Blog Archives
Extreme Core Workout
The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Titin Tech.
Steve recently showed you how to use Titin weighted compression shirts to add resistance to plyos and calisthenics in my last post, but what about static holds like plank or yoga poses?
Today’s workout is an example of how versatile the Titin compression shirt really is. Since your resistance is like a second skin, you can comfortably add it to just about any exercise you do – like this challenging core workout routine. Even if you don’t have Titin gear yet, give this workout a try and imagine what it would feel like weighted down!
Complete 3 Rounds on Each Side:
10 Diagonal Knee
10 Side Elbow Plank with Single Side Kick
10 Elbow Plank Single Donkey Kick
10 T-Plank Row Combo
Repeat on the other leg
Improve strength, power and endurance with Titin! Learn More about Titan weighted compression gear & join the Titin Team at http://bit.ly/fftitin.
Pin the graphic:
4 Awesome Ab Workouts
Need a new ab routine? Here’s a program you can follow that will help give you variety and a solid regime to follow. Steve designed this 4-day ab routine to add to any workout program. (click on the links below to see instruction for each exercise)
Before you check out the workout, read Steve’s blog on abdominal and oblique muscles. He explains each muscle, why we work it, how often we can work it, why we work it with and without weights, and what each muscle does for our physique! It’s GOOD STUFF!
4-Day Workout Program:
Each week, pick 3 days of A OR B Workouts and 1 day of C OR D Workouts
Click on the exercise to view video instruction.
High Rep Day
Improve resting tone, muscular tone, decreasing waist size, increasing definition.
REST: Recover for approximately 30 seconds between exercises.
(A)
25 reverse cross leg crunch left
25 Oblique Crunch left
25 side elbow plank hip pulse left (NOTE: don’t let your hip touch the floor like this girl does)
(repeat right)
X3
Super Set
25 decline sit ups
25 decline crunch
X3
(B)
25 reverse cross leg crunch left
25 reverse cross leg crunch right
50 cartwheel with PVC (these are done much faster than the video)
25 reverse crunch (or roll up)
X4
25 ball pass (8-12lbs)
X4
High Resistance Day
Build hypertrophy and definition of rectus abdominus and serratus anterior.
REST: allow for more rest/recovery between sets (1min)
(C)
15-20 Rope crunch
15-20 angled roman chair
15-20 hanging abs
X3
(D)
15 plate crunch
15 decline weighted plate crunch
15-25 abdominal machine (hammer strength)
X3
Top 20 Exercises You Love to Hate, and Hate to Love
Fitness requires going out of your comfort zone. This means you will have a love/hate relationship with some exercises. You will hate to do them, but you will love what they do for you!
Some Exercises Are Really A Chore
Seriously, I’d be lying if I told you I love every exercise. People need to be realistic. You may like a clean home, but that doesn’t mean you enjoy cleaning toilets. While you might not mind wiping down the counters, there will be some things you don’t like to do – but you sure are glad when they are done. In the same way, everyone has that exercise they really would prefer to skip, but you don’t want to skip the results.
No! Anything but THAT!
For most of us, it’s the exercise that takes the most work we hate the most. If only we could spray ourselves down with bleach to melt the fat away. Nope, it’s going to take some elbow grease I’m afraid! The fact is, if it’s an easy exercise, it probably isn’t as effective as the tougher ones.
If you want an effective exercise, you will probably need the exercise that works you where you need it most (normally working your weakest areas). It will be that dreaded exercise that gets your heart pounding out of your chest to the point you think your heart is going to explode. Or, maybe it’s the exercise that burns so much you are convinced your muscles are going to spontaneously bust out in flames. You probably are already thinking of a few exercises that fit this category. It’s OK, we all have a secret list of most-hated exercises. We don’t have to love every exercise we do. We can just love the results!
The Eight I Hate
Personally, my most hated exercises are Big Ax Jacks and Stomps. Oh yeah, I almost forgot wall sits, all yoga and push ups. Oh wait, and there are pull ups and Mary Catherines. OK, maybe I could make my own top 20 list, because I have enough hated exercises to fill up the list on my own. However, if I’m honest (and you know I am) I have to admit most of these most hated exercises are exercises that works my body in ways I need it worked the most. So what does that tell me? I need to do those exercises even MORE. Ughhhhh. The truth stinks!! But you know what they say, the will set you free! :)
As I pondered the most hated (and secretly loved) exercises, I decided to set out and find what other people HATE to do, but LOVE the results. Since we all have different strengths and weaknesses, I fully expected different opinions. At the same time, I also knew there would be a few top picks that almost everyone would agree on. The comments were awesome!
Top 20 Most-Hated Exercises That Work
Below, are the top 20 responses – from awful to worst (I wonder what THAT could be! lol The Hint is in the screen shot from facebook below. haha)! TIP: Click on the link to view video instruction.
20. Thrusters
19. Jump Squats
18. Rope Climb
17. Manmakers
16. Double Unders
15. Pistol Squat (Single Leg Squat)
14. Wall Ups
13. The Gauntlet (Step Mill)
12. Tuck Jumps
11. Wall Sits
10. Pull Ups
9. Stomps
8. Mary Catherines (Plyo split lunges)
7. Push Ups
6. Planks & Side Planks
5. Running
4. Lunges (all types of lunges!)
3. Big Ax Jacks (minus the football stomps in the video)
2. Mountain Climbers
1. Burpees
Add Your Most-Dreaded to the List!
What is your nemesis? What exercise do YOU hate to do, but love the results? Comment below!
Join us on LiveExercise and learn how to incorporate these exercises in your workout. Steve and I lead a cross training workout show each week where we use some of the most hated (and loved) exercises to get you the results you want. We’d love to have you!! Click on the LIVE logo and get workout with us for 2 weeks free! We have 32 LiveXFit workouts you can do, plus over 2,000 other workouts to try too including kickboxing, yoga, chiseled bands, chiseled cardio, dumbbells, toning and more!
Fat Blasting, Body Sculpting Bodyweight Workout
This workout requires NO weights. The only thing you would need is a pull-up bar (or some bands for pull downs if you can’t do pull ups). Do the following 3 circuits with no rest between exercises. Complete 3 rounds each with no rest before moving to the next circuit. Only rest for a brief rest between circuits for optimal calorie and fat burn.
Like the workout? Be sure to Share, Pin, Instagram and all that jazz! :) ENJOY!
LOWER BODY
10 Jump Squats
2 Burpees
10 Mary Catherines
2 Burpees
10 Squats
2 Burpees
X 3 ROUNDS
UPPER BODY
10 Push ups
2 4-Count Mountain Climbers (Count: ONE,2, 3, 4, TWO, 2, 3 4)
10 Tricep Dips
2 4-Count Mountain Climbers
10 Pull Ups or Pull Downs
2 4-Count Mountain Climbers
X 3 ROUNDS
CORE
10 Squat thrusts
2 Alternating t-plank (ONE Left, ONE Right, TWO Left, TWO Right)
10 Surfers
2 Alternating t-plank
10 Hop Overs
2 Alternating t-plank
X 3 ROUNDS
Extreme 1-Minute Workout Challenge & Suicide Drill
Extreme 1-Minute Challenge Workout
Type of workout: 1 Minute of cardio, followed by a strength move.
Tools: You can use dumbbells or barbells – or even 2 jugs of water! I used 25lb dumbbells for snatches and a barb (40lbs) for my clean, squats & presses. I also used a band for pull downs & Steve did pull ups (so you’d need a pull up bar or a resistance band).
Instructions: This is why it’s called a challenge. We are challenging you to complete a certain number of reps of each cardio move with in a minute. Whatever reps you are short, you will add to the next strength move, but you’ll never do less than 10 reps. So, if you finish 15 reps short, you will do 15 reps of the strength workout. If you finish 5 short, you will do the 10 rep minimum. If you are 20 short, you will do 20 reps of the strength move. Got it? Good! Follow us in the video !
Squats – 1 Minute to do 75
Weighted Squats – 10 Reps Minimum (plus # of reps you didn’t complete above)
Burpees – 1 Minute to do 30
Clean Squat Press – 10 Reps (plus # of reps you didn’t complete above)
Jump Rope - 1 Minute to do 45 Dubs or 85 Regular
Thrusters – 10 Reps (plus # of reps you didn’t complete above)
Tuck Jumps – 1 Minute of 45
Snatches – 10 Reps (plus # of reps you didn’t complete above)
2-Count Mountain Climbers – 1 Minute to do 75 (150 singles)
Sit Ups – 10 Reps (plus # of reps you didn’t complete above)
Extreme Jump & Pull Suicide
20 Double Unders or Tuck Jumps
20 Pull Ups (or Pull Downs)
Then repeat it doing 18 reps each. Then 16, then 14, 12, 10…all the way down to 2. Minimal rest (just enough to catch your breath). Rest when you are done! :)
Here is this week’s show! Get ready to sweat!
Full-Body Scardio Workout
Strength + Cardio = Scardio!
Why do your cardio and strength separately, when you can do them together and burn MORE calories and get FASTER results?! Full body conditioning workouts not only sculpt your body, burn fat and tone muscle but they get you in the best shape – AND they save time!
There are 2 ways to do this workout. For more cardio, do both the upper body and lower body back-to-back and then repeat the both circuits 3 times. For more strength, do each circuit separately, doing upper body for 3 rounds, then doing lower body for 3 rounds (how it’s written below). Either one will burn a ton of calories and tone! Try them both and tell me which one you prefer! :)
TIP: Click on the links to see video instruction.
SET YOUR TIMER: 60 seconds cardio, 30 seconds strength
I use the Gymboss Interval Timer, which lets you set up various training intervals!
60s JUMP ROPE
30s PULL UPS or PULL DOWNS
30s SHOULDER PRESS
30s BICEP CURLS
30s PUSH UPS
X 3 (no rest until all 3 rounds are done)
60s MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS
30s FORWARD LUNGE LEFT (with or without weight)
30s FORWARD LUNGE RIGHT (with or without weight)
30s HAMSTRING CURL (bands, machine or ball)
30s SQUATS (with or without weight)
X 3 (no rest until all 3 rounds are done)
Be sure to subscribe for more workouts!
Build a Mean & Clean Workout
Anytime you use multi-joint movements (like squatting with an overhead shoulder press), you burn more calories and improve strength and power. Explosive multi-joint movements causes an endocrine dump, where your body releases multiple hormones that stimulate your metabolism, growth and repair. This is why you will see a lot of “boot campy” combination exercises in our workouts, like burpees, thrusters, squats, overhead walking lunges, etc.
In this workout, we take 4 different movements and combine them in one exercise that keeps growing as you add each move. All of these exercises are great alone – but when you put them all together, WOW! You get one amazing workout!!
Clean & Mean Workout
- 5 cleans
- 5 cleans with a shoulder press
- 5 cleans with a shoulder press & squat
- 5 cleans with a press, squat & thruster
Go all the way through it with no rest. Do it between traditional exercises to boost fat burn and intensity or do 3-5 sets alone.
This exercise is part of episode 29 of LiveXFit on www.liveexercise.com
Get more workout ideas right here at http://www.PFITblog.com :)
Full Body Blasting Circuit
Another awesome blitz from our LiveXFit show on Live Exercise!
This workout is made up of 30 seconds of cardio followed by 10+ heavy reps of resistance exercise. The workout is designed for you to go up in weight each round and stay with 10 reps OR go up 5 reps each round if you stay at the same weight. You probably won’t be able to go super heavy because of the cardio and no rest. So heavy for this circuit will be light compared to traditional weight lifting. For instance, I squat 95-185lbs when I’m just squatting (and resting in between sets). There is NO rest during this circuit, so it’s everything I have to just keep going!
This workout is about burning fat AND toning muscle at the same time – a perfect workout for people on the go who don’t have time to sit around between sets and get extra cardio too!!
Here’s a snap shot of all the exercises:
GET READY TO SWEAT:
Tools: Dumbbells, Kettlebells, bands or barbell – even 2 gallons of water will do!
30 sec squat jumps
10 shoulder presses
30 sec jump rope
10 dips (I added weight to my lap)
30 sec mountain climbers
10 squats
X 3-5 rounds – NO rest between exercises
Check out our LiveXFit show on Live Exercise!
Sweat & Tone! Awesome Shoulder Workout
This was my workout yesterday. This is not a bodybuilder workout where you isolate muscles and rest in between exercises. Prepare to SWEAT! I was dripping wet and out of breath practically the whole time. I’m sharing the weight I did so you can get a feel for the right resistance for you. :) Have fun!
Click on the links to see video instruction if you are unfamiliar with an exercise.
#1 SET (5 Sets)
10-12 Heavy Push Presses and Split Jerks
#1: 45lb Bar Standing Military Press
#2: 55lbs Push Press
#3: 65lb Push Press
#4: 75lb Split Jerk
#5 85lb Split Jerk
TIP: Rest between sets so you can lift heavy. Not TOO much rest though. :)
#2 SUPER SET
10 25lb Snatches (10 Left & 10 Right)
10 Alternating Shoulder Press (ladders) with 8-10lb dumbbells (10 each arm/20 total)
TIP: no rest between exercise. Rest AFTER both exercises are complete back to back.
#3 SUPER SET
10 45lb Bar Moderate Military or Push Press
10 8lb Dumbbell Alternating Shoulder Press (Fast ladder press – 10 each arm/20 total)
10 5lb Dumbbell Lateral Raises
TIP: On ladders, one hand should be going down WHILE the other is going up to keep BOTH arms moving. Otherwise one arm gets rest while the other arm works. This super set is about wearing them out.) NO REST until all 3 exercises are complete. Short rest between super sets.
#4 SUPER SET
12 Face Pulls with Rope
12 Rear Delt Raises
Let me know how you do!! :)
LiveXFit: Shoulder & Cardio Workout
If you’ve worked out with Steve before, you might have heard him say this is going to be a “Scardio” workout. What he means is, this is going to be a strength + cardio workout, so prepare to pour sweat! Well, this is one of those workouts! Truth is, all of our workouts on the LiveXFit shows are scardio workouts. Here’s a good example how a shoulder workout can take your breath away! Give it a try:
5 Snatches Right
15 Push Press
5 Snatches Left
15 Ladder Press
5 Snatches Right
15 Lateral Raises
5 Snatches Left
Repeat 3-5 times OR start with 20 reps of the strength moves, and drop 5 reps each round (20, 15, 10 & 5). If you go down in reps, you might want to try to go UP in weight. Pick a heavy weight or you won’t get all the goody out of this workout! Let me know what you think! :)
