You might remember the deck of cards workout I posted last summer. It was long and tough, and I think we all had a love-hate relationship with it (ok maybe mostly hate lol). I’ve gotten lots of requests for another one, so today I’m sharing a new deck of cards workout video.

This is a total-body workout, but legs and core will especially get a burn. My abs and legs were feeling it the next day after shooting the video! It’s a long one (took me about 50 minutes to complete). If you’re newer to working out or short on time, I’ll let you know when you hit the halfway point in the video and you can opt to stop there.

Deck of Cards Workout Video (50 Mins)

EQUIPMENT I USED:

• Medium dumbbell – I’m using a 10-lb weight. If you don’t have access to a weight, all the exercises can be done with just bodyweight.

In a deck of cards workout, each suit corresponds to a different exercise. The number on the cards tells you how many reps to do. For today’s workout:

• ACES = 1 rep
• FACE CARDS = 10 reps
• JOKER = Finisher at the end of the workout. You’ll do three reps of each exercise, finishing the final rep with a 30-second hold.

If you’re following along with the video, you have a couple options. Because you complete the exercises at your own pace, you may be moving faster or slower than me through the deck. You can pause/fast-forward the video as needed. If you’re going faster than me, you could also use the extra time as recovery while I finish the reps. If you’re going slower than me, you can forgo rep numbers and just do as many reps as you can in the time it takes me to complete them.

As with all workouts, make sure you’re properly warmed up beforehand. Always listen to your body, modifying or stopping as needed.

Workout Breakdown

See 2:33 in the above video for a preview of all the exercises and how to modify them.

• DIAMONDS = Squat Jump with Press at Bottom
• HEARTS = Lunge Hop to Deadlift Hinge – complete the rep number on *each* leg.
• SPADES = Full-Body Crunch
• CLUBS = Bear Plank to Donkey Kick

If you’re looking for additional longer workouts, my Circuit + Tabata class pack is always available for purchase! You get five 45-minute long total body workouts that are challenging, but scalable for all levels. Speaking of the class pack, last week’s giveaway winner will be notified via email later today!

xo Nicole

I’ve got a doozy for you today! In response to the requests I’ve gotten for longer videos, I present to you this deck of cards workout. It took me 45 minutes to complete and I was feeling it the next couple days. It’s long and tough, but you can opt to do just half the deck instead of the full thing, which would give you a 20-25 minute workout. Save the second half for the following day or later in the week!

Tough Deck of Cards Workout

 

A deck-of-cards workout is structured kinda like a game. Each suit corresponds to a different exercise and the number on the card tells you how many reps to do.

Face cards = 10 reps
Aces = 11 reps
Joker = 20 Burpees

If you’re going at a faster pace than me, you can do extra reps until I’m done or just take advantage of longer rest time between exercises. If you’re moving at a slower pace than me, you can pause the video or just get in as many reps as you can and stop when I stop.

As with all workouts, make sure to warm up beforehand. I have a warm up on my channel or you can do your own. Listen to your body and modify as needed, stopping altogether if something doesn’t feel right. A proper cool-down is important, too! Take some time to stretch after this workout.

Deck of Cards Exercise Breakdown

CLUBS = Russian Twist to Overhead Press | Twist left, press, twist right, press = 1 rep.

DIAMONDS = Scissor Jump Lunges | Do the designated rep number on each leg. So if you draw a 9 of diamonds, that’s 9 reps on the right and 9 reps on the left.

SPADES = Plank Jump to Low Squat Hop |This is a combo move: start in a plank and jump your feet in halfway, back out to plank, then up to the outsides of your hands landing in a squat and do a little hop, staying low. That combo = 1 rep.

HEARTS = Breakdancer Push Ups | Alternate side to side with the breakdancer kick-throughs. 1 push up + 1 kick-through = 1 rep. Because we’re alternating, try to lead with alternating sides each time this exercise comes up so we stay roughly even between right and left.

If you like this workout, I have some other deck of cards workouts organized chronologically. They don’t have a follow-along video like this one, but all include detailed pictorials so you can do them at home or the gym.

xo Nicole