place to workout a beach and if the weather is too inclement I’ll work out in my room.

For this evenings workout I ran up to the football pitch and worked through a deck of cards and after a quick drink, shuffled the cards and worked through the deck again. The exercises were:

Suits
* Hearts : Diamond press-up
* Diamonds : Tuck jumps
* Spades : Squat thrusts
* Clubs : Leg raises

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

Using a deck of cards to workout is one of my favorite fitness tips as the workouts don’t require any equipment, can be done anywhere, are portable and are as challenging as any workouts that you could ever try. For people who are just starting with strength training a bodyweight workout using a deck of cards is often more than enough to begin with and it gives you a good foundation of strength you can build on later.

Give the deck of cards a whirl, you won’t be disappointed.

This evenings workout, another deck of cards workout:

Suits
* Spades = Rustys
* Hearts = Push-ups
* Diamonds =Tuck Jumps
* Clubs = Squat Thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

I worked through the deck of cards twice for a total of 908 exercises, make no mistake about it, there are few routines that are as challenging as a deck of cards workout. Don’t rest between exercises and only have a very short rest between decks.

Not, I was going to make this evenings workout an HIIT workout but unfortunately I’d forgotten to charge a battery for the gymboss timer. I’d wanted to make this evenings workout bodyweight only as I’d done a kettlebell workout yesterday, since I’d also no battery for the mp3 player (I could have put a DVD on but wanted to workout outdoors), I was left with the deck of cards. This evenings workout was a deck of cards workout. I worked through the deck twice.

First deck was:

Spades = crunches
Diamonds = Jumping Jacks
Hearts = push-ups
Clubs = squat thrusts

Second deck was:

Spades = rustys
Diamonds = quantum jumps
Hearts = push-ups
Clubs = squat thrusts

Repetitions
ace = 11 reps
2 = 2 reps
3 = 3 reps and so on
Jack = 11 reps
Queen = 12 reps
King = 13 reps
Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

This evenings workout was another deck of cards, I’m in a hotel this evening so worked out in a small courtyard at the rear of the hotel. The exercises were:

Suits
* Spades = Boxers sit ups
* Hearts = Push ups
* Diamonds = Jumping Jacks
* Clubs = Squat Thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

I did this twice for a total of 908 exercises, make no mistake about it, if this workout is done correctly there are few routines that are as challenging as this one. Don’t rest between exercises and only have a very short rest between decks.

The deck of cards workouts are some of my favorite workouts as they don’t require any equipment, can be done anywhere, are portable and are as challenging as any workouts you could try. Each shuffle of the deck provides a new workout. Give the deck of cards a whirl and you won’t be disappointed.

This evenings workout was a bodyweight workout using a deck of cards and weighted vest. The exercises were:

Suits
* Spades = Leg Raises
* Hearts = Push ups
* Diamonds = Lunges
* Clubs = Squat Thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

I performed it twice, the second time wearing the weighted vest, this adds up to a total of 908 exercises. I haven’t used the vest in a few weeks and by the end of the workout I was lathered.

This is my favourite take anywhere workout, all you need is a deck of cards and your own bodyweight. Simply pick the top card off the pack, the suit corresponds to the exercise and the value of the card corresponds to the number of repetitions of that exercise.

Deck of Cards:

Suits
* Hearts = jumping jacks
* Diamonds = push-ups
* Spades = stomach crunches
* Clubs = squat thrusts

Repetitions
* ace = 11 reps
* 2 = 2 reps
* 3 = 3 reps and so on
* Jack = 11 reps
* Queen = 12 reps
* King = 13 reps
* Joker = 25 of the previous exercise.

Work through the deck as fast as possible, have a quick drink and then do it again.