Workout Mashup

workout mashup

I haven’t really had the heart for my usual posts this week, and it still doesn’t feel quite right blogging–tragedies like Monday’s Boston Marathon have a way of making light, fluffy topics feel trivial. But I put together this workout and post last week and wanted it to run as scheduled. 

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Ra-ra-ra-reeeeeeeee-mix! I feel like a workout DJ—next thing you know, I’ll be doing Sunday Brunch at GEM.

I took segments from some of my previous workouts and combined them into this mashup routine. It’ll take about 30 minutes to complete, and because things are always changing up, you won’t get bored.

I’m including full descriptions below, but as a reference, these are the original workouts I’m pulling from:

Pumps & Iron Workout Mashup

Pumps & Iron workout mashup

Part 1

(from  15-Minute Ab Workout)

Complete three rounds of the following exercises. Don’t take a break between rounds.

  • 30 seconds Windshield Wipers: Lay on back, legs perpendicular to the ground and arms outstretched for support. Lower your legs to the right, twisting your hips, until they are just hovering above the ground. Lift back to starting position and over to the left side. Continue back and forth in a windshield wiper motion.
  • 30 seconds Bicycle Crunches: Lay on back, hands behind head. When you crunch up towards your bent left knee, your right leg should be extended out and not touching the ground. Switch sides, crunching over towards the right with your left leg extended. Continue in a fluid, cycling motion.
  • 30 seconds Boat Pose: If you practice yoga, you’re probably familiar with boat pose. Sit in a “V” pose with legs held straight up at about a 45-degree angle with the ground and arms out straight. If it’s too difficult to keep your legs straight, bend them at the knee for Half Boat Pose. Hold for the 30 seconds.

Part 2

(from 20-20-20 Kettlebell Workout)

Complete two rounds of the following sequence as fast as you can without sacrificing proper form.

  • 20 Kettle Bell Swings: Start with kettle bell down between your legs and, using your arms as a pendulum, swing the bell to slightly above eye level by thrusting with your hips while keeping your core tight as you stand up straight. Swing back down and repeat.
  • 20 Goblet Squats: Squat down, legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart, holding the kettle bell to your chest. Make sure your butt is pushing backwards, as if you’re sitting down on an invisible chair. This move, while clearly working the glutes and thighs, is also great for your back—don’t let your torso bend far forward with the weight of the kettle bell.
  • 20 Russian Twists: Sit with legs elevated, leaning slightly backwards, and twist from right to left, bringing kettle bell from one side of your body to the other.

Part 3

(from Full-Body Pyramid Workout)

You’ll start by going through the four moves, doing 6 reps of each (that’s 6 reps on each side for the side plank twists, and 6x2=12 reps for the kettlebell swings). The next round, you’ll do 5 reps of each, reducing each round by 1 until you reach the tip of the pyramid where you only have to do 1 rep of each exercise.

  • Jump lunge mountain climbers: Start in a lunge position and jump up, landing with opposite leg in front, back in a lunge position. Place hands flat on ground and do a mountain climber set (one on each side) so that the same foot ends up in front. Stand back up into lunge position and repeat. To make sure you aren’t working one leg more than the other, alternate the front foot on your uneven rounds of 5 reps, 3 reps, etc.
  • Side plank twists with weight (complete on both sides): Start in a side plank position holding a weight in your outstretched arm parallel to the ground. Twist your body in as if your torso were turning into a regular plank position, and as you do so, bring the weight in across your rib cage, crunching as if hugging yourself. I used a 10lb hand weight.
  • Medicine ball burpees: This is a regular burpee, only holding on to a medicine ball the whole time. Squat down, placing medicine ball on the ground in front of you, carefully jump back into a plank position, jump back up to squatting, then stand up and jump with your arms (and medicine ball) in the air. I used a 6lb med ball.
  • Kettlebell swings x2: This is hands-down one of my favorite exercises. Start with kettlebell down between your legs and, using your arms as a pendulum, swing the bell to slightly above eye level by thrusting with your hips while keeping your core tight as you stand up straight. Swing back down and repeat. Multiply the round by 2 for your rep count (during the first round, you’ll do 6×2= 12 reps). I used a 25lb kettlebell.

Part 4

(from Quick-Hit Countdown Workout)

For the first round, you’ll do 10 reps of each exercise, doubling up the split squats: 10 burpees, 10 leg lifts, 20 split squats, 10 clean and press with each arm. The next round, you’ll do 9 reps of each, and the last round, 8 reps.

  • Burpees: Squat down, placing hands on the ground in front of you, carefully jump back into a plank position, jump back up to squatting, then stand up and jump with your arms in the air.
  • Leg Lifts: Laying on your back with hands under your bum for support, lift legs off the ground and up, perpendicular to the ground (keeping them straight the whole time). Lower.
  • Split Squats x2: Start in deep squatting position with feet staggered. Back foot should be on the ball; front foot should be flat. Jump up and switch legs, landing back in deep squat with opposite leg in front.
  • Clean and Press (each arm): With feet a little wider than shoulder width apart, bend knees and bring kettle bell from a straight-arm hanging position to closely held by the center of your chest with arm bent. From there, straighten legs as you extend your arm skyward. Reverse the moves to bring yourself back to starting position. Try to keep the kettle bell towards the center of your body throughout this move. When done correctly, this isn’t just an upper-body workout, but great for your core.

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30-Minute Interval Workout

30-minute interval working (reverse plank move)

As I mentioned last week, I recently put together a 30-minute interval workout for Sara of Fit for a Bride to share with her readers. For those of you who didn’t have a chance to check it out, I wanted to post it here as well. I shot it over a month ago, and am having serious PTSD seeing myself wearing gloves and an ear warmer in these pictures. Winter was brutal—thank tha lo’ warm(er) weather is here!

30-Minute Interval Workout

Set an interval timer for 45 rounds of 30 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. You’ll go through the following sequence 5 times for a 30-minute workout.

30-minute interval workout

  • High Pulls (right): Start with feet hip-width apart with kettlebell on the floor in front of you. I use a 20-lb bell for these. Bend with your knees, keeping back straight, and grab the kettlebell. Power up, standing as you pull your elbow up, bringing the kettlebell up towards the side of your face. In a controlled movement, lower back to starting position. Keep your core tight as you do these. This move targets your shoulders and upper back, but as with most kettlebell exercises, also works your core if you do it right.
  • High Pulls (left)
  • Half Windshield with Butt Lift (right): Lay on back, legs perpendicular to the ground and arms outstretched for support. Lower your legs to the right, twisting your hips, until feet are just hovering above the ground. Lift back to starting position and then lift butt off the ground, pushing feet up towards the ceiling. Lower butt to starting position and repeat.
  • Half Windshield with Butt Lift (left)
  • Burpees with Push Up: This is a traditional burpee except that you’ll complete a pushup when you’re down in the plank position.
  • Split Squats: Start in deep squatting position with feet staggered. Back foot should be on the ball; front foot should be flat. Jump up and switch legs, landing back in deep squat with opposite leg in front.
  • Elbow Plank: You know the drill!
  • Kettlebell Swing Punches: This is just like a regular swing except for at the top, bend your elbows wide, bringing the kettlebell in towards your face, and punch it back out. I use a 25-lb kettlebell for these.
  • Reverse Plank: This is an elbow plank flipped upside-down. Support yourself on your forearms and heels and lift your hips so that your body is in a straight line and hold the position. I always find this move challenging—definitely a little shaking going on at the end!

30-minute interval workout (kettlebell swings)

(Look at how happy and at ease I am in this picture! Clearly not really doing the workout…)

Temps are supposed to reach into the 70s here in Boston today, so I think some happy hour drinks on the harbor are most definitely in order! (And a long morning run outside, of course.)

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March Online Workout Roundup

March’s online workout roundup is being posted today instead of yesterday because…April Fools? I don’t know. I spent more than half of March being too stubborn to take antibiotics for my sinus infection, so the result was a much lower level of physical activity and only two workouts from around the web to share with you guys this month. But they’re goooooood.

Jillian Michaels’ Core Workout for Women’s Health Magazine

Jillian Michaels' ab workout for Women's Health Magazine

I started going through this workout and was like ok, this is good, I can do three rounds of this no problem, this isn’t too bad…then I came to the third exercise. The uneven hold (I usually call these superman planks) is a challenging move on its own, but adding in the arm/leg fly—wow. I’m glad I did this workout in the privacy of my own home because I looked like an absolute fool wobbling all over the place trying to pull it off. Eventually I got the hang of it, but it was challenging to say the least. Anything that requires that much balance and stability is great for working your core.

The only modification I made was using 10-lb weights instead of 8 lbs. ORIGINAL POST HERE.

Brazilian Butt Workout from The Haute Bunny

When my friend suggested this workout, I couldn’t wait to try it out—she’s in way better shape than I am, so when she says a workout is good, I know it’s going to kick my ass. And this one did. Literally. My attempts at getting in and out of a chair the next day were absolutely pathetic.

It’s a long one for a targeted-muscle-group workout—took me almost 40 minutes to get through all three rounds—but it’s worth it. Definitely give this one a try if you’re looking to tone up that ‘donk. ORIGINAL POST HERE.

Speaking of nothing that has to do with what I’m about to say next, I went down to the Vineyard to visit my parents on Saturday and got in a great beach walk and a run through the woods that inspired me to do another half marathon. Being impulsive as usual, I immediately signed up for one the first weekend in June. I’ll post my training schedule later this week.

Lucy Vincent Beach, Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard

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Medicine Ball Deck of Cards Workout

med ball sit and toss exerciseBlahh. I am so sick that I feel tired just looking at this workout post. The cold I had last week has morphed into a sinus infection, and the pressure is so intense that it’s making my teeth ache to the point where I can barely eat. I somehow dragged myself to a Pilates class on Sunday, but other than that haven’t had the energy to workout much at all.

I was really hoping I could just cure myself because I HATE going to the doctor and HATE medicine, but I’m throwing in the towel and getting some antibiotics later today. So while I breathe heavily through my mouth and blow 40 pounds of snot out of my head every five minutes (so sexual), let’s rewind to a happier, healthier time when I made this med ball workout…

Here are the general rules of a deck-of-cards workout:

  • Each suit corresponds to a different exercise.
  • Each number tells you how many reps of that exercise you’ll do.
  • Face cards = 10
  • Aces = 11
  • Flip over the cards one at a time until you’ve gone through the entire deck.

med ball push upsFor this med ball deck of cards workout:

  • Spades = Sit Up & Toss
  • Hearts = Jumping Jack Squats x 2 (multiply the number on the card by 2)
  • Clubs = Alternating Uneven Push Ups
  • Diamonds = Basketball Drill Jump Shots

I’m using a 6-lb med ball for this workout, but adjust the weight according to your strength level.

medicine ball deck of cards workoutSPADES: Sit Up & Toss

Lay on back with arms stretched overhead, holding on to your medicine ball. Lift the medicine ball forward as you sit up, keeping arms straight, and lift it straight above your head as your body comes into upright sitting position. Bring ball into chest and toss up into the air. Catch and slowly lower to the ground, bringing ball back overhead behind you.

HEARTS: Jumping Jack Squats x2

These are essentially jumping jacks in a squatting position. Start with legs a little more than shoulder-width apart in a squat position, holding medicine ball mid-torso. Jump legs together (remaining in a squat position) and reach medicine ball down and to the left of your feet. Jump back into starting position, then alternate, jumping legs together and reaching medicine ball down and to the right of your feet. The “x2” means that if you draw a 4 of hearts, you’ll do (4×2)= 8 jack squats.

CLUBS: Alternating Uneven Push Ups

I do these from my knees, but if you’re a badass feel free to do the full-body version (show off!). Do a push up with your right hand on a med ball, then roll the ball to the left and do a push up with your left hand on the med ball.

DIAMONDS: Basketball Drill Jump Shots

Squat down, bounce the ball off the ground, jump up (like you’re taking a jump shot, but not really) with arms overhead and land back in a squatting position.

By the way, there’s this cool iPhone app called RipDeck that will actually act as a deck of cards in these workouts. You plug in what each suit corresponds to and it will do the rest!

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Kettlebell Tabata Workout

kettlebell tabata workout; high pull

Aaaaand it’s another kettlebell routine! (Today we’ll spell “kettlebell” as one word.)

Today’s workout is extremely necessary for me after the unhealthiness (and ridiculously fun time) that was St. Patty’s Day. So I’ll get right to it…

Kettlebell Tabata Workout

For each exercise, set an interval timer for 8 rounds of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. When the four minutes is up, move on to the next exercise.

Before some kettlebell pro calls me out for my form in the below tutorial, yes, I realize that a kettlebell swing should be more like a dead lift and less like a squat. But when I do traveling kb swings, I tend to bend my knees more. Also, let’s all take a moment to laugh at my face in the one-arm swing & shuffles. Every. Single. Picture. taken during that particular exercise looked like that. Can’t wait for this to be all over Pinterest! Haha.

kettlebell tabata workout

  • Traveling Kettlebell Swings: This is a basic kettlebell swing, but when you’re at the top of your swing, take a step forward, leading with your right foot and bringing you left foot up to meet it. Stay planted there for the downswing. When you’re at the top of the next swing, take a step forward, this time leading with your left foot. Depending on how much space you have, take 4-6 steps forward and then start stepping backwards instead, traveling up and down the room you’re in. I use a 25-lb kettlebell.
  • Figure 8s: Start with legs a bit more than shoulder-width apart and lower yourself into a shallow squat. Keep your back straight and chest up. You’ll hold the kettlebell in one hand (I use a 35-lb bell when I do this move; I recommend using 5-10lbs heavier than the weight you swing), and weave it around your legs in a figure 8 motion, passing it off between hands as you swing through the center. Alternate the direction in which you swing it around your legs each 20-second work interval.
  • One-Arm Swing & Side Shuffle: This is a basic one-arm swing, but on the upswing, you’ll shuffle/prance to the right, hopping your left foot towards your right, and then your right foot out to the side. On the next upswing, shuffle over to the left. Alternate the arm you’re swinging with during each work interval. I use a 20-lb bell.
  • Overhead Reach Sit Up into Russian Twist: Start laying on your back with knees bent and feet up, and holding a kettlebell outstretched overhead. I use a 10lb bell for these. Bring the kettlebell up and over to your chest as you sit up, keeping feet elevated. Do a Russian Twist and then lower back down, lifting bell back overhead into starting position. Each sit up, alternate the sit to which you first twist.
  • High Pull: Start with feet hip-width apart with kettlebell on the floor in front of you. I use a 20lb bell for these. Bend with your knees keeping back straight, grab and kettlebell, and power up, standing as you pull your elbow up, bringing the kettlebell up towards the side of your face. In a controlled movement, lower back to starting position. Repeat with same arm during the interval. During the next 20-second work interval, alternate the arm. I really feel these in my shoulders the next day!

10 points to any Bostonian who can name the park I’m pictured in!

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