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Some of my favorite workouts are created by accident. This workout is a result of one of those recent workout sessions. I knew I wanted to do a strength training session with minimal equipment, and I needed it to be full-body.
The only equipment this workout utilizes are dumbbells. If you don’t have any dumbbells, you can easily do this workout with bottles of water or no weights at all. Repeat each circuit for a total of three times before moving on to the next circuit.
Read moreI love workouts that require no equipment and minimal space. This workout fits that criteria perfectly – it’s comprised of bodyweight exercises that can be done anywhere. There isn’t any complicated choreography in this workout, so you can focus on your form. Knee-friendly/ back-friendly modifications are listed next to each movement. This is an ideal workout if you don't have time to go to the gym or you prefer to workout from home. Set aside 20 minutes, find a small space in a room and get started!
Read moreWhether we are ready for it or not, summer is here. If you are easing back into working out or need a quick workout to change up your routine, check out these quick, bodyweight workouts that are guaranteed to get your heart rate up and make you feel better!
Read moreTabata training is a type of a High Intensity Interval Training workout that is highly effective and efficient. It is named after Dr. Izumi Tabata, who founded the workout format with his team of researchers at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. Tabata and his colleagues found that this workout format burned more calories in this 4-minute circuit than would be typically be seen in a 4-minute segment of exercise. They also found that participants saw increases in both their anaerobic system (muscles) as well as aerobic system (cardiovascular); whereas participants who only participated in a moderate intensity program (that was not Tabata) only saw increases in their aerobic systems.
Often times Tabata is associated with cardio and plyometric exercise moves, but I like to use it with both cardio and strength training moves. Because of its intense interval format, you are only going to do it one or two times a week and never on consecutive days. If clients are completing it with the intensity that the workout prescribes, then I don’t usually do more than 4-5 circuits (20-25 minutes).
Read moreDid you know that women are more likely to experience knee pain than men? In fact, knee pain is the second most common cause of chronic pain, and more than one-third of Americans experience knee pain at some point in their lives.
Read moreA former client of mine posted a picture on my Facebook page last week featuring another trainer’s alphabet workout. She commented that it was just like something I would make my clients do! Little did she know, I’m a huge fan of alphabet workouts. If you are constantly watching the clock while working out, then this one is for you. Time flies by while you are doing it.
Read moreI like to be surprised – a card in the mail, a compliment from a stranger or an unexpected call from a friend. (Let’s be honest – getting a surprise check or gift in the mail is the BEST.) I especially love it when my husband surprises me by doing the dishes or folding the laundry!
I also like to be surprised during a workout. When I create my workouts, I always know what’s coming next. Sometimes I take a class or go for a group workout that someone else is leading to give me that “surprise” workout. If time is short and I don’t have time to find a class to attend, this popsicle stick workout is a great “at home” surprise workout.
Read moreCold and flu season is in full swing, and several of my clients have been out of commission because of a cold. As my clients ease back into their workout routines, we've been trying to keep workouts low-impact. Heart rates still get elevated, but I've taken out most of the jarring movements. Let's be honest, no one wants to do a bunch of jumps and high intensity movements during their first workout after being sick.
Read moreI once had a co-worker proudly boast that she had been doing the same Jane Fonda VHS step workout everyday for years. Yet, in the same conversation, she said she couldn't understand why she wasn't progressing in strength and cardiovascular gains. She wasn't interested in what I had to say, but the solution was an easy one - change up your workout routine!
Read moreI've been trying to create more workouts that are low-impact but still manage to get heart rates elevated. This workout will increase your heart rate, but it is also kind to your joints. It's a body-weight workout, so you don't need anything in order to do it. If you are needing more low-impact options for workouts, give this one a try. It's quick and less jarring than some workouts!
Read moreBy the second week of February, more than 80 percent of New Year's Resolutions will have failed. (The most common resolutions people make involve diet and exercise.) As awful as that statistic sounds, I don't find it to be hopeless. It just reminds me that we all tend to bite off more than we can chew in an attempt to make positive changes in the new year.
That's where today's workout comes in. If you are needing a workout to keep your new fitness program going or if you are trying to get back into an exercise routine, give this workout a try. It is actually created to be hip and knee-friendly, so it should be a reasonable workout for everyone.
Read moreMost of us don't WANT to work out on Thanksgiving, but I promise you it's a great way to start off the holiday. After trying to get the turkey in the oven, prepare the side dishes and pick up the house, I'm stressed and taxed. Although a workout isn't on the top of my list, I try to set aside 20 minutes to get moving. I promise you that it's worth it; I am always so glad I did it. I feel less stressed and more energized.
Read moreSometimes I don't have time to squeeze in a long workout. Rather than doing nothing at all, I do a quick workout like this one to get moving. I feel better after I am done, and my body doesn't feel quite so lethargic.
Read moreConfession: I ate a TON of cupcakes on Saturday. I was stressed, working on a deadline and in perfect view of them sitting on the counter. I probably should have stopped after the first bite, but I kept eating because they tasted delicious. (If you are looking for a great chocolate cake recipe, check this one out!) Anyway, fast forward to Sunday - I felt lethargic and icky. I wanted to get myself moving and sweat out some toxins.
That's where this "Cupcake Workout" came from. It is NOT intended to "work off" all of the calories I consumed. It's just a workout to get your body moving and break a sweat.
Read moreI have an aversion to doing the same workout more than a few times. I always want something new. A new workout doesn't necessarily have to be full of different exercises, I just need to switch the format. If I've been doing workouts with a high number of repetitions, then I need to switch to a timed, circuit workout. Changing the format makes the workout more interesting, and the time passes by quicker (and that's a huge bonus)!
A pyramid workout is one of my favorite formats.
Read moreA few weeks ago, I was staying in a hotel with my son. He likes to sleep in, so if I wanted to squeeze in a morning workout, I had to do it in a very small, confined space. I also had to make sure it wasn't super noisy. That's how this workout was created. It was just supposed to be something to get me moving; however, I was sore the next day. I'm not sure if it was the squats, lunges or all of the above!
Whether you are traveling or just looking for a new workout, give this one a shot!
Read moreIn the summer, my son and I participate in a local fitness program called Red Dog Days. It's free and there's a wonderful variety of participants - young, old, beginners, moms, dads, college athletes and high school athletes.
There are some runs that are Dog Days' traditions, and we all look forward to them. This week was one those anticipated workouts - the Zipper Run. Although Kansas is considered flat, there are some fantastic hills around the University of Kansas. The Zipper Run incorporates many of these lovely hills - you GET to run up and down five large hills before the run is over.
While I was breathlessly slogging up the hills, I thought about how I like pushing hard during an interval and then having the opportunity to back off until my next push. (I totally coasted downhill.) That's why I love today's Every Minute on the Minute (EMOM) workout. You have a minute to complete your list of exercises. As soon as you are done with the exercises, you can rest until that minute is complete.
Read moreLast week, a client texted me asking for some workout ideas. She said she had a set of 5-pound weights and a swiss ball. I LOVE this kind of challenge; it's fun for me to create a workout that only uses specific pieces of equipment. I texted the following workout back to her, and I decided to give it a try, too. I really liked this workout because it was quick and thorough, which is exactly the kind of workout that I want.
Read moreOne of the strongest moments in my life was when I achieved my goal of 20 push-ups on my toes. There is something about lowering and lifting your bodyweight that makes you feel crazy strong. It's also a fantastic bodyweight exercise that can be done anywhere.
Read moreI enjoy relaxing during vacation, but I don't like to forgo working out altogether. I like to get my body moving for 20-30 minutes each day. This workout was designed for that purpose. No weights are needed, and you are done in 20 minutes.
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