Todays workout was a deck of cards workout.

Suits
* Spades = Bicycle Crunchies
* Hearts = Push-ups
* Diamonds =Star 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, I know I keep banging on about it but make no mistake about it, there really 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.

Originally posted 2009-07-29 19:03:26.

Todays workout was just a light one before sitting down to dinner. Snow is still thick on the ground so I went into the workshop at work and with my new heavy duty wire jump rope and Gymboss Timer, I jumped rope for 12×2 minute rounds with 30 seconds of ab work inbetween rounds. I followed this up with 10 sets of 25 push ups, alternating sets between hands wide apart, hands at shoulder width and hands together. Merry xmas.

Originally posted 2010-12-25 19:04:42.

This bodyweight only workout was my workout for 02/04/2011.

200 Punches
100 Squat With a Kick
150 Push-Ups
150 Squats
100 Sit-ups
80 Squat Thrusts
60 Elephants

Originally posted 2011-04-02 19:03:54.

For this evenings workout I ran to the football pitch and did bodyweight Tabata Intervals. Tabata Intervals are made up of 20 seconds of maximum intensity exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest. This cycle is repeated 8 times (for a total of 4-minutes).

* Jump Rope
* Push-ups
* Squats
* Crunchies

I did this workout 4 times, each lasting 4 minutes, the total workout lasting 16 minutes.

On paper, Tabata intervals offer a quick way to get fit in just four minutes of high intensity work. But don’t be misled, Tabata intervals are hard.

This protocol was originally developed for Olympic caliber athletes. Tabata Intervals originated from a study by Dr Izumi Tabata into the effects of moderate-intensity endurance and high-intensity intermittent training on anaerobic capacity and VO2max. This groundbreaking 1996 study, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, provided documented evidence concerning the dramatic physiological benefits of high-intensity intermittent training. After just 6 weeks of testing, Dr. Tabata noted a 28% increase in anaerobic capacity in his subjects, along with a 14% increase in their ability to consume oxygen (V02Max). These results were witnessed in already physically fit athletes. The conclusion was that just four minutes of Tabata interval training could do more to boost aerobic and anaerobic capacity than an hour of endurance exercise.

Dr. Tabata reported that the subjects were wiped out by the routine when testing the protocol and remember they were Olympic caliber athletes, the protocol was described as 6-7 sets, most of the subjects were exhausted after the sixth set of sprints and couldn’t complete the seventh. This style of training isn’t for a beginner and should only be considered if you have a solid fitness base.

Originally posted 2009-05-06 18:52:58.

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!

Originally posted 2010-07-10 19:42:53.

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.

Originally posted 2009-07-14 19:29:19.

Todays workout was done on the beach. Its a nice easy one, 4 sets of 30 squat thrusts, 30 boxers sit ups, 30 push ups, 30 jumping jacks with no rests or breaks, done as fast as possible with good form.

Originally posted 2009-05-28 20:42:46.

You don’t always need to use traditional exercise equipment and training routines in your workout program, as there are many great “alternative” training methods. One of my favourite “alternative” workout tools is the sledgehammer, although this is the first time in ages that I’ve used it. Using my 14lb sledgehammer and 20kg kettlebell after a quick warm up I performed:

* 10 sledge swings from each side x 2 (total of 20 each side)
* 20 2 handed kettlebell swings
* 15 incline push-ups (feet resting on the bottom of my free standing punch bag)

* 90 seconds rest

* 20 sledge swings from each side
* 10 kettlebell swings with each hand
* 15 incline push-ups

* 90 seconds rest

* 15 sledge swings from each side x 2 (total of 30 each side)
* 30 2 handed kettlebell swings
* 15 incline push-ups

* 90 seconds rest

* 30 sledge swings from each side
* 15 kettlebell swings with each hand
* 15 incline push-ups
* Grab a drink and cool down.

This was my workout for July 15th 2010.

Originally posted 2010-07-15 16:54:27.

I’m in an hotel this evening so decided on the pit full body workout as I haven’t done it for a couple of weeks, there is no equipment necessary and it can be done anywhere, I did the workout in the little courtyard at the rear of the hotel.

Originally posted 2009-06-02 22:04:47.

Studies have shown that circuit training is the most effective way to build cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. Circuit training combining both strength and cardiovascular exercises is an excellent way to improve both aspects of your fitness at the same time.

A typical circuit has around 10 or so ‘stations’ where a person completes a certain exercise at each station for a set period of time, before moving on to the next station. At each station there is a different exercise which is selected depending on what benefits you are looking to achieve from that particular circuit, a typical circuit will have bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, squat thrusts, burpees etc… and resistance exercises such as dumbbell or barbell curls, shoulder presses and pull ups.

You don’t need expensive equipment for circuit training either. All you really need for a circuit training is space if you make all exercise stations bodyweight exercises.

You can also suit the circuit to the space you have, whether it be a small gym or a football pitch. The main advantage of circuit training is that there is an infinite way that a circuit can be designed, so circuit training can benefit everyone, no matter what your sport.

The main disadvantage of circuit training is that is that it doesn’t build bulk. Circuit training is primarily aimed at improving cardiovascular and muscular endurance and the exercises are done at a high intensity with high repetitions with little resistance. In order to build bulk circuit training, you should reduce the number of repetitions at each station and use heavier weights or greater resistance.

Circuit training is a great tool and most circuits don’t take too long either, so be sure to include them in your routine.

Example Circuit:

Plyometric Push-ups
Dumbbell Curls
Vee Ups
Mountain Climbers
Military Press
Rustys
Squat Thrusts
Jumping Jacks
Squats to Presses
Burpees

This was my workout for 19th June, I worked through this circuit three times.

Originally posted 2009-06-19 17:12:48.