Towel + hardwood floor = ghetto Megaformer?? In an attempt to mimic my beloved machine while visiting my parents this holiday, I put together this ab workout using a towel to recreate a couple of my favorite Lagree Fitness exercises.

Deck of Cards Ab Workout

Equipment I Used:

• Exercise mat
• Dish towel (if you have carpeted floors, use DVD cases or an overturned Frisbee; if you’re at a gym, use sliders)
• Deck of cards (you can also use a smartphone app like RipDeck)

In a deck of cards workout, each suit corresponds to an exercise and the number on the card tells you how many reps to complete. Face cards = 10. Aces = 11. Flip the cards over one at a time, completing the given rep-exercise combo, flipping over the next, and continuing until you’ve gone through the entire deck.

HEARTS = Bear – Pike Sliding Plank Combo

Start in a plank position with your feet on a towel. Keeping your hips level with your shoulders, back flat, slide your feet forward, bending your knees in towards your elbows. Slide feet back out, straightening your legs into plank position. Now, keeping your legs straight, pike your hips up into the air, bringing your body into an upside down “v” shape. Try to keep your heels lifted as you do this, sliding on the balls of your feet. Once you hit your peak (if you have tight hamstrings, you may not be able to get your hips up very high—that’s ok!), slowly lower back down into plank position. That combo (1 bear with bent knees + 1 pike with straight legs) = 1 rep.

SPADES = Side Plank Hip + Leg Lifts

Start in a side plank position, right hand stacked under right shoulder. From here, dip your hips down towards the ground and then squeeze your right sidebody to lift them back up to starting position. Next, lift your top, left leg straight up and then back down to starting position. That’s one rep. When you do the leg lift, make sure you’re not letting your hips sag downward—hold ‘em up! Repeat on both sides (so if you draw a 7 of spades, do 7 reps on the right and 7 reps on the left). 

DIAMONDS = Oblique Towel Sliders

Start in a plank position with feet on a towel (or other sliding object). From here, slide both feet up towards the outside of your right hand. Slide back to center and starting plank position, and then repeat in the opposite direction. Once you’ve gone to each side, that’s one rep. As you do these, avoid letting your hips drop—you don’t want to sit on your heels as you slide your feet up to the side. Engage your obliques to keep hips relatively level with shoulder-height the whole time.

CLUBS = V-Up to Full-Body Crunch Combo

Start on your back with arms stretched overhead and legs hovering just slightly above the ground. Pull your abs in tight and press your low back to the ground. You’ll then crunch up, bringing your hands towards your toes (keeping legs and arms straight). When done correctly, your body will make a “v” shape as you crunch; this means you’re not just reaching your arms up, your chest needs to move towards your knees. Lower back down to starting position. Next, go into your full body crunch, bending your knees in as you crunch your chest up to meet them, wrapping your arms around your knees. Extend and lower back down to starting position. That sequence is one rep. If possible, your feet should never touch the ground between moves and reps.

WEARING | top & leggings: Fabletics // leg warmers: Lululemon // bra: c/o Cory Vines

As an added bonus to this workout, your floors will be beautifully polished by the end…

I did this on one of those days when you keep putting off your workout (but with full intension of doing it!) until all of a sudden it’s 8PM and anything not involving your couch and/or bed seems like an absolutely terrible idea. I figured a deck of cards workout would be a way to make it seem more like a game and less like a workout? Wrong. This was so hard. In fact, it’s pretty much the complete opposite of anything involving your couch and/or bed.

Thanks to my friends over at Cozy Orange, I’m rocking some fun printed leggings in today’s tutorial. They’re super comfy and the material is perfect for these upcoming colder months as it’s warm and a little on the thicker side. They have a small key pocket in the waistband as well, so I can see these being on heavy rotation for my cold-weather morning runs! If you want to check them out online, these are the Juno Fitted Yoga Pants.

Kettlebell Double-or-Nothing Deck of Cards Workout

Equipment I Used (adjust weights to your individual fitness level):

• 15-lb kettlebell
• 20-lb kettlebell
• 25-lb kettlebell
• A deck of cards (you can also use an app like RipDeck)

Deck-of-cards workouts are fun! Each suit corresponds to a different exercise, and number on the cards indicates how many reps of that exercise you’ll do. Ace is 11 and face cards are 10. Go through the entire deck, flipping one card over at a time.

For this particular “double or nothing” workout, you’ll either double the number of reps indicated on each card, or do it twice, once on each side (left, right). For example:

8 of clubs = 16 kettlebell swings

4 of diamonds = 4 windmills on the left, 4 windmills on the right

CLUBS | Kettlebell Swings (x2)

Start with kettlebell on the floor between your legs and lift it up to starting position with both hands, flat back, using your legs to lift. With kettlebell hanging between your legs, use your arms as a pendulum, and swing the bell to chest-to-eye level by thrusting with your hips while keeping your core tight as you stand up straight. Swing back down and repeat. Your knees should remain slightly bent, but the main source of movement is hinging at the hips—not so much squatting. I use a 25-lb bell.

DIAMONDS | Windmills (a set on each side)

Start in a standing position, feet wider than hip-width apart, kettlebell pressed above head in right hand. Your right foot should be pointing forward, your left foot pointing out to the side (perpendicular to the right). Slowly bend down, keeping legs and the arm holding the kettlebell straight. Touch the ground by your left foot with your left hand, keeping the kettlebell perpendicular to the ground the whole time. Slowly rise back up to starting position. A good way to maintain proper alignment during this is to look up at the kettlebell the whole time. I used a 15-lb kettlebell for these.

SPADES | Figure 8 Squats (x2)

Start standing with feet a little more than hip width apart, holding the kettlebell in one hand. Squat down, and as you do, pass the bell through your legs to the other hand, tracing half of a figure 8. Stand up, squeezing that booty and popping your hips forward. Squat back down, finishing the figure 8 shape around your legs as you pass the kettlebell through your legs to the starting hand. Here’s a video of it in action (fast forward to 0:43).

HEARTS | High Pulls (a set on each side)

Stand tall, feet about hip-width apart, with the kettlebell on the ground in front of you to one side. Squat down, weight in your heels, grabbing the kettlebell with one hand. This is your starting position. From here, power up to a standing position using your legs. As you do, pull the kettlebell straight up by your armpit, leading with the elbow. Bring the kettlebell back down to the ground softly, tapping it to the floor and going right into your next rep. I used a 20-lb kettlebell.

WEARING | leggings: c/o Cozy Orange // top: H&M // sneakers: Nike

Have you ever done a deck of cards workout?

Hello from Logan Airport! I’m here bright and early about to head to San Francisco for a fun blogging trip with Stitch Fix & LUNA Bars. I’ll obviously post ALL about it when I get back, but for now you can follow my trip on Instagram and Twitter. If you read a bunch of health & fitness blogs, you’ll probably recognize a lot of the other bloggers going with me–I was actually a little shocked (but so excited) to see I made the list! If they’re the MLB of fit blogging, I’m still playing tee ball over here haha. Anyway, on to today’s post…

I don’t have a gym membership, but every once in a while I’ll mooch a guest pass to Equinox or Sports Club LA from one of my friends and get in a workout using cardio equipment. This deck of cards workout is perfect for the treadmill, but can also be done using an elliptical, stairmaster, jump rope—or just by running outside. Get creative with the cardio portion!

Cardio Deck of Cards Workout

Equipment I Used:

• Treadmill
• Two 10-lb dumbbells
• Deck of Cards (or a deck-of-cards app like RipDeck)

For the deck-of-cards workout structure, you flip over one card at a time. Each suite corresponds to a different exercise, and the number on the card indicates the number of reps you’ll do. For example, a three of diamonds = 3 jack-jump planks in this workout. Go through the entire deck. There are smartphone apps out there (I use RipDeck) you can use so that you don’t have to be that weirdo walking into the gym holding a deck of cards.

CLUBS = PUSH UPS WITH DUMBBELL ROWS

Holding a dumbbell in each hand in a plank position, do a push up. Row your right hand up, elbow thrusting up, and then do the left. That’s one rep. If it hurts your wrists to hold the weights while in plank, place them besides you and just grab them after you do the push up for the rows.

DIAMONDS = JACK JUMP PLANKS

Start in a plank position. Jump both feet up towards your hands. Jump them back into plank position. Jump feet apart (like a horizontal jumping jack) and then jump them back together into your starting plank position. That’s one rep.

SPADES = V-UP CRUNCHES

To do a V-Up, you start on your back with arms stretched out overhead and legs hovering just slightly above the ground. You’ll then crunch up, bringing your hands towards your toes (keeping legs and arms straight). When done correctly, your body will make a “v” shape as you crunch; this means you’re not just reaching your arms up, your chest needs to move towards your knees. Lower back down to starting position. If possible, your feet should never touch the ground.

HEARTS = TREADMILL FOR 2 MINS

• Face card or Ace = Sprint (9-12 mph)
• 6-10 = Run (7-10 mph)
• 2-5 = Jog (5-7 mph)

WEARING | tank: Athleta // bra & leggings: c/o Reebok // sneakers: Nike

Like what I’m wearing in today’s post? SHOP A SIMILAR LOOK:

Blahh. 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.

Medicine Ball Deck of Cards Workout

Equipment I Used:

• 6-lb medicine ball

For 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.

SPADES: 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!

With all the snow and cold weather of the past couple months, I’ve let myself get into a bit of a workout rut—still doing it daily, but with less intensity and enthusiasm. I think everyone falls into “blah” workout phases from time to time, and the best way to get out of them is to change up your routine. My prayers were answered via Groupon the other day and I purchased some discounted spin classes at a cycle studio in Boston to spice things up a bit. No one wants to be stuck in a fitness funk when spring rolls around and it’s time to get bikini-ready and keep the ol’ body mass index low, so I’m excited to add the classes into my normal workout regimen. I’ll keep you posted on how they go!

As for today’s routine, I haven’t done a deck of cards workout in a while, but this one is a toughie and definitely worth posting.

Tough Deck of Cards Workout

Equipment I Used:

• 25-lb kettlebell
• Exercise mat

You’ll need a deck of cards and kettle bell for this workout. I used a 25-lb bell, but you should use whatever you normally swing. You’ll go through the cards, flipping them over one by one until you’ve gone through the entire deck. Each suit corresponds to a different exercise and the number on the card indicates the number of reps you’ll do. Face cards = 10 and Aces = 11. So if you drew a 4 of clubs, you’d do 4 side-to-side squat jumps.

DIAMONDS = Elbow Plank Side Hops

Start in an elbow plank position. Hop both feet over to the left, then back to center, then over to the right, then back to the center.

SPADES = Kettle Bell Swings x2

The x2 means that you’ll do twice the number of reps as what’s shown on the card. If you draw a 7 of spades, you’ll do (7×2) 14 kettle bell swings. To do a kettle bell swing: Stand with feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, holding kettle bell with palms facing towards body. Drive your hips back, lowering your body and bending your knees slightly, swinging the kettle bell back between your legs. Then explosively drive your hips forward while swinging the kettle bell forward and up to just above eye level. Continue the swinging motion.

HEARTS = Windshield Wipers

Lay on back, legs perpendicular to the ground and arms outstretched for support. Lower your legs to the right, twisting your hips but keeping your back on the ground, until legs are just hovering above the ground. Lift back to starting position and over to the left side, and then back to starting position. This is ONE rep.

CLUBS = Side-to-Side Squat Jumps

Squat down and touch the floor by your left foot and then jump up, arms stretched overhead. For the next one, do the same thing, only landing and squatting down to touch the floor by your right foot.

The kettle bell swings ended up being the most brutal for me because I swear I drew EVERY spade card right in a row. It was the never-ending onslaught of kb swings and it was terrible. Terrible in a good way. It took me 33 minutes to get through this workout—see if you can beat my time!

These photos were shot on the beach in Southie. I’m pretty sure if you go in the water, you’ll grow a tail and lose your eyesight, but details shmetails.

The title pretty much says it all. My obliques were burning the day after I did this deck of cards workout.

Oblique Burner Deck of Cards Workout

Equipment I Used:

• 15-lb kettlebell
• Exercise mat

In case you missed the first deck of cards workout I posted, I’ll quickly explain the premise. You’ll go through this workout by flipping over a card, one at a time, and doing the exercise corresponding to that suit. The number on the card indicates how many reps you’ll do. Face cards = 10 and Aces = 11 reps. Go through the entire deck.

Here’s how the suites break down for this particular workout:

• Spades = Kettlebell Windmill: Start in a standing position, legs wide, kettle bell pressed above head in left hand. Your left foot should be pointing forward, your right foot pointing out at an angle. Slowly bend down, keeping legs and arm holding kettle bell straight. Touch the ground by your right foot with your right hand, keeping the kettlebell perpendicular to the ground the whole time. Slowly raise up to starting position. You’ll perform this on both sides. So if you draw an ace of spades, you’ll do 11 reps on the right and then 11 on the left. I used a 15-lb kettlebell for these and by the end of the workout was cursing the day I came up with this method of torture. I was seriously one damn spade face card away from flipping the hell out.
• Diamonds = Hindu Squats x2: Multiply the number on the card by 2 for your rep count. A Hindu Squat can best be described as a fluid, deep squat in which you roll onto the balls of your feet as you come up. This is one squat variation where it’s okay for your knees to stick out farther than your toes, and they will when you’re at the deepest point of the squat. Keep feet shoulder-width apart and move your arms in a circular motion so that your fingertips brush the ground when you’re at your lowest.
• Clubs = Bicycle Crunch x4: Multiply the number on the card by 4 for your rep count. 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.
• Hearts = Skiers x4: Hop laterally left and right as if you’re skiing through moguls. Multiply the number on the card by 4 for your rep count.

This workout took me close to 40 minutes to complete (the windmills are BY FAR the toughest part), and I was really feeling it the next morning. Be sure to stretch out your hamstrings afterwards—mine were super tight the next day.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I’m off to Nantucket. Do you have any fun plans? (Besides doing this workout, of course.)

I love turning workouts into games, and when a trainer introduced me to the deck-of-cards concept, I was hooked. Here are the general rules:

• 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.

Deck of Cards Jump Rope Workout

Equipment I used:

• Jump rope
• Exercise mat

For today’s deck of cards jump rope workout:

• Hearts = Push Ups
• Diamonds = Leg Lifts with a Reverse Crunch
• Clubs = Jump Rope x 10 (multiply the number on the card by 10)
• Spades = Split Squats x 2 (multiply the number on the card by 2)

I’m going to assume push-ups and jumping rope are self-explanatory, but here’s how to do the other moves:

• Leg Lifts with a Reverse Crunch: 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). Then lift your butt off the ground, thrusting your legs upward. Lower butt to ground and then lower legs almost to ground (feet should remain off the floor the whole time).
• 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.

All you need for today’s workout is a jump rope and a deck of cards. And you don’t even really need a jump rope. I’ve jumped rope with an invisible rope tons of times. Sure, you kinda look like a crazy person holding onto nonexistent rope handles and moving your wrists in tight little circles as you jump, but you still get that heart rate up and that’s all that matters!

Try this workout and let me know what you think! I also encourage you to experiment with the deck of cards structure and assign your own moves to each suit. I do these frequently so I’ll be sure to post my other variations as well.